Cheltenham News

Hennessy mulls over 2022 Festival plans

Trainer Paul Hennessy is considering two potential races for Heaven Help Us at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.

Hennessy, better known as a Derby-winning greyhound trainer, was handed a winner on one of the biggest horse racing stages of them all, the Cheltenham Festival, in the Coral Cup at Prestbury Park last week.

Heaven Help Us made all in the race and came clear from her rivals two from the finish, eventually finishing nine lengths clear of the Nicky Henderson-trained in Craigneiche and a further two-and-a-quarter clear of third-placed Tea Clipper.

Nearly a week on and the Irish handler says he is still “somewhere in the stratosphere, among the stars” and “still can't believe she went over to Cheltenham and won a race” in a stellar field.

Although there will be more races to come in 2021, Hennessy has already been discussing 2022 Cheltenham plans for Heaven Help Us.

“We can think about the Mares' Hurdle or the Stayers' next year. I think the further out in trip she goes will suit her grand,” he said.

“What happened to us this year was so wonderful, we wouldn't be expecting anything like that to happen again, that is the truth.”