Nicky Henderson celebrates 100th winner of a “tough” season
Nicky Henderson admitted it had been a tough year as he celebrated reaching 100 winners for the season – then insisted: “Next year’s going to be different.”
The Seven Barrows trainer has failed to retain the Champion Jump Trainer’s title he won last season but did celebrate high profile successes at The Festival supporting WellChild at Cheltenham and the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree.
And as the season draws to a close Henderson is already eyeing up his talented group of young horses ready for next term.
He said at Warwick today: “Pistol Whipped was our 100th winner of the season up at Perth today. It hasn’t been the easiest season I must admit, because it started a bit late and we then had a difficult time after Christmas, so it’s nice to have got that done anyway.
“It’s testament to what everybody’s done because it’s been a tough year to be fair – things haven’t gone according to plan.
“Cheltenham was very good really, Aintree was good and there were two English horses that managed to win Graded races at both and they were Shishkin and Chantry House.
“A lot of our other guys have been brilliant but it’s just been a tough year. They were a bit out of sorts after Christmas and we had to sit and suffer for a while, but all’s well that ends well.
“Considering it’s been a short season it’s nice to get to the hundred and they’ve all done well. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s a nice thing to have got to. As I say, we’ve had easier years but we’ve got as good a lot of horses as we’ve ever had and some very smart youngsters – so next year’s going to be different.”
