Santini: 'I'm excited about running him - but it frightens the life out of me'

Santini, second to Al Boum Photo in the 2020 Gold Cup, edged closer to a return to action for new trainer Polly Gundry when coming through a racecourse gallop at Exeter on Thursday and could be poised to make his handicap debut at Cheltenham next month.

Owned by Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes, Santini, who finished third in the Albert Bartlett in 2018 before coming second in the RSA a year later, developed into a high-class chaser for Nicky Henderson and only a peak Al Boum Photo denied him his moment of glory.

He failed to fire last season, however, and was pulled up in the Gold Cup in March, so was switched to the Devon yard of Gundry over the summer, which is where he spent his formative years.

Watch: 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup replay

Gundry, a leading point-to-point rider in her day, got a bird's-eye view of the nine-year-old as she was aboard when he stretched his legs at Exeter on Thursday.

The trainer, who has a 3m2f handicap chase at Cheltenham on December 10 in mind for his return, said on Friday: "He's good. The gallop at Exeter went well and I think we'll go to Cheltenham for a handicap. We just needed time to make sure he was comfortable with his feet and we want it to rain plenty, nice natural stuff rather than too much watering.

"He's a big boy and takes a lot of getting fit, but I'm very happy with him and he's on track for December 10."

'We're trying to make sure he's enjoying things'

Santini, rated 172 at one point, has never run in a handicap, but has been dropped by the BHA handicapping team to 159.

Gundry added: "I rode him at Exeter and he felt really good, but Harry Skelton has had one sit on him and either he or Nick Scholfield will probably ride him, but at home it's me or my husband Ed [Walker].

"He probably jumps once or twice a week and loves it. We're just trying to make sure he's enjoying things and he's been hunting and done some cross-country and team eventing."

Polly Gundry: trainer rode Santini in a racecourse gallop at ExeterCredit: Edward Whitaker

Gundry, who will saddle Dawson City at Cheltenham on Saturday, runs a small-scale operation, but the Kelvin-Hughes have also sent her the ex-Dan Skelton-trained Born Survivor to get Santini cherry ripe.

"Santini takes a lot of warming up and even longer cooling down, but Richard and Lizzie have been very kind sending Born Survivor down to go hunter chasing," she said.

"So we've got something to work with Santini, and Born Survivor is rated 144 and has a bit of class.

"I'm excited about running him, but it also frightens the life out of me. We could have gone for the Many Clouds at Aintree, but Harry Skelton is more likely to be at Sandown the same day and we think Harry will suit him well. We'd like to stick with one jockey, although Nick rode him at home as a young horse too."

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