Nicky Henderson has made a rock-solid start to 2025, with the Lambourn-based handler picking up four Graded successes since the turn of the year, headlined by the Grade 1 triumph of Jonbon in the Clarence House Chase.
In common with his fellow National Hunt trainers, Henderson’s focus now turns to the second week in March for the greatest show on jumps racing turf. Kicking off on Tuesday, 11th March, the 2025 Cheltenham Festival sits firmly in the crosshairs of the biggest yards on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Henderson will no doubt hope that the 2025 edition will be an improvement on 2024, which represented his first Cheltenham Festival without a winner since all the way back in 2008. That blank was almost entirely a result of the health cloud which hung over the yard at the time. Most runners skipped their Cheltenham Festival assignment, whilst the few who did turn up largely performed below expectations.
Disappointing as 2024 was, history suggests Henderson is a man who merits the utmost respect at the sport’s big springtime jamboree. A total of 73 Cheltenham Festival wins places him behind only Willie Mullins in the all-time list, whilst he has won each of the four championship events at least twice.
Strong Team Assembling
The run-up to the 2025 meeting hasn’t gone entirely smoothly for the master of Seven Barrows. Thankfully, stable star Constitution Hill appears to be over his ailments, but the absence of red-hot Arkle favourite Sir Gino represents a significant blow.
Sophie & I went to see Sir Gino yesterday afternoon and he seemed very pleased to see us mainly due to the carrots. But I have to say he was very bright and comfortable. To be fair the situation has not changed at all but that is essentially good news. We obviously hope this can… pic.twitter.com/40jg1znCmY
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) February 13, 2025
Putting that setback to one side, Henderson still has a cast of talent to call upon, which is the envy of most. From the Seven Barrows squadron, the following trio are perhaps most likely to add to his impressive Prestbury Park haul.
Unibet Champion Hurdle – Constitution Hill
First up, the horse who has rarely left the headlines since making his Grade 1 breakthrough in the 2022 Tolworth Hurdle. Initially capturing the imagination with his unrelenting brilliance, the past 12 months have been more of a rollercoaster for the son of Blue Bresil.
Having missed most of the 2023/24 campaign, comebacks were delayed, and gallops underwhelmed before he finally returned in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Would he be as good as he was following injury, colic, and a wind procedure? The early evidence is encouraging. Following wins at Kempton and Cheltenham, his career record now stands at a perfect 10 wins from as many outings. Talented mares Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth won’t go down without a fight if tackling this assignment, but the 2023 champ is the red-hot favourite to regain his crown and we won’t be backing against him.
BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase – Jonbon
Unlike Constitution Hill, Jonbon has yet to win at the Cheltenham Festival. His previous efforts saw him finish second to Constitution Hill in the 2022 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and El Fabiolo in the Arkle Chase.
The market suggests it may be a case of third-time lucky for the JP McManus star. Brilliant in three outings so far this season, he scored over course and distance in the Shloer Chase and took his Grade 1 tally to nine when claiming the Clarence House Chase last time out. As ever, the Irish will provide a stiff challenge, but Jonbon is the odds-on favourite to break his Cheltenham Festival duck.
JCP Triumph Hurdle – Lulamba
With seven previous wins, Henderson is the most successful trainer in the history of this 2m1f event for the juveniles. Leading the charge in 2025 is this ex-French runner who created a favourable impression when scoring in good style on his British debut at Ascot.
Lulamba is second favourite across the board following that fluent display in Berkshire. However, he isn’t the only Henderson hopeful heading to the Day 4 opener. Palladium cost the small matter of €1.4m at the sales, was good enough to claim the German Derby on the flat and also scored first time out over hurdles at Huntingdon. This one could be interesting!