2023 Rendlesham Hurdle Tips
Next Destination has not run for nearly two years and there is a big question mark over whether the eleven-year-old can recapture the form of old. Since finishing second in the Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Chase in 2021, the horse has been beset by injuries and it now falls to Nicky Henderson to get a tune out of a runner that was previously handled by Paul Nicholls.
There’s little doubt that if the horse is able to recapture his previous form, then he should be able to outclass the field in the Rendlesham Hurdle, although it’s clearly not a given and Erne River might be able to build on two recent runner-up performances. The eight-year-old was able to finish second in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle at Doncaster over Christmas and that was over a similar distance.
Proschema has had a mixed bag of things over the past four races, with the eight-year-old most recently being pulled up at Newbury towards the end of November. That was in the Coral Long Distance Hurdle which was won by Champ, with no apparent reason why the well-backed horse wasn’t able to perform on that occasion.
Perhaps Green Book can be really progressive and there is plenty to recommend the six-year-old who is trained by Venetia Williams. The age of the horse means that progression is more likely and the runner comes into the race off the back of a win in the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle on 4 February. Some decent horses were beaten and this looks like the best each-way selection.