Nicky Henderson© Photo Healy Racing
Lucky Place provided Nicky Henderson with a much-needed fillip when running out a brave winner of the Howden Ascot Hurdle.
Henderson has suffered more disappointment with his stable star Constitution Hill this week in a continuation of his trials and tribulations of last season.
One of those setbacks was being forced to miss the Cheltenham Festival with Henderson ruling out most of his string with a viral infection of some kind, but Lucky Place was his one bright spark, finishing fourth in the Coral Cup as a novice.
The plan had been to send Lucky Place (4-1) novice chasing but the dry spell and a lack of suitable opportunities forced Henderson into looking at this Grade Two contest instead and he will be very glad he did.
Only five went to post with Salver a non-runner and it soon became obvious Olly Murphy’s Thunder Rock was not on a going day either.
However the other four were all in a line on the run to two out, Blueking D’Oroux, Golden Ace, Lucky Place and the Irish raider Colonel Mustard.
Blueking D’Oroux had attempted to make all in his attempt for back-to-back wins for Paul Nicholls but it was Henderson’s youngster who came out on top by a length.
Nico de Boinville was on top and said of the winner: “He’s gutsy and he doesn’t like getting beaten. He travelled so sweetly and jumped well. We went steady and he was quite happy going that.”
Henderson said: “That was plan B, he was meant to be going novice chasing he’s only five so we brought him back into here.
“The big question is where is his trip? We are going to have to find out if he stays three (miles).
“Two and a half miles over fences works well but two and a half over hurdles doesn’t work so well. The Relkeel (Cheltenham) could be the stepping stone for him. I think fences are going to have to wait until next season.”
