Nicky Henderson says he doesn't want watering at Sandown

Nicky Henderson has expressed concerns over watering of the going at Sandown ahead of the final day of the season on Saturday.

Henderson plans to run Sprinter Sacre in the bet365 Celebration Chase at the meeting and the reigning champion chaser, who shook the new Cheltenham grandstand when winning at last month's Festival, would prove an understandably popular draw.

But rather than fearing the impressive potential opposition, that includes Un De Sceaux, Vautour and Douvan from Willie Mullins' Trainers' Championship-chasing team, Henderson says he is more concerned by news of watering at Sandown.

"I'd rather the ground was left as it is," he said. "Obviously, we'll need to see how things go between now and the weekend but there is always the option of going to Punchestown instead if we're not happy."

Henderson added that he could take up to a dozen horses to Punchestown, including the talented but frustratingly injury-prone Simonsig, providing that he pleases Barry Geraghty in a schooling session at home.

"The interesting thing is that because it's after the end of the British season, you could take a novice hurdler out there and have them win and still have them as a novice for next year, so that's certainly an option to consider," he said.

"Barry will have a sit on Simonsig first but he worked very well on Tuesday morning so he's in the reckoning."

Sandown clerk of the course and regional director Andrew Cooper said that he understood Henderson's concerns for Sprinter Sacre, but explained: "If I hadn't already put down some very selective watering in some areas of the track we'd be good now and potentially good to firm by Saturday, if the weather remains dry.

"There isn't much suggestion in any of the forecasts that I have seen that we're going to see rain between now and the weekend, so all I am trying to do is keep the ground from drying out any further. We haven't had any rain at all since last Friday.

"If I gave the going now it would be just on the slow side of good and good in a few places. I hope it will be something along those lines when we race on Saturday."