Welcome to our profile of Nicky Henderson, six times leading National Hunt trainer in Britain and winning-most British trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival.
We look at his current runners, big wins, history and more.
Find out more about Nicky Henderson today:
Contents
- 1 Nicky Henderson Entries
- 2 Nicky Henderson Recent Form
- 3 Nicky Henderson – Key Stats
- 4 Trainer Profile of Nicky Henderson
- 5 Nicky Henderson – Key Trainer Stats
- 6 Nicky Henderson’s Big Race Wins
- 7 Nicky Henderson – Most Famous Victories
- 8 Summary of Nicky Henderson
- 9 Guides to the Best Horse Racing Trainers
Nicky Henderson Entries
Here are all the Nicky Henderson horses running today and future entries.
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Nicky Henderson Recent Form
Here are all the latest finishing positions for horses trained by Nicky Henderson.
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Nicky Henderson – Key Stats
- Name – Nicky Henderson
- Date of Birth – 10 December 1950
- Birthplace – Lambeth, London
- Racing Yard – Lambourn, Berkshire
- Big Wins: Cheltenham Gold Cup (2), Champion Hurdle (8), Queen Mother Champion Chase (6), Stayers Hurdle (2), Arkle Challenge Trophy (7), Triumph Hurdle (7), Ryanair Chase (2), King George VI Chase (3), Tingle Creek Chase (2), Christmas Hurdle (11), Clarence House Chase (6), Ascot Chase (3), Aintree Hurdle (5), Betway Bowl, Melling Chase (3), Punchestown Champion Chase (2), Savills Chase and countless other top jumps races.
- Age – 72 years old
- Nationality – British
Trainer Profile of Nicky Henderson
Nicky is the son of Johnny Henderson, one of the founders of the Racecourse Holdings Trust who is honoured by the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Nicky was proud to train the winner of the race with Greenhope in 2006.
Educated at Eton College, Nicky rode as an amateur and was assistant to legendary Trainer Fred Winter from 1974 until taking out his own licence in 1978.
Nicky Henderson – Key Trainer Stats
Nicky Henderson won the British Champion Jumps Trainer title in 1985-86 and again the following season. He did not win it again until 2012-13, interrupting a dominant sequence of ten titles for Paul Nicholls. He has since won it in 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2019-20.
Henderson started the 2022-23 season with 72 Cheltenham Festival winners to his credit. That tally has only been bettered by Willie Mullins (88). He has been leading trainer at the Festival on three occasions, notably in 2012 when he trained a then-record seven winners.
His two Cheltenham Gold Cup victories came with Long Run in 2011 and Bobs Worth in 2013.
His record in the Champion Hurdle is quite remarkable with eight victories, three of them provided by See You Then (1985-87).
He has been almost as successful in the Arkle and Triumph Hurdle with seven victories in each.
He has won the Queen Mother Champion Chase six times including twice with the brilliant Sprinter Sacre (2013, 2016) and Altior (2018, 2019).
Nicky Henderson’s Big Race Wins
Henderson has won so many top races that it is very difficult to highlight just a few. However, his skilful handling of the Champion two-mile chasers Sprinter Sacre and Altior warrant special mentions.
Sprinter Sacre overcame a heart problem to reclaim his Champion Chase title three years’ later.
Altior won a record 19 consecutive races over fences including four consecutive Cheltenham Festival victories.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the ultimate prize for Henderson and he is proud to have won it twice. However, the Grand National has eluded him.
He has shown his mastery on the flat with victories in the Cesarewitch and the Ascot Stakes. Caracciola won the Newmarket race as an eleven-year-old at odds of 50-1 in 2008.
Nicky Henderson – Most Famous Victories
Sprinter Sacre and Altior were both top-rated steeplechasers in training at the peak of their powers.
Sprinter Sacre’s recovery and his second Champion Chase victory in 2016 will always hold special memories for Henderson.
Altior’s record 19th consecutive chase win in the Celebration Chase at Sandown Park in 2019 was also a special moment.
Time and again, Henderson has carefully managed the racing careers of horses with problems.
Triple Champion Hurdle winner See You Then had fragile legs and he would usually only have one prep race before Cheltenham.
Summary of Nicky Henderson
Nicky Henderson has been the first line of defence for Britain against the Irish Trainers, usually finding one or two banker bets for the meeting.
He is showing no signs of letting up in his seventies and he will be hoping to unearth a few more champions before his retirement.
Guides to the Best Horse Racing Trainers
Here are all the comprehensive guides for horse racing trainers.
