NICKY Henderson unleashed two potential Cheltenham Festival contenders in Bivouac and Vyta Du Roc as the Seven Barrows trainer recorded a double over hurdles at Sandown yesterday.
Bivouac was given a 20/1 quote with Bet Victor for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, while Vyta Du Roc (above) is 20s with Coral for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.
Vyta Du Roc (7/4 favourite) took his winning run to four when he held the late thrust of Shantou Bob by a nose in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (registered as the Winter Novices' Hurdle).
Leading at the last, Vyta Du Roc was hard driven by Barry Geraghty to just hang on from Shantou Bob, the pair separated by the width of the track. "He does his work well at home. You don't have to throw the kitchen sink at him, but you've just got to keep him at it," said Henderson. "He's won two pretty decent novices now. He's a lovely big horse and has a future. "Barry said he wouldn't have won at two miles, so he probably needs the two-and-a-half. We'll have to look at the Neptune and those races."
Bivouac (4/1) made a decent impression when making a successful British debut in the Macmillan Cancer Juvenile Hurdle. The French-bred gelding showed the right qualities as he got the better of Storm Force Ten by a length, despite making a mistake at the final flight. "He's a big three-year-old. He hardly knows what he's doing yet," said Henderson. "Apart from the mistake there, he jumped beautifully. "I wouldn't be in a great rush. He's a horse for the future and he'll go somewhere nice."
* RICHARD Johnson has been ruled out of the William Hill King George meeting after taking the wrong course on Benbane Head in the Devon Marathon at Exeter yesterday.
In-form Johnson was at the head of affairs on Martin Keighley's veteran when he went the wrong side of a rail on the far side of the course. The confusion seemed to happen as the water jump was omitted on the first circuit as it is not permitted for that obstacle to be the first fence in a four-mile race. However, it was to be jumped next time around and Johnson went on its inside, nearly carrying Aidan Coleman and Gorgehous Lliege with him.
Johnson was called in to see the stewards, who found him in breach of Rule (B) 59.3.2.3 and gave him a 12-day suspension, which includes the feature Christmas meeting.
Johnson will be out of action from December 19 to January 2 on days when there is racing.
He would have ridden Charlie Hall hero Menorah in the Kempton highlight.
The race was eventually won by Adrenalin Flight.