I'm sure that everyone, and I do mean everyone, will join me in wishing the forum's favourite trainer, Mr Henderson, the most happiest of birthdays and also hoping that he has the very best of health, happiness and success over the course of the next 12 months. Nothing could be more deserved as Mr Henderson is the star of our sport and undoubtedly the most recognisable and respected figure on the racecourse. He is also the perfect role model for aspiring trainers because his honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, gentlemanly behaviour and race record is something for every fledgling handler to aspire too. If you asked most people to guess the great man's age then I'm sure they would say 'late 30's or early 40's' but the amazing truth is that today Mr Henderson is 62! To commemorate such a momentous day I'm sure that up and down the land punters will be queuing up to back his 3 runners at Fakenham in doubles and trebles. But will these horses win and those bookie chappies take a hammering??? What do we think??? Iâm sure everyoneâs heart says yes, but what, people, do your heads say??? As old boy Hercule Poirot might say lets use our little grey cells and consider the evidence: Ericht (1.00) â very useful National Hunt Flat race performer in season 2010/11 who won 2 races and finished 6th in the Champion Bumper. However, last term he failed to win over timber in 5 efforts. Still a novice over hurdles as a result Mr Henderson seems to have found a nice opening here for this 127 rated performer as his form behind the likes of Steps For Freedom and Prospect Wells makes him look a class above his opponents here. Will he win: Yes, I expect so. Lieutenant Miller (2.30) â in and out performer over hurdles who has been placed either 1st or 2nd in 3 out of his last 6 races but contrastingly has pulled up in another 2. Since his last effort over timber has ran a couple of nice races on the level (including a beating of the smart Zuider Zee). Considering his overall form I donât think a perch of 115 is too excessive and he is further benefitted by the competent Jerry McGrath taking five pounds off his back. With the exception of the top one, Who Owns Me, the rest appear somewhat out of form. Will he win: Given this animals inconsistency you can never be sure and Who Owns Me is seemingly on the upgrade as well. However, if someone held a gun to my head, I would say Yes, Lieutenant Miller will oblige. Cevaro (3.30) â Milan filly who makes her hurdling bow here. However, has some experience of the racetrack and she won one of her three bumpers. I think its safe to say though that Cevaro isnât the stable star at Seven Barrows and she may find it tough here especially against the potentially smart Terre Du Vent a Listed winner on the level and a mare deemed decent enough to make her timber debut in a Grade 2 affair. Also, As I Am was a competent filly in bumpers last term and ran well on her hurdling debut last month and Mischievous Molly has done little wrong to date and gone very close on both runs thus far. Will she win: No, I donât think so. This looks an above average Mares Novice event with several potential nice opponents up against Cevaro. Meanwhile, right now, of course, Mr Henderson is at the pinnacle of his profession and statistically in the best form of his life. And things may only get better, people, as Mr Henderson has real, real chances this season of winning the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National. And naturally with such equine stars at his disposal the 'Champion Trainers crown' to boot. Could the next 12 months be the best ever of Mr Henderson's long and illustrious career?!?
Happy birthday Nicky the Needle http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Injection_Syringe_01.jpg
Sorry, SBC, but are you his public relations consultant? Takes more than 40-years to get an expensive 'ooter like that?
If you closed your eyes, whilst he was talking you seriously think you were listening to Ronnie Corbett talking about Horse Racing, uncanny resemblance!
"So I said to the Producer, surely you can't be serious. And he said of course I am, and stop calling me Shirley" Great spot
I say have some of you people no shame. Nicky The Needle, Dame Edna, Tim Nice But Dim, Ronnie Corbett! That is Outrageous with a capital ‘O’. Mr Henderson is to our sport what Mr Cameron is to politics, what Arsene Wenger is to football (last night’s result aside) and what Noel Tidybeard is to ‘Deal or No Deal’.
