Nicky Henderson Stable Tour 2022/23 Season

Nicky Henderson is the leading man in the UK when it comes to jump racing training some of the best national hunt horses in the sport and this year he looks to have a serious team to go to war with.

Here is his stable tour for the 2022/23 season.

8yo Bay Gelding

Shishkin went toe-to-toe with Energumene last year which made for the clash of the season on two occasions. The score is 1-1, so both Shishkin and Energumene will be looking to stamp their authority once again, on the 2m chase division.

6yo Bay Gelding

Jonbon is a lovely horse, he was brushed aside by Constitution Hill (who looks a world class horse), but managed to regain the winning thread at Aintree in good style. He reportedly heads novice chasing this year, he’s a fine stamp of a horse and that’s likely to be right up his street given his pedigree. 

8yo Bay Mare

Funnily enough, Epatante didn’t have the best season - but she still managed to pick up three G1’s. She looks held by the Irish superstar Honeysuckle, but she has the measure of more or less the rest of the 2m/2m4 hurdling opposition. She looks set for another good year. 

5yo Bay Gelding

Constitution Hill came out of nowhere last year really, but there’s not a fan in sight that isn’t looking forward to seeing him run again. He absolutely decimated the Supreme field and he sticks to hurdles again this season. It’s likely his season will culminate with a crack at Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle, and I for one, cannot wait.

10yo Bay Gelding

Champ is a high class horse, who I’m not totally prepared to give up on just yet. He’s had soundness issues with his back - but he did still manage to pick up a G1 last season. If he’s sound, he will be a huge player once again in the division.

7yo Bay Mare

Marie’s Rock had something of a breakthrough season last season, winning two G1’s on her last two starts. She was perhaps aided by some significant fallers coming down at Cheltenham, and Punchestown - but she can only beat what’s there to be beaten. She’ll likely be a huge player in the Mares division again.

8yo Brown Gelding

Chantry House had something of a troubles season last year. He won on seasonal reappearance by 37L, and then pulled up in his next start. He got the ball rolling again in workmanlike fashion at Cheltenham, prior to pulling up in the Gold Cup. If he can stay sound, he’s clearly plenty of ability. He looks something of a head scratcher this season.

7yo Bay Gelding

Fusil Raffles is a solid, adaptable horse who is pretty much guaranteed to run a solid race regardless of the conditions. He ran well over fences and hurdles over a range of trips last season, Henderson could find a lot of opportunities for him this season, given his versatility. 

7yo Bay Gelding

Dusart is a horse who’s always promised great things, unfortunately he’s yet to entirely set the world alight. He won a couple of novice chases early last season, before his unplaced effort in a G1 at Cheltenham. He did make amends in a competitive c2 handicap chase at Ayr though, he remains on interest this season. 

4yo Bay Gelding

Impulsive One had a relatively successful season last year, winning three from eight and he kept himself in good company. He's evidently a nice horse, he still did look rather green last season but he's mixed it at graded level already, he's one to watch this season.

8yo Grey Gelding

Caribean Boy is a tough, solid handicapper who usually gives his running. He won a G2 novice chase from the very talented Fiddlerontheroof, along with a competitive class 2 handicap at Kempton towards the end of the season. He's such a likeable horse and Henderson does tend to place him well.

8yo Bay Gelding

Mister Fisher won the G2 Silviniaco Conti Chase last season at Kempton, and on his last start, he was second to Saint Calvados at Sandown in the G2 Oaksey Chase. He does have his issues with consistency but he's a highly talented horse on his day. 

5yo Bay Gelding

First Street is a Golden Horn gelding who progressed rather nicely last season. He won a couple of novice events, then won a handicap. He bettered that by placing in two graded events subsequently, despite still looking a big baby. With a summer on his back, he could be even better this season.

5yo Bay Mare

Theatre Glory looks a mare going places. She ran five times last season and managed to win four of those races. She took a listed race at Cheltenham in April and did it in good style. She could be even better this year, and Nicky Henderson does so well with horses of this profile.

6yo Brown Gelding

Broomfield Burg obviously has issues with keenness, as demonstrated several times last year by pulling any chance he had away during his races. He did manage to win a race though, at Kempton when 1/3f in December. He's a high class horse but he is difficult. Could they find the key this year?

6yo Bay Gelding

Balco Coastal had a good season relatively speaking. He won two from five, and finished placed in two graded novice events. He's still a horse on the up, and he ran a huge race on his final start when third of twenty-one in a Grade 3 handicap at Aintree. He could be a horse for the top level graded handicap hurdles this year now, with plenty of experience under his belt.

7yo Bay Gelding

The penny looks as though it's finally ready to drop with this horse. He's seriously talented he's just not managed to put it all together as yet. He did finish second in two valuable races early this year, in a G1 and a C2 handicap chase respectively. He will need to improve again though should he be competing at graded level.

4yo Chestnut Filly

Luccia is two from two so far in her career. She has taken two bumpers in good style, including a listed level win at Sandown by as many as seventeen lengths. She’s well bred and looks potentially top class, she may be a huge player in the mares novice division this season.

5yo Chestnut Mare

A half-sister to the top class, multiple G1 winner Monkfish - was unplaced in her bumper, but duly made amends first time over hurdles. She jumped and travelled well there, though the form isn’t strong, the impression she left was a positive one. Given her pedigree, we may see her take high rank in novice hurdles this season.