Act Of Innocence can prove to be ace in pack

ACT of Innocence can cement his Cheltenham Festival credentials by providing Nicky Henderson with another victory in the Don Lockwood Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon.

- By ASHLEY IVESEN

Act of Innocence

(STEVEN PASTON/PA)

The Seven Barrows handler has saddled three previous winners of this Listed contest, with the brilliant Shishkin most notably striking gold six years ago en route to landing the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park the following month.

Act Of Innocence looks a legitimate contender for the Supreme himself, but with Henderson and his owners Gordon and Su Hall also responsible for the ante-post favourite for the traditional Festival curtain-raiser in Old Park Star, this six-year-old is stepping up in distance to give connections the opportunity to split their aces come Cheltenham in March.