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

Santini does nothing quickly but in giving Nicky Henderson his first Cotswold Chase winner for 40 years he embellished his credentials for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the trainer will not mind waiting another seven weeks for that – especially as he is convinced there is huge improvement in the handsome eight-year-old.

Described by Henderson as the "most beautiful mover", Santini has always been held in the highest regard at Seven Barrows, but was never going to be the slick two-mile performer the yard regularly churns out.

However, he advanced his claims for the festival's feature race when powering clear of Bristol De Mai in the Paddy Power-sponsored event, one Henderson last landed with Raffi Nelson in 1980.

Watch Santini defeat Bristol De Mai in the Cotswold Chase

"This horse is worth the wait," said Henderson, whose winner is as short as 5-1 with Betfred for the Gold Cup, although Ladbrokes, Coral and William Hill offer a more conservative 8-1 in a market headed by last year's winner Al Boum Photo at 4-1.

Those odds might not last long if punters latch on to Henderson's conviction that a better Santini will be seen on March 13.

Santini (right) challenges Bristol De Mai at the final fence on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

His camp – he races for breeders Lizzie and Richard Kelvin-Hughes – will just hope for a smoother preparation than last year when he had to overcome a flu jab and foot problem before finishing a fine second in the RSA Chase, although a suspicion lurks that might have been one that got away.

"That was a step forward, but there's a long way to go," added Henderson, far more satisfied with Santini than he had been after his win at Sandown in November.

"It was 200 per cent better than that. I think ours were a bit fat and sloppy then and he can be a bit like that. He lives and thrives on work and the more you can get into him the better he becomes – he's always been like that.

"There's more to come. If you can't train him he goes the other way and you have to be able to fire work at him. The last three weeks he's been getting better, but I genuinely believe he can do that again. We've just got to get a good run – we had a dreadful time last year – and pray things are good to us and we're lucky.

"I was underwhelmed by Sandown and admitted it there and then. There were no pretensions saying it was fantastic, because it wasn't. We had to go back and start again and have done so on a better foot. That's a good stepping stone where we are trying to get to."

Nicky Henderson greets Santini following his victory at CheltenhamCredit: Edward Whitaker

The five-time champion trainer has two Gold Cups on his CV and likened the strapping eight-year-old to his diminutive 2013 hero Bobs Worth, whose part-owner Malcolm Kimmins – a close friend of Henderson's – was present in Cheltenham's winner's enclosure.

"He's a bit of a Bobs Worth as he's not as flamboyant as Long Run, but he's workmanlike and those horses win Gold Cups and he can do that," the Lambourn maestro continued.

"There are a lot of protagonists and he's definitely one of them."

That was also the assessment of a beaming Richard Kelvin-Hughes, whose grey silks have been carried with distinction by Hadrian's Approach, Vaniteux, Chomba Womba and Different Gravey among others.

He said: "It looks like we've bred a Gold Cup horse, which is even more exciting than just owning one.

"Today was judgement day and if he wanted to sit at that table he had to stand up this afternoon and I think he did. It was a great race. I've been in racing 20 years and that strikes me as a Gold Cup performance – I think most people would think that as well."

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