Leading trainer Nicky Henderson is eying up sending two of his stars to Huntingdon on Sunday for the Grade Two Peterborough Chase with Mister Fisher and Top Notch the likely contenders.
Top Notch heads into the event looking for his third win in the Grade Two contest and also looking to defend his title after a superb win in the race last term.
Henderson and his rider Daryl Jacob really do have a soft spot for this horse, talking well of him throughout his career and now at the age of nine will be looking to extend his superb record in the race.
Mister Fisher is another talented chaser for the yard and although the six year old was pulled up at Cheltenham on his seasonal debut, he should give a much better account of himself, barring the ground turning extremely soft.
Top Notch - what a horse!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 8, 2019
Form over fences:
311112311411P1 @sevenbarrows @Dazjacob10 @Huntingdon_Race pic.twitter.com/2hRUTD8BFH
The Seven Barrows handler will be looking to extend his superb record in the race on Sunday, being one behind Henrietta Knight’s record of eight wins in the Grade Two event.
(Credit ATR) Henderson said: “Top Notch is a real friend, he’s been with us for years and everybody loves him.
“We have had to stop and tinker with his palate which does take three to four weeks out of your prep, which does just worry me as I would like to have been out a bit earlier than this.
“It did hold us up. He’s done plenty, his weight is good and it’s an ideal race for him – two and a half miles around Huntingdon is great.
“Mister Fisher is pretty likely to join him if the ground is anywhere near good.“Unfortunately he got stuck in the mud in the Paddy Power at Cheltenham the other day.
“I could wait for the Caspian Caviar (at Cheltenham) next week, but if Huntingdon was genuinely good – I dare not wait another week as he has to have good ground – he would join him, which might make things more complicated for Top Notch.”