Nicky Henderson Shares the Pain of a Devastating Experience at Racing Post

The Cheltenham Festival is a crucial event for the Seven Barrows yard, directed by a well-known trainer. However, the recent poor performance at the festival has caused distress. Despite much effort, only two wins were secured out of 31 runners in March, marking the first festival without a win since 2008. This disappointing outcome has brought into focus the challenges faced by Henderson and his team in recent weeks.

The exact reason for the lackluster performances remains unclear, as serious health issues like equine herpes virus or flu have been ruled out. Instead, a cloud of ill health has overshadowed Seven Barrows just when the string was expected to peak for the festival. These setbacks have posed significant challenges for Henderson and his team, and the impact has been deeply felt within the historic corner of Lambourn. The yard’s long-standing focus on the Cheltenham Festival adds further weight to the repercussions of the recent underwhelming results.

Despite the challenges, looking back is not the solution, and the team is striving to navigate this difficult period.