A strike-rate of 38% suggests that Nicky Henderson’s chasers are giving the trainer few problems but even success brings its complications.

The pained expression that Henderson wore as he walked the track with stable jockey Barry Geraghty at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, prior to withdrawing Punchestowns from his intended run in the Dipper Novices’ Chase, was that of a man furiously working out his options between then and the Festival meeting  in March.

Punchestowns, a top staying hurdler who was second to Big Buck’s in last year’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle, made a seamless transition to fences at Newbury in November for which he was made favourite for the RSA Chase. Now, with the weather showing slight signs of relenting, Henderson wants to make up for the time that has been lost with Punchestowns, who is entered for Warwick on Saturday.

Speaking on Racing UK Henderson said: “He’d have gone to Cheltenham and Warwick on Saturday and he does need a couple of runs before the Festival but there’s time to do that. He did everything beautifully at Newbury – it was a very pleasing debut. Barry was very good on him, spending the first half of the race getting into a rhythm and gaining some confidence. As that built up he started to let him open up and enjoy himself.

“He’ll probably have the one entry in the RSA chase – I can’t see there’s anything else to put him in. I can’t think he needs to be in the Ryanair taking on those horses. He might as well run against novices.”

One of those is likely to be stable companion Long Run, although Henderson has discussed the idea of dropping down to two miles for a crack at the Arkle Trophy with the horse’s owner, Robert Waley-Cohen. “It was just an idea I had and I rang Robert about it,” Henderson said. “He was probably quite stunned about it to start with but has come round a little bit to see where I’m coming from. It’s far from cast in stone what we’re going to do and I would think in all probability he’ll run in the RSA. I don’t want to keep everyone guessing, I’m just trying to do the best thing for the horse.”

Long Run made a huge impression on his British debut when he won the Grade One Feltham Novices’ Chase – over three miles – at Kempton on Boxing Day. The margin of victory – 13 lengths – was the main part of that impression but also his flat jumping style. In an attempt to take some of the guessing out of his jumping Henderson had his amateur rider, Sam Waley-Cohen, down for a schooling session last week, supervised by equine jumping coach Yogi Breisner.

“We had a good session with Yogi Breisner in the indoor school the other day and his jumping was very, very good. I was really pleased and thought his technique had improved and we’ll be doing that again.”

Far better than just playing the percentages.

Paul Wheeler