Nicky Henderson’s talented hurdler made the perfect start to life over fences
Grade 3 winning hurdler Brain Power entered the Arkle picture with a taking 28 length victory at Kempton on Monday. Making his first start over the larger obstacles, the six-year-old bounded along with enthusiasm from the off with a number of exuberant jumps the highlight of what was an impressive performance.
Sent off the 1/2 favourite, last season’s Champion Hurdle eighth, looked full of himself throughout the 2m2f trip pulling well clear of decent yardsticks War Sound and Winter Escape. In fact the former was beaten just 6 ½ lengths by Brain Power’s stable companion and Supreme third River Wylde earlier this month, making Monday’s winning distance all the more noteworthy.
Last year's winner of the race was also trained by Henderson and went on to win at the Festival in March, the mighty Altior.
Following the performance bookmakers cut the six-year-old into as short as 8/1 in places (from 16’s) with Bet365 the stand out price at 12/1. Oddschecker punters were also impressed, with just shy over 31% of all ante-post bets after the race for the Henderson horse.
Footpad continues to head the market at 6/1 for the mighty Willie Mullins stable after his own breath-taking Chase debut earlier this month, with Finians Oscar and Petit Mouchoir the same odds as Brain Power at 12/1.
