Jockey Joe Tizzard tagged Valley Henry 'the best horse I`ve ever ridden' following the gelding`s facile romp to land the Kaliber Novices` Hurdle at Wincanton this afternoon.
Paul Nicholls`s charge had looked a top-class recruit on his British debut when scoring at Chepstow earlier this month and had little more than a stroll to dispose of Coastguard by 22 lengths.
'Joe said this is the best horse he`d ever ridden and we hold him in very high regard but one things for sure he wont be over raced this season as we want him to be a chaser next year,' declared Nicholls.
'We see him as a replacement for See More Business in the long term and we`ll look at something over the Christmas-New Year period for him next.
Something like the Challow Hurdle at Newbury at the end of December would seem to be tailor made for him,' added the trainer.
Similarities between Gold Cup hero See More Business and Valley Henry do not end there as the former carried Paul Barber`s colours to victory in this same event five years ago.
And the owner said: 'He`s a very, very nice horse who seems to have plenty of gears but Cheltenham in March will not be at the top of the agenda for him unless the ground comes up soft. The chances are he`ll only have another two or three races this season as it`s the future that counts for him.'
Tizzard went on to complete a double when partnering Castle Lynch to a three and a half length verdict from Ballybay in the Guinness Novices` Handicap Chase for his father Colin.
Northern-based rider J P McNamara made the long trek to the West Country venue pay handsome dividends with a double aboard the one-eyed pair North Kilkenny and Menesonic, both trained by Robert Alner.
North Kilkenny, switched back from chasing following a fall last time, was always travelling sweetly for McNamara before hitting the front two out and collecting the Gordon Reef Birthday Novices Handicap Hurdle by nine lengths.
But it was not so easy for Menesonic who was being pushed and shoved along from some way out in the Hamilton Litestat Showcase Handicap Chase. The 10-year-old still had plenty of leeway to find up the home straight but responded gamely to get the better of Parahandy.
McNamara said; 'That`s fantastic as they are my first ever winners at the track even though I`ve ridden here a couple of times before. It really makes the five-and-a-half hour journey in the car all worthwhile.'
Amateur James Owen was seen at his best when pushing out the Noel Chance-trained Fionnula`s Rainbow to take the concluding Bruton Handicap Hurdle from Stopwatch.
