Santini entered in Haydock Grand National Trial as Henderson keeps options open

After recently bemoaning the lack of opportunities for Gold Cup contenders, Nicky Henderson has put last year's runner-up Santini in the William Hill Grand National Trial at Haydock next month.

The champion trainer remains keen for the high-class nine-year-old to return to Cheltenham for the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase on Saturday but he has given him the option of taking on Aintree hopes under a likely big weight at the Merseyside track on February 20.

Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup card and betting

The 3m4½f contest was won en route to Gold Cup success by Cool Ground and Master Oats (run at Kempton) in the 1990s and Henderson said: "The plan is to run at Cheltenham on Saturday but if it's very testing ground we'd think again as it's not the right time to be doing that. There is only the Denman Chase after this weekend and the plan is to run Champ there, but I'm not saying they both can’t go there.

Santini (near side) beat Bristol De Mai in the Cotswold Chase last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Everything is just a bit up in the air with the ground like it is so it is hard to make plans. I'm not saying he would jump into a Grand National by having an entry in this race, I just want to make sure all avenues are covered.

"It's unlikely that he runs there as it probably comes a bit too close to Cheltenham but the options for him are so limited. Haydock is unlikely to come up with better ground at this time of year but you never know. He would easily stay the trip around Haydock that's for sure."

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Secret Reprieve and Notachancance, the winners of the Welsh Grand National and Classic Chase this month, are the sponsor's 7-1 joint favourites for the Grand National Trial.

Santini's possible absence from Saturday's Cotswold Chase could tempt Sandy Thomson to run Yorkhill in that Grade 2 contest, rather than the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster the same afternoon.

After giving the Rehearsal Chase winner a workout on the all-weather at Newcastle on Wednesday, Thomson said: "I don't know where he'll run but the Sky Bet looks as competitive as it's been for a year or two and the Cotswold could cut up.

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"If Santini doesn't go, Bristol De Mai will and Yala Enki might but apart from them there's not a hell of a lot in it. And a small field might be better than a very competitive handicap where they go a million miles an hour."

More to read:

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