Henderson crowned champion trainer, Henllan Harr springs Bet365 Gold Cup surprise

Henderson last won in 2012-13 – the only season in the past 11 in which rival Paul Nicholls has not triumphed.

“It is a championship and it’s there to be fought for. There are no prizes for finishing second,” said Henderson.

“It’s a tough game and, to be fair, we have been consistent over the last few years and we’ve second to Paul four or five times.”

“I don’t think I’m coming to the end of it, I will keep going as long as everybody wants me to.”

In the big race of the day at Sandown , the Bet365 Gold Cup, Henllan Harri claimed a surprise win only after a thrilling finish.

The outsider, trained by Peter Bowen and ridden by his son, Sean, held off the Henderson-trained Vyta Du Roc to take the honours.
Henllan Harri, who was 4lb out of the handicap, made all the running in the three mile and five furlong chase and had enough reserves in the tank to take the decision from the judges after Vyta Du Roc finished strongly to force a photo-finish.

There were eight horses in contention for victory in the closing stages but Henllan Harri was not quite for catching up the Sandown hill, passing the winning post first with a head to spare, with Theatre Guide a neck further back in third.

Also at Sandown, Menorah, trained by Philip Hobbs, was retired from action and went out in the best possible way after winning the Oaksey Chase for the fourth successive year.

Meanwhile, Irish jump racing’s champion trainer Willie Mullins narrowly retained his crown.

He staged a late surge to beat rival Gordon Elliott, who held the lead in the prizemoney-decided title race until the Mullins team – winners for the last nine seasons – won three races at Punchestown on Saturday.

Bapaume’s success under jockey Ruby Walsh in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle sealed it, this after Elliott had struck an early blow when favourite Apple’s Jade ran out a wide-margin winner of the Mares Champion Hurdle.