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Nicky Henderson looks to have another high-class prospect on his hands after the well-touted Jeriko Du Reponet made an impressive winning debut under rules in Newbury’s opener on Friday.

The son of Choeur Du Nord arrived with a tall reputation following his comfortable point-to-point success at Kirkistown back in March, with the four-year-old bay also impressing in a racecourse gallop at the Berkshire track ten days ago.

However, Henderson was keen to keep things realistic before his gelding debuted at Newbury, labelling his pre-race 12/1 Supreme Novices' quotes as "absolutely stark raving ridiculous". That may well have been the case, but the 12/1 on offer pre-race is certainly no longer available with most bookmakers cutting the debut winner to 8/1 following his impressive performance. Unibet and BetVictor were seemingly more impressed by going 4/1 and 5/1 respectively for the Cheltenham Festival curtain raiser in March.

Held up off the pace under Nico de Boinville, the JP McManus-owned 4/11 chance reeled in the leaders before quickening clear between rivals to record an effortless three-and-a-quarter length success in a maiden hurdle that Henderson knows well, having landed the opening contest with the likes of Jonbon and Buveur D'Air in previous years.

Winning rider Nico de Boinville told Racing TV: "There was a bit of a tight gap that he came through and once he got through that gap he's come back on the bridle,"

"He'll obviously come on for the run and you saw that he had a nice piece of work here [Newbury] about ten days ago."

"He's a very good-looking horse."

When question about the horse's trip, he added: "I don't really know but I think that will be fine for now."