Sports

Santini like Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth says Nicky Henderson and can improve 'plenty'


‘A bit of a Bobs Worth’ was Nicky Henderson’s affectionate comparison to Santini as he slogged his way into the Gold Cup reckoning.

Nico de Boinville’s mount survived a mistake two out, giving first Cheltenham win seeker Bristol De Mai the upper hand, but he refused to shirk the issue and bravely fought back.

In what developed into a titanic tussle in the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase, it was Santini’s superior staying power that won the day- and form that Henderson rates highly.

Unlike Sandown, where the winner made especially hard work of overhauling a horse well beaten in the Welsh National since, Santini committed fully to the task.

Henderson warned the trainers of his potential Blue Riband rivals there is plenty more in the tank.

“He thrives on work, work, work,” he said.

Santini won the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham

“We have thrown it at him and I can’t believe there isn’t a fair amount of improvement. There has to be.”

Racing with his usual zest, last year’s Gold Cup third Bristol De Mai put in some spectacular leaps in the 3m 1f contest and was in no mood for defeat himself.

He looked to have Santini in trouble after his mistake two fences from home, but just ran out of gas up the run-in, going down by three and a half lengths.


The pair pulled 29 lengths clear of the third, Top Ville Ben, as bookmakers trimmed the winner’s price to 13/2 for Gold Cup honours.

Santini finished third in last year’s RSA Chase after an interrupted preparation and the Seven Barrows trainer hopes this spring will be kinder.

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Describing his horse as ‘sloppy’ on seasonal debut, he said this was ‘200 per cent better.’

“Bristol he’s a great benchmark isnt he?” Henderson added.

“He’s a solid person, we have gone away from him, he has come back at us.

“And in that ground, not Santini’s best, but he copes with it.

“We are in the ball game anyway.”





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