TOP NOTCH, who secured his place in Nicky Henderson's Triumph Hurdle team with a bloodless win at Haydock on Saturday, could underline the depth of his stable's festival juvenile strength by running again this weekend.
Henderson said the horse looked so well at exercise on Monday morning that he gave him an entry in the BetBright Cheltenham Festival Fund Adonis Hurdle.

In the past ten years the Kempton Grade 2 prize has been won by three subsequent Triumph Hurdle winners and two future Champion Hurdle winners, three of them trained by Henderson, Soldatino (2010 Triumph), Binocular (2010 Champion) and Punjabi (2009 Champion).

Henderson trains Triumph Hurdle 9-4 favourite Peace And Co for Top Notch's owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and also has the second favourite Hargam. Top Notch is now fourth in the betting on 12-1 after extending his unbeaten sequence over hurdles to five.

Henderson, who also has Bivouac engaged in the Adonis, said on Monday: "I haven't discussed anything with the owners yet but I saw Top Notch out this morning and he was so bright and perky and looked fantastic that I put him in the race.

"He obviously didn't have a very hard race on Saturday but he enjoyed himself and it just crossed my mind to make the entry.

"The plan was originally to run Bivouac, but he's going to be in the Dovecote as well. Days Of Heaven will run in the Dovecote and Bivouac in one of the two.

"I don't think I need to run Top Notch again but he's so fit and well we'll have a look at it. Originally he was on the subs bench for the Triumph, but he's now actually going to play."

Not sure if he wants another race so close to Triumph.
Given conditions are going to be pretty awful re rain forecast.

Wouldn't put it past hendo to run this on saturday to get an excuse to miss the festival, and go straight to aintree. I hope the owners are wise enough to give saturday a swerve.

He's just said he runs in the Triumph,I expect him to run and the way he's performed he certainly should be in it.

Its going to be testing conditions after the rain arrives
Will he be able to see off his stablemate ?
At least the jockey knows the opposition

The softer it gets the more you'd have to rate this fellas chances. Seems certain to come strongly up the hill when others have cried enough.

Just found out why

Seagulled


OMG

Shame he just got beat
Had him at 33-1