Nicky Henderson is hoping Mr Coffey can grab glory in the 2023 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse and end the trainer's long wait for victory.
The Seven Barrows handler, who is now 72-years-old, has won every big race in National Hunt racing but he is yet to taste victory in the world's greatest steeplechase. And Henderson admits the 'clock is ticking' on his hopes to add the one major omission on his CV. The trainer's first ever runner in the race was Zongalero 44 years ago. He finished second to Rubstic in 1979, while The Tsarevitch was also runner-up for Henderson behind Maori Venture in 1987. Despite having had 42 horses to line-up in the Aintree marathon over the years, he is still without a winner.
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On what it would mean to finally end his Grand National hoodoo, Henderson said: "Well I'm not going to suddenly leap up and say 'that's it' and retire! But on the other hand it would complete the journey, if you like. It's been a long haul and I haven't finished yet. But that is the one obvious race I'd love to win – doesn't everyone? I'm sure anyone who's won the race once, twice, wants to go on and win it again because it's very special. We've been knocking on the door a few times.
"I love the place. The race is very special, it's completely different to Cheltenham. Luckily we've been fortunate enough to have some of the best horses around and therefore you're a player at Cheltenham at the highest level and that's where it really matters, but this race is unique. It's a completely different game. It would be a pity not to find one someday but the clock is ticking!"
Mister Coffey will be his 43rd entrant at Aintree on April 15 and he already has experience over the Grand National fences having finished 16th in last year's Topham Chase – a race which Henderson has won a record five times.
The eight-year-old is yet to win over fences in eight starts but was third to potential Grand National rival Gaillard Du Mesnil – trained by Willie Mullins – in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month.
Henderson said: "We ran him in the Topham last year and he enjoyed jumping round there then. He's in good form and ran a very good race at Cheltenham. He's been placed in everything you can throw at him. He can't win anything but that's a bit like me in the National! He's perfectly capable of it and it's nice to be going in there with a horse that realistically does have a chance. It would be a surprise to all if I won it!"
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Mister Coffey will be part of a big team from the Henderson stable over the three days at Aintree next week. The star turn will be Constitution Hill, who carried on his peerless career with a superb victory in the Champion Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival. He will step up in trip to 2m4f in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle on Grand Opening Day next Thursday. While stable-mate Shiskin will also step up in trip to three miles for the first time in the Aintree Bowl Chase on the same day.
