ALL the talk at recent media visits to Seven Barrows has tended to focus on one horse, but while the saga of Sprinter Sacre’s attempt to regain his Champion Chase crown continues to rumble, Nicky Henderson was particularly excited by a new era being ushered in, describing his current crop of novice hurdlers as “really good through and through”.

Henderson looked a resurgent force when landing seven races at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival, but after capturing the trainers’ title the following season, he rather surprisingly ceded dominance to old rival Paul Nicholls last term.

Many of the heroes of 2012 are either gone or beginning to creak, and it might be assumed that arch-rival Nicholls, with his string fully rebuilt, might be unassailable for the foreseeable future.

That’s not the impression he gave reporters at the yard on Monday, and he sounded like a man relishing the challenge of the next fortnight, and that familiar twinkle in his eye suggested he wasn’t presuming defeat in his battle with the Willie Mullins hordes, nor in his ongoing battle with Nicholls for British supremacy.

In terms of his stable star, he was adamant that the son of Network was back to his best in terms of his work, but admitted that he wasn’t necessarily expecting a 2015 vintage Sprinter Sacre to have the same air of invincibility as when at his peak two years ago. That’s a telling statement, and adds perspective to the conundrum that is the Champion Chase.

Despite Dodging Bullets and Mr Mole putting their own claims forward in recent starts, it was very much Sire De Grugy who Henderson saw as the one to beat.

Looking very fit prior to the Clarence House, many wondered where the improvement might come from between Ascot and Cheltenham for Sprinter Sacre.

Again, it seemed pertinent to hear the trainer talk about the need to “wait for the spark”, and it’s clear that something has been missing in the horse’s work since the beginning of the 2013/14 season - at least until the last six weeks or so, when Henderson’s demeanour has become more bullish.

Sprinter Sacre was clearly fit at Ascot, but his usual exuberance was kept in check by Barry Geraghty, and the job there was to ensure his appetite was restored.

Given 10 days off subsequently, Henderson was relieved to report that he gained condition in that time - a sure sign that the race hadn’t affected his constitution adversely.

GOLD CUP

Also looking to redeem himself at Cheltenham is Bobs Worth, who disappointed in last year’s Gold Cup, and again after a break in the Lexus.

Henderson is slightly wary that the horse’s willingness to give his all may have left a mark, but felt that Leopardstown was easily written off given the ground had gone against the son of Bob Back. A gallop at Newbury on Sunday will complete his preparation.

If the two mentioned above represent the Seven Barrows “A-Team” of established stars, then that was a list on which the trainer felt that Ma Filleule had earned her place.

An excellent second to Holywell in 2014 before landing the Topham at Aintree, she appears to be coming to the boil after missing much of the winter, and will take her place in the Ryanair with what Henderson feels is a serious chance.

Henderson may yet be represented in the World Hurdle by Blue Fashion and/or Whisper. That pair have raced just once each this season, but could still line up in March subject to pleasing in a racecourse gallop at Kempton.

Vaniteux and Josses Hill haven’t quite lived up to high expectations in 2014/15, but their handler isn’t giving up hope of big-race glory, with good ground put forward as a possible catalyst for the former in the Champion Hurdle, while it’s Barry Geraghty’s unwavering faith in the latter which prompts hope he can spring a shock against the monster that is Un De Sceaux.

Those are outside hopes in reality, but the same can’t be said about Henderson’s arrows in the novice hurdles, with L’Ami Serge clearly held in the highest regard, and Simon Munir’s five-year-old would normally be talked of as a banker. Henderson seemed amused that Willie Mullins had beaten him to the punch with his lofty talk about Douvan, quipping “Willie says his is the best he’s ever brought over – well, I suppose I should say the same!”

He also joked about needing to give the Supreme second favourite an anti-Douvan pep talk, but underneath the humour lies a belief that the Gerry Feilden winner is something very special, and wins in the Betfair Hurdle and National Spirit Hurdle for the pair he beat at Newbury seem to underline that fact.

If Henderson has a strong hand in the Supreme, his grip on the Triumph is more like a stranglehold, and he paraded his three hopes, Hargam, Top Notch and Peace And Co together, with their handler teasing the assembled audience to vote for which of the trio would come off best.

The last named is the one with the big reputation, and he has reportedly been taught to relax by working behind horses at home, having initially proved very keen.

His win at Cheltenham in January was designed to be a lesson along similar lines, and was judged a success.

The big-race favourite is obviously well thought of, but isn’t seen as being in a different league to his stablemates at home, and once again the unspoken message, particularly in the case of Hargam, was “underestimate me at your peril”.

The Neptune looks like it will be devoid of Henderson runners, but Out Sam was mentioned as a possible for the Albert Bartlett, for which Vyta Du Roc and Caracci Apache had already been confirmed. It’s unusual for Seven Barrows to be represented in the bumper, but O O Seven, Altior and Ok Corral are deemed suitable candidates having been in training last season.

The yard lacks strength in the handicaps, it seems, but Hunt Ball (Festival Plate) and Volnaix De Thaix (Coral Cup) are classy sorts who merit a mention, as does Dawalan in the Pertemps.

Correspondent’s Pick

>> L’Ami Serge