By Andrew Atkinson
Nicky Henderson trained Chantry House tipped by fromthehorsesmouth.info put together a gritty display in beating Santini and Aye Right in the Grade 2 Paddy Power Cotswold Chase over 3 miles 1 furlong, under Nico De Boineville at Cheltenham on Saturday.
“He’s got the job done – and had a really good blow,” said Henderson, after Chantry House chalked up owner JP McManus’s 4,000th winner.
“They went very quick at Kempton – in the King George – and he was lost after three or four fences.
“He had to win today – to stay in the ‘ball game’ (for the Cheltenham Gold Cup) it was a tough race,” said Henderson.
Chantry House was dismounted after winning by jockey de Boinville – but walked back into the winner’s enclosure after being given a clean bill of health after concerns.
“They had to work hard. It’s lovely ground – but quite dead – and he did get tired, but he’s entitled to and I think we take positives out of it,” said Henderson, after 5-6 favourite Chantry House stayed on to land the victory.
Chantry House is 16-1 for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
“It was a question of putting on cheek pieces for him. So we put them on. We take positives out of it and the Gold Cup remains the target,” said Henderson.
“For it being JP McManus 4,000th winner is wonderful, also it being at Cheltenham. He’s been an amazing friend. ‘Well done, boss’ “, added Henderson.
