NICKY Henderson’s team is clicking into gear and the champion trainer has a leading Triumph Hurdle contender in Apple’s Shakira, who is a sister to the very talented Apple’s Jade.

Successful at Vichy in May, she moved to Seven Barrows to race for J. P. McManus and took the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle in style, pulling clear of Philip Hobbs’ Gumball.

The margin was 17 lengths in the end, in what was effectively a match, though the winner (evens favourite) had come off the bridle at one stage and had to be rousted by Barry Geraghty as Gumball, impressive since also arriving from France, led into the closing stages.

However, Gumball was far from fluent at times and stumbled after hitting two out. Quickly on terms, Apple’s Shakira found her second wind and soon made the 7lb fillies’ allowance count, pulling right away on the run-in. Eragon De Chanay managed a modest third.

“Barry adores her but she doesn’t show you anything at home,” Henderson remarked. “She does jump, though, and although she’s not very big she has a lovely temperament. I suppose the Triumph is where we’ll end up but she needs to learn, so we won’t be hiding her away.”

DOUBLE

The stable completed a double when Thomas Campbell, a winner over three miles here on his reappearance, readily followed up in the Listed Regulatory Finance Solutions Handicap Hurdle in the hands of young 7lb claimer James Bowen, the partnership coming two and a half lengths clear of Anteros and Paddy Brennan on the run-in

“This horse is a bit of a reprobate, always mucking about and playing the fool, but he’s very honest,” the trained reported. “I’d been thinking about the Pertemps Final but the handicapper may not agree with me!”