Joyeuse cheers up Nicky Henderson amid struggle to complete Sir Gino's Cheltenham prep

Joyeuse (9-2) won the William Hill Hurdle connected a time erstwhile Henderson was mulling implicit wherever to instrumentality Sir Gino. One of the shortest-priced favourites for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival missed his contention astatine Newbury owed to a precocious setback

Joyeuse enactment a grin backmost connected Nicky Henderson's look with an eight-length demolition occupation successful the William Hill Hurdle astatine Newbury.

An wounded to prima novice Sir Gino has fixed the six-time champion trainer a existent headache with the Cheltenham Festival looming up.

Forced to scrap program A successful yesterday's Game Spirit Chase, Henderson is adamant the 8-13 Arkle favourite needs much experience.

But races astatine Kempton and Bangor springiness him conscionable 2 weeks to acceptable his complaint for a clash with Willie Mullins-trained ace Majborough successful Gloucestershire.

Henderson was uncovering it tricky to determine connected the champion way earlier JP McManus-owned Joyeuse (9-2) scooted wide nether Nico de Boinville successful the day's large betting event.

"It was conscionable perfection," the grooming wizard said. "Everywhere you looked she was travelling and jumping.

“This contention has changed sanction a fewer times and it is large for William Hill to travel successful for the sponsorship arsenic it means a batch to everyone."

Henderson ruled retired squeezing different tally successful with Joyeuse to suffice her for Cheltenham adjacent month, with bookmakers offering likelihood of 8-1 for the County Hurdle.

But helium added: "Sir Gino decidedly wants to spell to a racecourse. It’s bittersweet helium is not present and we person a spot of a headache present implicit wherever to go."

Djelo sent Venetia Williams soaring past the £1million prize wealth people successful the William Hill Bet10 Get10 On Racing Denman Chase.

In a contention named aft the much-missed 2008 Gold Cup hero, the well-backed 6-4 favourite made elephantine strides for Charlie Deutsch and ran retired a comfy winner.

"Once helium acceptable him alight, the turbo came successful precise quickly," said Williams, confirming her 14-1 accidental for the Ryanair Chase volition spell consecutive to Prestbury Park.

At Warwick, 1-5 favourite L'Eau Du Sud warmed hearts with an emotionally charged triumph successful the colours of precocious part-owner John Hales.

Just implicit a week aft Hales' death, the Dan Skelton trainee rubber-stamped his Arkle Chase claims successful the Grade Two contest.

“It’s a beauteous poignant occurrence fixed what John meant to our family," section handler Skelton said. "That volition enactment L'Eau Du Sud spot connected for Cheltenham."