'It's going a bit too easily!' Santini Gold Cup prep so smooth says Henderson

Santini's preparation for next week's Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup is going so smoothly that Nicky Henderson is reaching for every panel of wood in his office cabin at Seven Barrows to keep it that way.

That is in complete contrast to last year's "horror" route to the festival when the strapping Santini was held up by 12 inches of snow, a flu jab and then a lame foot before his RSA second – an effort Henderson described as unbelievable given what had gone before it.

The build-up this time round has been much kinder to the eight-year-old, who heads William Hill and Betway's Gold Cup market at 100-30, although Ladbrokes make last year's winner Al Boum Photo the same price.

Santini could be backed at 8-1 the day after his defeat of Bristol De Mai in January's Cotswold Chase, but is no bigger than the general 7-2 on offer now.

Henderson is full of respect for Al Boum Photo and the rest of the field, but on Tuesday delivered a bullish bulletin about Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes's homebred.

Santini: powerful chaser adores his workCredit: Edward Whitaker

He said on Tuesday: "I think he's in great form. He schooled very well last week and did a nice bit of work on Saturday. He's going to school again tomorrow and then do one more bit of work on Friday.

"The negatives are the opposition, but we've just got to worry about ourselves and get him there, and then just keep touching every bit of wood in sight because this time last year we were having a horror time with him.

"At the moment everything is going a bit too easily – it makes you nervous. He's having an untroubled run and it's scary as you're half-waiting for something to go wrong!"

Henderson has two Gold Cups on his CV courtesy of Long Run in 2011 and Bobs Worth two years later.

Watch Santini defeat Bristol De Mai in the Cotswold Chase

"Santini loves his work and is a real enthusiast," he added. "He's bubbling at the moment and is in very good form; he's having a good buck and kick and squeal the whole time. Doing nothing bores him to death."

William Hill's Rupert Adams said: "Santini is the worst result in the book and he was available at 25-1 when the betting first opened.

"He's the only unbeaten horse in the race this campaign [Al Boum Photo finished second at Punchestown after the 2019-20 British season had started] and Topofthegame, the last horse to get the better of him, is out for the season. Santini has impressed at every turn and is the one to beat."

A robust type, Santini, who was third in the , has had limited match practice, but the five-time champion trainer does not anticipate that catching him out on Friday week.

"He's a trojan, a big, strong horse," Henderson continued.

"He hasn't had much experience – three chases last season and two this term – but I think he's man enough mentally and he was good at Cheltenham the other day against a very experienced horse in Bristol De Mai.

"He doesn't know he's favourite and I don't know that. I see him as a leading contender and think he's got a very good chance. We're lucky we've got a lot of chances across the board, but he'd be in the front line."

Henderson also had news of the talented Chantry House, who is as short as 15-2 for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, but seems set to contest the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle instead, joining stablemate and exciting ante-post favourite Shishkin.

Chantry House (white cap): live festival hopeCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Owned by JP McManus, Chantry House is around the 8-1 mark for the Supreme and Henderson said: "I imagine he'll run in the Supreme. JP has Sporting John for the Ballymore, so he'd obviously like to split his troops.

"I think Chantry House would get another half a mile, whereas I don't think Shishkin would need it at this stage, but Chantry has the class for two miles on a stiff track on slowish ground. He's in great form too."

A festival target for James and Jean Potter's Mister Fisher, who has the Racing Post Arkle and Marsh Novices' Chase as his options, has yet to be finalised, the 69-year-old revealed: "He's the one we haven't decided on. I talked about it with Nico [de Boinville] this morning and I'm about to talk to the owners and then we'll make a decision."

'Lack of pace a concern'

The Racing Post's betting editor Keith Melrose provides his take on Santini

It is often said by connections that Santini has done nothing wrong in his career. Fair's fair, they are essentially accurate in saying so. His only real shortcoming, the odd demonstration of a lack of pace, is something he shares with plenty of Gold Cup winners. Now that he is joint-favourite for the race, the question needs to change. Has he done enough right?

There are two pieces of evidence on which Santini can justify being at the top table of Gold Cup contenders: his second in last year's RSA and his win in the Cotswold Chase.

Both runs have been at Cheltenham, which is a bonus. In the RSA, his relative lack of pace with respect to Topofthegame and Delta Work was evident, but given the race only took shape from three out it is no black mark against him.

Similarly, the Cotswold was won with stamina. When he ceded the momentum to Bristol De Mai, it was with his mistake two out rather than anything else. It was hard not to be taken with how he stayed on up the hill.

The doubt about Santini is that he is a hostage to fortune. He would not have won Sizing John's Gold Cup, even last year's might have put a little too much emphasis on speed. He is a serious player, but needs a test. With that caveat, it is difficult to get too excited about a price of 7-2.

You might also be interested in:

The replay, result and analysis of last year's RSA

Santini boosts Gold Cup claims in Cotswold as Henderson promises more to come

Nicky Henderson gives the lowdown on his formidable Cheltenham Festival team

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