Henderson considering Grand National for Chantry House
Last Updated 8 Jan 2025 | By Enda McElhinney
Image from Alamy – 2BACEPJ Trainer Nicky Henderson during Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Nicky Henderson admits a New Year’s win for Chantry House at Cheltenham has possibly opened up an avenue towards the Grand National at Aintree for the revitalised veteran.
The Seven Barrows inmate won the Betfair Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day in the hands of Nico de Boinville.
He was delivered to challenge heading towards the last having travelled ominously well before galloping home six-and-a-half-lengths clear of Our Power who edged out Bowtogreatness for second with the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained favourite Broadway Boy well held in fourth.
Henderson more shocked than most
he winning trainer conceded it was an unexpected success, with plans afoot to send Chantry House hunter chasing in the spring.
With an official rating of 154, the JP McManus-owned 11-year-old could now have Aintree’s main event in the picture.
“The plan was to actually go hunter chasing with him and I just needed to get another run into him to get him ready,” Henderson told ITV Racing.
“I’m not sure we haven’t made a bodge of this and I’m not sure he is still eligible (for hunter chases) now – he might have to go and win a Grand National or something instead!
“It has scuppered me a little and we were just trying to rekindle his enthusiasm as he was a very, very good horse. We might have to rethink.”
Impressive back catalogue
Chantry House was a dual Grade 1 winner in his novice chasing days, winning at both the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree in 2021.
He won the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day in 2022 but was pulled up as A Plus Tard landed the Gold Cup in March.
He unseated James Bowen in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on his comeback in December 2022 and then took a hefty fall at Wetherby on Boxing Day in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.
That knocked his confidence, says Henderson, and he had 11 months off before a six-race winless campaign over hurdles last season.
His Newbury comeback this term was over the smaller obstacles, before his return to form kick-started 2025 in style.
“He’s jumped well, travelled well and he’s just followed them round. I thought he would get tired, but it is lovely to see him come back and do that. It was slightly unexpected at the time though I must admit,” added the trainer.
Aintree success eludes Henderson
Despite nearly five decades as a trainer and becoming one of the household names in the National Hunt game, Henderson is yet to win a Grand National in Britain or Ireland.
Zongalero was second in 1979 as Henderson’s first ever runner, and his best finish to date was in 1987 with The Tsarevich, ridden by John White, also placed second at Aintree.
Mister Coffey, in 2023, finished eighth as the most recent contender from his Lambourn yard and Henderson would dearly love to add an Aintree success to his incredible CV.
Chantry House has earned quotes of 50/1 with some major firms for the Grand National on Saturday, April 5 and could emerge as a surprise contender – even to his trainer!
