Jeriko Du Reponet has been smashed into as short as 5-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the first race on day one of the March festival.
Owned by JP McManus, the four-year-old was a thumping winner of his point-to-point at Kirkistown nine months ago.
And he won stylishly on his debut for the Seven Barrows boss in a Class 3 contest at Newbury earlier this month.
Henderson likes starting his good ones in this race, with dual Champion Hurdle winner Buveur d’Air and Jonbon previous winners.
Jeriko Du Reponet is now as short as 5-1 for the Supreme – but Henderson said punters should hold fire before steaming in anywhere near those odds.
He told Newbury Today: “Visually, Jeriko Du Reponet’s debut win was very impressive, but I’m not sure he beat very much.
“We’ve used that novice hurdle time and time again and it worked again for us, thank goodness.
“Nico (de Boinville, jockey) was at pains to try and teach him as much as possible and he came through quite a narrow gap going to the last which is good education for him.
“Then he picked up the bridle and disappeared, which was what we wanted him to do.
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“To be totally honest, I don’t think he beat anything on the day. I’d have been mortified if he couldn’t beat that lot.
“It was a bit tongue in cheek when I said there were ten as good as him, but they are a good bunch.
“He’s a beautiful horse, he’s an absolute cracker and he has the engine to go with it.
“But I hope there aren’t too many people backing him at 4-1 for the Supreme. He’s got a long way to go to even get there.”
Henderson will start sending out some more of his big guns around Christmas.
Constitution Hill will make his long-awaited return in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day – the same day Shishkin hopes to contend what is turning into a blockbuster King George.
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