Henderson’s Cheltenham winners set for Aintree

Nicky Henderson says his Cheltenham winners Shiskin and Chantry House are likely to line up at Aintree next month.

Shiskin won the Arkle by a hugely impressive 12 lengths at the Cheltenham Festival last week, while Chantry House also caught the eye when claiming the Marsh Novices’ Chase.

Henderson says both horses will now be prepared for the big Grand National Aintree meeting, which is being held between April 8-10, while Fusil Raffles, who was second behind Chantry House in the Marsh, is also likely to run in Liverpool.

“I’m hoping Shishkin, Chantry house and Fusil Raffles will all be going to Aintree – that is the plan,” Henderson told Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast.

However, another of Henderson’s horses, Epatante, is likely to be seen next at the Punchestown Festival at the end of April, when she is set to take on Honeysuckle again in the Mares Champion Hurdle.

Epatante finished third in defence of her Champion Hurdle title at Cheltenham as Honeysuckle roared to victory and Henderson hopes for an improvement when the pair go head-to-head again.

He added: “Epatante was probably slightly disappointing. I think she ought to have finished second, but she wouldn’t have beaten Honeysuckle in a million years. We’re probably going to go to Punchestown and give it another go.”