NICKY Henderson always said it was fairly pointless running the mare Verdana Blue on soft ground and, having upset stable-companion Buveur D’Air in the Christmas Hurdle, she did quite well to finish fifth in the big one at Cheltenham.

She was much better suited by the surface at Ayr and bolted up in the CPMS Scottish Champion Hurdle, Henderson taking advantage of the race’s status as a limited handicap by putting up Connor Brace, who can claim 7lbs.