His Seven Barrows stable may be enduring a frustrating time at the moment but Nicky Henderson was given a welcome lift by Papini at Newbury yesterday.

He also enhanced his prospects of landing a race at Cheltenham he would especially like to win when the four-year-old landed the Berkshire Stand Bookshop Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Henderson has not had much to shout about during the first half of the campaign, owing largely to a bug which has affected a number of his team.

But Papini's half-length triumph over At Your Request had the trainer looking ahead to the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, a new race at this year's Festival.

After the 7-4 victor had been greeted by a jubilant group of people belonging to the Newbury Racehorse Owners Group, a relieved Henderson said: ''At the moment it's only me and half the staff that are coughing, thank God, although I admit that we won't be overly busy for the rest of the month.

''This is partly due to the fact that we've had quite a lot of them revaccinated.

''Papini will make a smashing chaser one day but I think he's made for the Fred Winter race, which I would especially like to win.''

Henderson, who assisted the late Winter before taking out his licence, added: ''He stays and he tries, which is half the battle with these four-year-olds.''

Another Cheltenham hint was dropped when the James Fanshawe-trained Pole Star (1-2) outclassed his rivals under Robert Thornton in the Fabulous Fakes Novices' Hurdle.

The seven-year-old is proving a good purchase for his owner Paul Green, who can look ahead to a choice of engagements at the Festival.

Coral cut the one-time Ascot Gold Cup third, who beat Spartan Place by seven lengths, from 25-1 into 20s for the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle.

But Fanshawe said: ''He will have one more race beforehand and could go back to two miles, although he obviously stays well.

''He is getting rejuvenated by his jumping and that was nice and easy for him. It's great fun to have novices like him, Reveillez and Prins Willem, especially when they win like this one did.''

The fortunes of Jim Old have taken an upswing this month and that trend continued when Young Collier short-headed Dun An Doras in the CiSTM Racing Club Handicap Chase.

The winner, 5-2, was headed on the run-in only to battle back under Wayne Hutchinson to lead again on the post.

Owner Wally Sturt was a relieved man and admitted: ''I was convinced we'd won but it took so long for the judge to call it that I was beginning to lose my confidence."

Hutchinson, however, was subsequently found guilty of improper riding by the stewards, who decided he had hit Young Collier in an incorrect place. They suspended him for two days.