Born in Lambeth, Central London on December 10, 1950, Nicholas John ‘Nicky’ Henderson was educated at Eton College before joining the legendary Fred Winter at Uplands Stables in Upper Lambourn, Berkshire as amateur rider-cum-assistant trainer in 1972. In July 1978, he began training in his own right at Windsor House Stables in nearby Lambourn, saddling his first winner, Dukery, in a novice hurdle at Uttoxeter on October 14, 1978.
In the early part of his career – that is, before he moved to his current base, Seven Barrows, back in Upper Lambourn, in 1992 – Henderson sent out no fewer than 14 Cheltenham Festival winners. His early tally included the Champion Hurdle three times, with the talented, but fragile, See You Then in 1985, 1986 and 1987, the Triumph Hurdle twice, with First Bout in 1985 and Alone Success in 1987 and the Arkle Challenge Trophy once, with Remittance Man in 1991. Indeed, Henderson also won the National Hunt Trainers’ Championship in both 1985/86 and 1986/87.
Since moving to Seven Barrows, Henderson, 75, has won the National Hunt Trainers’ Championship four more times, in 2012/13, 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2019/20. At the Cheltenham Festival, where he has been leading trainer three times, in 2000, 2010 and 2012, he has saddled a total of 75 winners, placing him second on the all-time list, behind only the indomitable Willie Mullins (whom he once described as a “good mate”). Of the feature races at the Festival, he has won the Champion Hurdle a record nine times, the Queen Mother Champion Chase a co-record six times and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Stayers’ Hurdle and Ryanair Chase twice apiece. His 2023 Champion Hurdle winner, Constitution Hill, is a top-priced 100/30 to win again in 2026, following an impressive Flat debut at Southwell.
On July 31, 2018, Henderson reached the milestone of 3,000 National Hunt winners, courtesy of Brave Eagle, ridden by James Bowen, in a beginners’ chase at Worcester. He quipped, “It’s taken 40 years for 3,000, but I’m not going to try to double it!” adding, “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and we haven’t finished yet.”
