NICKY HENDERSON ruled out a trip to Aintree for Soldatino after he landed the JCB Triumph Hurdle on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

On only his second start since joining Henderson’s Seven Barrows team, the four-year-old eventually reeled in long-time leader Barizan to take the Grade One contest by a length and a quarter with Alavain six lengths back in third.

The Evan Williams-trained runner-up, a winner at Cheltenham in October, lead from the off and opened up a big lead on the rest of the field.

For a time it looked like he would hold on under Tom O’Brien. But as he tired Soldatino and Barry Geraghty reeled him in and when Barizan put in a tired jump at the last Geraghty and Soldatino swooped.

Henderson was winning the race for the second season running following Zaynar’s success 12 months ago. Several Triumph winners have bid to complete the double in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle on the opening day of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting.

But Zaynar didn’t run again that season after his Cheltenham win, and Henderson hinted he would do the same with Soldartino.