GIANT SANTINI WALKS TALL FOR HENDO

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SANTINI radiated absolute class in poor visibility at Newbury yesterday when taking the Ladbrokes John Francome Chase.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of the gigantic gelding, has made no secret of the high opinion in which he holds the six-year-old.

Beaten just once over hurdles, when third behind Kilbricken Storm in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival, he put that rival in the shade when powering home by four lengths from Rocky’s Treasure. Kilbricken Storm, who was hoping to give Colin Tizzard a fourth straight victory in the race, was a disappointing sixth. ★

“He’s enormous,” said Henderson. “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’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. You’d have to be thrilled with that first time up as there’s an awful lot of improvement to come.”

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Looking to future plans, Henderson said: “I suppose he will have to go to Kempton (Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day) 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.

Henderson doubled up with Champ in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle but it was a victory dictated by the horse rather than his jockey Aidan Coleman.

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After struggling to rein-in the headstrong Champ, Coleman lost the battle when he led after jumping the fifth and but was then never headed.

Henderson remarked: “Aidan said there was nothing he could do about it, and that was not the plan at all.”

CHRIS GOULDING