Super Santini continues hot streak for Nicky Henderson
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Watch a full replay of the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle won by Santini at Aintree and interviews with Nicky Henderson and Nico De Boinville.
Nicky Henderson bagged his fifth Grade One success in the space of two days as Santini emerged victorious in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.
The Seven Barrows handler enjoyed a top-level treble on Thursday with We Have A Dream, Might Bite and L'Ami Serge all striking gold on Merseyside, while Terrefort claimed victory in the Mildmay Novices' Chase earlier on Friday's card.
Henderson looked to have a strong hand in this three-mile contest, with 6-4 favourite Santini joined by stablemates Ok Corral, who was ahead of Santini when second in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last month, and Chef Des Obeaux.
The latter was beaten before the turn for home, but Santini and Ok Corral were both in contention jumping the second-last, before Santini and Nico de Boinville forged clear near the stands' rail.
Dan Skelton's prolific mare Roksana emerged as his biggest threat, throwing down a strong challenge on the other side of the track after the final obstacle, but Santini was good value for the winning margin of a length and a half.
Irish challenger Tower Bridge finished third.
De Boinville said: "He's some horse. At Cheltenham we got shuffled back a bit and we were keen to make amends today by riding him nice and prominently on a flat track like this.
"Coming up the straight I thought I'd just try to get some better ground coming up the near side and it helped him a bit.
"He battled on well and he's going to be an out-and-out stayer."
Henderson said: "He's a baby of a horse and he's a chaser for next year.
"I nearly put him away after Cheltenham and he's been really fresh and well at home. It was a great performance."
The Seven Barrows trainer added: "Three miles for youngsters in that (ground) is tough, but he was enjoying himself out there.
"I didn't discuss with Nico about coming over as much as he did. He made a concerted move to go over there. Of course it's chewed up.
"He's a brave horse, and he's a lovely big baby and he's a chaser for next year.
"He ran such a good race at Cheltenham we thought about putting him away, but temptation came in and the owner was keen to go. The horse has been fresh and well at home. He seemed to say he was up for this again. He's a big baby, but it was a good performance.
"He's home-bred and the first Grade One winner we've had from the family, which is lovely.
"I thought Ok Corral ran a very good race, but he flattened out a bit. It was a bridge too far for him today - it was for a lot of them to be fair."
Reflecting on the week so far, Henderson said: "Obviously we've got some very good horses and you can't go without them, but I have to say everybody has worked their socks off.
"It's a long four weeks from Cheltenham. To get them back, everyone has done brilliantly. That's been the secret of it really, but you have to have good horses."
Skelton said of the gallant Roksana: "To get so close and just to get beat is a shame, but she is a fine mare. I don't know where we will go. We will just look after her and hope she improves again.
"I think the two and a half (of the Mares' Hurdle) at Cheltenham next year, the David Nicholson, is going to be the minimum trip for her looking at it. Hopefully she can progress a little and become a fixture in those races. She has run her heart out.
"Hopefully she will go a long way and we will go chasing for sure. Hopefully we will put a Grade One next to her name one day."
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