'Nashville seems more exciting than Uttoxeter' - Henderson runner primed for US

Nicky Henderson, fresh from top-flight success at the Punchestown festival, will cast his net a little further in search of his next Grade 1 success with Pistol Whipped in line for the Calvin Houghland Iroquois in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday week.

Owned by art dealer Anthony Speelman and his son Mark, Pistol Whipped, who has a liking for good ground, developed into a useful performer during the 2020-21 season and took a step back in the right direction when second with a big weight in a competitive Kempton handicap in March.

Staged at Percy Warner Park, the three-mile hurdle is worth $150,000, which has played its part in tempting connections.

Watch Pistol Whipped's last run at Kempton

Mark Speelman told the Racing Post on Wednesday morning: "We discussed it last spring because there aren't many options for Pistol Whipped in Britain. He's between a handicapper and a Graded horse, or that's how it seems at the moment, and he needs quick ground and likes tight tracks.

"The Grade 1s in the States are generally over two and a half and three miles on good ground at tight tracks. Last spring, the prize-money wasn't there for those races. Maybe it was to do with Covid, I'm not sure how their prize-money is raised. I think a lot is down to attendances, which will have been hit hard by the pandemic.

"I looked at the summer programme here for him and it sounded much more exciting to go to Nashville than Uttoxeter."

'We were delighted with that run and he's in good form'

Speelman senior, 81, is set to make the trip over to the States for the race and has been involved with Henderson's celebrated Seven Barrows operation, which struck at the highest level with Marie's Rock at Punchestown last week, for more than 20 years.

"Pistol Whipped's last run at Kempton was very good as he had a huge weight [12st 1lb] and the third, Up The Straight, franked the form by winning a good novice handicap chase at Sandown on the last day of the season," Speelman said. "We were delighted with that run and he's in good form.

"I can't make it over I'm afraid, but Dad is going and hoping to win his first Grade 1."

Henderson's stable jockey Nico de Boinville will be aboard as he was for the yard's last raider Brain Power, who landed the American Grand National at Far Hills in October 2019.

Days Of Heaven and Hunt Ball are other horses Henderson has fielded in the States in recent years.

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