Rest of Newbury review: Super Santini! Updates from Ladbrokes Trophy day
Nicky Henderson's Santini looked a class act on his chasing debut when cruising to victory at Newbury - get all the latest news here.
Santini sizzles on chasing debut
Nicky Henderson's Santini looked a class act on his chasing debut when cruising to victory in the Ladbrokes John Francome Chase at Newbury on Saturday.
The six-year-old son of Milan suffered just one defeat over hurdles when he was third behind Kilbricken Storm in the Albert Bartlett, but that rival was left out with the washing here as Santini sauntered home.
Rocky's Treasure gave him most to do, but Santini cleared away from him by four lengths when Nico De Boinville asked him to seal the race after the last.
Just one jumping error down the back threatened to derail Santini's chasing debut, but apart from that he jumped nicely and his class shone through a murky day in Berkshire.
Henderson said: "He's enormous. I was impressed with him with what you could see through the murk. I thought that ground might find him out, he's a big gross horse. He was a little big from what I could see.
"He's had three schools and we only schooled him on grass the day before yesterday.
"He takes a lot of work and you can't give him enough work. You'd have to be thrilled with that first time up as there's an awful lot of improvement to come."
Looking to future plans, Henderson pointed towards Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
He said: "I suppose he will have to go to Kempton (Kauto Star Novices' Chase), as there are so few you can run him in."
Sky Bet went 4/1 from 6/1 about the winner for the RSA Chase in March.
“Santini won what looked a very good race in taking fashion," said Sky Bet spokesman Michael Shinners.
"Despite one error his jumping was sound and he has put down a real marker in the staying novice chase division. We are now 4/1 from 6/1 for the RSA at Cheltenham”.
🌟 Santini all class on chasing debut @NewburyRacing @SkyBet go 4/1 from 6/1 about the Nicky Henderson-trained horse for the RSA Chase...pic.twitter.com/mfkT6WkJNg
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) December 1, 2018
Posh makes good impression
Posh Trish ran out a ready winner of the Ladbrokes Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Newbury on Ladbrokes Trophy day.
Paul Nicholls got the better of old foe Nicky Henderson as Posh Trish acounted for Lust For Glory by over three lengths with Alan King's Passing Call back in third.
It was the second time the front two had met as Lust For Glory led home Posh Trish at this track three weeks ago, but an 8lb pull at the weights helped the winner turn around that form.
Nicholls said of the 11/8 winner: "To be honest I thought we had a better chance on the weights and on the ground - the ground more than anything, as a test of stamina is much better for her.
"She is just a galloper. She could go to Cheltenham (Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Festival), but that is a long way off and we will pick our way before then.
"I'd not be averse to that (Challow Hurdle). There is a mares' race at Taunton worth quite a lot of money and if the ground is soft we might look at that.
"She is settling a lot better now and she learnt quite a bit the last day. She tried to make all in the bumper at Sandown last season and just tanked all the way, but now she is much better."
Sky Bet cut Posh Trish to 16/1 for the Mares' Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
Spokesman Michael Shinners said: “Posh Trish turned the tables on Lust For Glory in convincing style. She looks a player in the Mares Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and we are now 16/1 from 33/1”
A nice performance from Posh Trish who makes all to justify favouritism in the Listed Mares' Novices' Hurdle @NewburyRacing and records her second success over hurdles.👏 #LWC18 pic.twitter.com/dWIMogBVUs
— Racing UK (@racing_uk) December 1, 2018
Kap back on course
Kapcorse left his disappointing seasonal return behind when leading home a one-two for Nicholls with an emphatic success in the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase.
Working into the extended two-mile-six prize well under Bryony Frost, the 14/1 shot powered away from stablemate and fellow JP McManus-owned runner Brelan D'As to cross the line with 10 lengths in hand.
Nicholls said: "He won at Bangor, but he is a big, weak, babyish horse that has needed all the time in the world. He is still quite a weak horse. He has probably won too far in the end, but he is a nice horse for the future.
"We will take it step by step and he is a horse we will just go quietly with and look after. He is only five and just wants minding.
"We just said drop him out and take our time to teach him something. He tanked into it and Bryony gave him a good ride. There are no immediate plans."
Champ by name champ by nature?
Champ was an impressive four-and-a-half-length winner of the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle, completing a double for Nicky Henderson, who had struck earlier with Santini.
The well-backed 9/2 joint-favourite Champ powered through the two-and-a-half-mile contest and pulled himself to the front in the straight under Aidan Coleman for owner JP McManus.
Still a novice after two victories in May, the imposing six-year-old had plenty in hand from runner-up Le Musee and fellow joint favourite Speedo Boy.
Henderson said: "He was travelling very well, and a little bit of a gap appeared - a horse in front of him made a mistake and he landed in front.
"Aidan said there was nothing he could do about it, and that was not the plan at all.
"The beauty of him is that he is still a novice. That's his handicap hurdle won, I'd say.
"He's a beautifully-bred horse and has got all the right attributes. He got landed with this name and is starting to look like living up to it.
"Two and a half his his trip and we'll look towards the Challow, we might as well come back for it."
Christmas test next for Global Citizen
Global Citizen, winner of last year's Grade Two Sky Bet Dovecot Novices' Hurdle at Kempton, had been beaten into second in a handicap on his seasonal return at Ascot last month.
But sent off a 5/1 shot on rain-softened ground which might not have suited him ideally, he restated his credentials emphatically here under David Bass to signal bigger targets ahead.
Winning trainer Pauling said: "Everything was against him today, including the ground. He has only been ridden for a week, having knocked a joint, so there is no two ways about it - there is loads of improvement.
"I'm utterly thrilled, because he travelled and jumped brilliantly. David couldn't believe how well he was going, coming to the last.
"I wasn't sure if he would pull out more, because he has folded on soft ground before. I just thought to myself if he is good enough he will stay there - and that was a very good performance.
"The Christmas Hurdle is very much where we are going. It will be a hot race, but he is not going to be a no-hoper in it. He has got to be given the opportunity to prove he is top class - and Kempton is the right track to do that."
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