"It's a big hole to fill," said Henderson. The 16-year partnership ended when Fitzgerald announced his retirement through injury..

"Barry will come over from Ireland on a regular basis. Their principal day is Sunday which isn't my favourite racing day anyway.

"He's ridden a lot for me, Punjabi in the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown last April just one of them. Barry is a big race jockey. He's keen and I'm hopeful.

"AP (McCoy) is going to be involved regularly as well."

Binocular was last year's leading novice and is McCoy's mount for his boss JP McManus.

"Binocular arrived back yesterday from JP's Martinstown Stud and looks magnificent. Behind that principal retainer AP will have a big part to play here as will Marcus Foley, Andrew Tinkler and Felix de Giles. They are part and parcel of the back-up and neither Barry nor AP are the lightest of boys."

Henderson stressed that Fitzgerald remains an integral part of his team.

"Mick had this unique ability to to work a race out, to take it apart and explain how it would be run and the way we should play it.

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