Henderson rewarded for Heskin call-up as Max McNeill enters Seven Barrows fold

Max McNeill, approaching 20 years as an owner, is set to have a horse in training at Seven Barrows for the first time this season after adding Nicky Henderson to his portfolio of trainers.

McNeill's blue and white-hooped silks have become an increasingly familiar sight in the sport in the last decade and they will now have a place in the tack room at Henderson's legendary stable on the outskirts of Lambourn.

The Berkshire-based businessman, whose horses are based with Alan King, Olly Murphy and Paul Nicholls among others, has purchased Persian Time in partnership with close pal Greg Stone. The four-year-old by Califet was second in an Irish point-to-point in March and is enjoying a summer break at Paddy Brennan's pre-training operation.

Nicky Henderson: trainer is based in LambournCredit: Edward Whitaker

McNeill, who – perhaps surprisingly – has never visited Henderson's historic yard, revealed the six-time champion trainer's decision to use Adrian Heskin on Marie's Rock at Kempton in December played a part in his decision-making process.

"That was very instrumental and a key point," he said.

"He put Adrian on and did that completely off his own back and Adrian won on the horse that day.

"It wasn't the only factor, but it was one as it's not easy having a retained jockey with one thing or the other.

"If you're doing a pie chart diagram of why we've got a horse with Nicky then the number one reason is he's a bloody good trainer – let's not beat about the bush. If Dolly Parton put Adrian up I wouldn't necessarily send her a horse, but that Marie's Rock ride was a factor and they supported him, which was great."

Retired jockey Jerry McGrath, who works closely with Henderson, was another key player in the link up.

"Jerry's a great guy who we get on brilliantly with," McNeill added.

"He sourced the horse and we've got to know him since he retired and I've also got to know Nicky over the years because him and Kingy are great mates.

"I said we'd have a horse with him one day and we looked at a really nice mare, but that didn't work out.

"We said to them to keep their eye out and this one came along and we bought him. We liked him and know the vendor Sean Doyle very well as we buy a lot from him. Sean liked him, Adrian sat on him, Jerry was happy – all the boxes were ticked.

"It's great to have a horse with Nicky, but I've never actually been to Seven Barrows!"

McNeill, whose business solutions firm Ultima sponsors at the Cheltenham Festival, will put that right in the coming months.

"The horse is with Paddy at the moment along with another 15 or so of ours and I'll go and see him soon and then we'll go up and see him at Nicky's when he gets into the routine there," McNeill said.

"Greg was keen to have a horse with Nicky, which was another factor as well."

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