Anne Blaker

Rik Gurney will campaign VALLEY HENRY, the ex-Paul Nicholls 14-year-old who was fourth in the 2003 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Valley Henry’s last win under Rules was on good ground in the Aon Chase at Newbury in February 2003, and he was later odds-on favourite for the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby (fell). The gelding was last seen winning a Confined race at Aldington in March 2008, his fourth win out of five runs in point-to-points (including Open races at Parham and Godstone in 2007). Rik is hoping to keep him injury-free this season and has sent him to Anne Blaker in her final campaign as a trainer.

BOY’S HURRAH joined Rik a couple of seasons ago from Howard Johnson and was trained by him for an amateur chase at Plumpton in February 2007 (pulled up). Ridden then by Philip York, the 12-year-old has now moved to the Sandhurst Area rider’s stables and Rik thinks he will “make a lovely pointer.” Boy’s Hurrah scored four wins and four seconds in 19 races under Rules, winning a 3m Sandown handicap chase in January 2005 when beating CARRYONHARRY by 21 lengths. Rik has also taken on another ex-Johnson chaser, Rio Nova.

Mrs Blaker also has charge of ATTORNEY GENERAL, a rising 10-year-old Sadler's Wells gelding bought out of Jim Old's yard by the Sansom family and jointly owned by Peter Rhodes (of Persian King fame) to run in the South East in the forthcoming season. The bay gelding raced 21 times under Rules, winning twice on the Flat and three times over hurdles. Ten of his runs were at Cheltenham, where he won twice ridden by Jason Maguire. He ran in two Pertemps Finals at the Cheltenham Festival, and was beaten by My Way De Solzen in the 2006 World Hurdle. His only attempt over fences was in a Beginners' Chase at Hereford in December 2007 when pulled up behind Over The Creek and Hennessy. Attorney General will be ridden by Anna Sansom.