Kelso key to Zaynar's Cheltenham prospects

NICKY Henderson has described the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on 18 February as the ideal stepping stone to Cheltenham for Zaynar.

The grey is unbeaten in five starts in Britain including last year's Triumph Hurdle and has won convincingly on two occasions this season.

Zaynar is disputing favouritism for the Champion Hurdle and his presence will represent quite a coup for the Borders course.

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Henderson said: "I love my trips to Kelso and this race represents the ideal Festival stepping stone for Zaynar.

"We will probably leave the cheekpieces off and keep them up our sleeve for Cheltenham.

"Sometimes when a race hots up he can get tapped for toe for ten strides but he tends to hit flat spots and does genuinely stay."

Zaynar is owned by the syndicate Men In Our Position. Victor Chandler, the race sponsor, heads it.

Meanwhile, Denman will face a maximum of eight rivals when Tony McCoy partners the 2008 Gold Cup hero for the first time in the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday. The 10-year-old is unbeaten in five races at the Berkshire track, including the Hennessy under top weight last November, and he took this race the month before his finest hour at Cheltenham.

McCoy is looking forward to getting the leg up on the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding.

"Obviously I'm going to ride him on Saturday. I'm very lucky the owners, Harry Findlay and Paul Barber, are letting me ride him and Paul Nicholls as well," McCoy said.

"He's going to Newbury then I'll look forward to Cheltenham after that.

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"If any horse can beat Kauto Star, hopefully it will be him.

"I'm going to speak to Paul tonight and see if he wants me to sit on him before Saturday."

Nicholls has also put in Tricky Trickster while Charlie Mann has entered his stable star Air Force One. The Bob Buckler-trained Niche Market could take on Denman again after finishing third in the Hennessy.