Sandown target for Santini

Trainer Nicky Henderson says Santini will start the season at Sandown rather than contest the Ladbrokes Trophy. Santini had been expected to head to Newbury but Henderson feels the Virgin Bet Future Stars Intermediate Chase at Sandown is a better option. “It (Sandown) seems an obvious starting point for him, because he has not got a lot of experience,” said Henderson. “I didn’t think about the Ladbrokes Trophy for him, because he has only had three runs over fences, and I think he would be short of experience for that. “He has been good since coming back in and did his first piece of work on Saturday, like a lot of them did. He needed it, and will come forward from it.” Santini was last seen when coming in second in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March and Henderson may be planning to send his charge to the Festival again this season.