Nicky Henderson has saddled nine winners since Boxing Day – at a strike-rate of nearly 35% – and can keep that run ticking over with Punchestowns in the Grade Two Dipper Novices´ Chase at Cheltenham.

It is a measure of the strength in depth that Henderson can call upon that he was able to win the major novice prize of the Christmas weekend, when Long Run made short work of the opposition in the Feltham Chase at Kempton Park, knowing that he had also had this one in reserve.

Which is, really, doing a disservice to Punchestowns who is already the ante-post market leader for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March. As a staying hurdler he climbed over 30lbs in the official ratings last season and only found Big Buck’s too much to handle in their two clashes at Cheltenham, in the Cleeve and World Hurdles.

As Punchestowns ran Big Buck’s to a length and three-quarters in the World Hurdle he did better than any other horse has managed of late, but Henderson always saw his future over fences. The rest of us were given a glimpse what may be to come when Punchestowns made his chasing debut at Newbury in November where he beat Martys Mission by seven lengths, but it could have been triple that.

Strictly on that result Bensalem has a chance, having beaten Martys Mission by 16½ lengths (receiving 6lbs) at Plumpton and he receives 3lbs from Punchestowns, but that form correlation looks distinctly deceptive.

It may be unfair to suggest that Chapoturgeon has flattered to deceive but he has been expensive to follow in two runs at Cheltenham this season but is worth a last chance in the victorchandler.com Chase.

A faller early on in the Paddy Power Gold Cup he looked like finishing second to his stable companion, Poquelin, in the boylesports.com Gold Cup over course and distance last month until nearly unseating his rider when stumbling after the last. That brought him to a near standstill and he finished fourth. However he is now 3lb better off with Razor Royale, who finished second, and they look the ones to be fighting out the finish.

There is not much choice in terms of who will be fighting out the finish of the Freedom Hurdle because there are only three runners but the form of Mr Thriller’s beating of Starluck looks good and Tony McCoy’s strike-rate riding for David Pipe stands at a very healthy 33%.

Herderson and McCoy combine with Ainama for skybet.com Handicap Hurdle and a testing three miles looks just right for this one.

Paul Wheeler