LEGENDARY trainer Nicky Henderson has opened up on his retirement plans – after 44 years of hurt in the Grand National.
The Seven Barrows supremo, 72, saddled his first runner all the way back in 1979 but is yet to win the world’s most famous race.
Henderson says finally winning the Grand National would ‘complete the journey’ of his amazing career
Funnily enough, the closest he ever came was runner-up with Zongalero that year, while The Tsarevitch was also second in 1987.
Hendo hopes Mister Coffey, owned by billionaire Lady Bamford, could finally ‘complete’ his career on Saturday week.
The trainer will be putting all his eggs in one basket with the eight-year-old his only runner in the £1milllion contest.
Mister Coffey, who cost £340,000 but is 66-1 and still a maiden over fences, warmed up for the Aintree test with a third-place finish in Cheltenham’s National Hunt Chase.
So while it may look like he has a lot to do to get the better of current 6-1 fav Corach Rambler, Hendo reckons there is still more to come.
And he says winning the race that has always eluded him would not mean he will call it quits on the spot.
He said: “Well I’m not going to suddenly leap up and say ‘that’s it’ and retire!
“But on the other hand it would complete the journey, if you like.
“It’s been a long haul and I haven’t finished yet. But that is the one obvious race I’d love to win – doesn’t everyone?
“I’m sure anyone who’s won the race once, twice wants to go on and win it again because it’s very special. We’ve been knocking on the door a few times.
“I love the place. The race is very special. It’s completely different to Cheltenham.
“Luckily we’ve been fortunate enough to have some of the best horses around and therefore you’re a player at Cheltenham at the highest level and that’s where it really matters. But this race is unique.
“It’s a completely different game. It would be a pity not to find one someday but the clock is ticking!
“We ran Mister Coffey in the Topham last year and he enjoyed jumping round there then. He’s in good form and ran a very good race at Cheltenham.
“He’s been placed in everything you can throw at him. He can’t win anything but that’s a bit like me in the National!
“He’s perfectly capable of it and it’s nice to be going in there with a horse that realistically does have a chance.
“It would be a surprise to all if I won it!”
