Sandown report: Henri The Second could be "real deal"

Henri The Second won the Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park. He finished four-and-a-quarter lengths clear of Henry”s Friend. Trainer Paul Nicholls has won this race with Neptune Collonges and See More Business. Harry Cobden believes Henri The Two could be the best novice hurdler this season. He was beaten on his hurdling debut at Chepstow 38 days ago. The horse won at Market Rasen yesterday. Sky Bet, Paddy Power and Betfair cut Henri the Second into 20-1 for the Cheltenham Festival. They also cut him into the same price for Albert Bartlett Novice‘s HURDLE.

Penna Rossa won the Pinsent Masons Introductory Juvenile Hurdle for trainer Camilla Poulton. He was bought for 5,500 guineas by Paulton's daughter Eliza. Pookton and Elizabet followed the horse on the Flat when he was Marco Botti's and is half-brother to Jeff Kidder.

Paddy Barlow rode his first winner under Rules at Sandown Park today. He is in the third year of his veterinary degree at the University of Nottingham. Barow will celebrate with a couple of pints later. He has two wins in Italy. Henri The Second is a potential winner at Tingle Creek. The race is on Saturday. It's a three-mile prize. I See You Well won the race. Step Back came second. They were beaten by a length and a half. This was the first time Step back had been rated below 117 for 3 or 4 years.