Bank on usual Christmas bonus from in-form Henderson yard; WATCHING THE TRAINERS.

Byline: Kevin Morley

WITH plenty of class horses on show, it pays not to stray too far from the obvious as far as punting goes in the many prestigious races between now and the new year.

You cannot go far wrong backing Nicky Henderson's string in December, and he has been in great form during November (15 from 43 - 35%/+7.50pt). Don't forget his customary Kempton winner(s) at the Christmas meeting.

I expect David Pipe to have plenty of success next month. He underachieved last term with a lower than expected amount of winners and no success at the Cheltenham Festival. The stable is in better nick now, though, and in the two campaigns prior to last season, December was his most successful month.

Venetia Williams is another to have on your side as she trains her runners to peak in December. Don't worry that the yard seems to be quiet on the winners front at the moment. It was exactly the same last season, before she hit her usual purple patch.

Alan King has had plenty of winners in the last three Decembers but his string seems to be more backward than usual.

That was the case last weekend with the likes of Voy Por Ustedes, Karabak, Katchit and Franchoek all suggesting they will improve for the run. That would dissuade me from investing heavily in King's runners in the near future. In his early training career, January was his most successful month and that could be the time to weigh in this season.

Looking ahead to Saturday's Hennessy, the two contenders who appeal are Barbers Shop and Cappa Bleu. Both look well weighted, with Denman compressing the handicap, and come from yards that have won the race in recent years - Henderson with Trabolgan in 2005 and Evan Williams with State Of Play in 2006. Henderson's irresistible form sways me towards Barbers Shop.