Henderson waits for Rainbow to shine
Finian's Rainbow, runner-up in the Irish Independent Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March before going on to an impressive success at Aintree a few weeks later, missed his intended seasonal reappearance in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase and may not be seen before January after failing to sparkle in recent work at trainer Nicky Henderson's Seven Barrow's base, writes Elliot Slater.
The eight-year-old had been due to take his chance against subsequent race winner Sizing Europe and the rapidly improving Kauto Stone in the Sandown feature event but Henderson was disappointed with his fine piece of work which he felt lacked his usual sparkle. Plans are now fluid for the gelded son of Tiraaz with connections looking at opportunities around the Christmas period, but if Finian's Rainbow still hasn't come back to himself then they will be perfectly satisfied to wait until after New Year to return the winner of seven of his 10 career starts to the fray. Those looking at the Grand National betting online should remember this.
A smart novice hurdler in the 2009/10 season, owner Michael Buckley's talented performer took very well to the larger obstacles last term winning his first three races over fences including the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novice Chase at Warwick in February before going down to his one and only defeat when a brave runner-up to Captain Chris in the 'Arkle' at Cheltenham in March. He soon regained the winning thread when outpointing Ghizao in a dour struggle in Aintree's John Smith's Maghull Novices Chase, ending the term as a leading fancy for this season's Queen Mother Champion Chase. Anyone following the Tips for Cheltenham betting need to bear this in mind.
Currently on offer at 8/1 and third favourite in the ante-post market for the Champion Chase dominated by Sizing Europe (3/1) who went on to an impressive victory at Sandown on Saturday, Finian's Rainbow now has something to prove to his fans if he is to remain a serious contender for the big race on March 14.
