Unexpected Twists at Sandown

Trainer Nicky Henderson found himself puzzled after his novice chaser, Jeriko Du Reponet, was pulled up during his chase debut at Sandown. The five-year-old had only lost once before, during last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, a race where Henderson’s team had struggled, leading him to withdraw many of his top horses.

This season, Jeriko Du Reponet had transitioned to chasing, reportedly excelling in practice. Favoured at 8-11 for the Boodles Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, hopes were high for a winning debut. However, an unexpected turn of events delayed the race by nearly 10 minutes as the favourite took his time reaching the post. Ultimately, Anthony Honeyball’s Brookie claimed victory over Jim Boyle’s Classic Anthem by half a length.

Henderson later shared his confusion, noting that Jeriko Du Reponet’s typically calm demeanour had been out of character. “To saddle him today was like taming a lion; it was crazy,” he said. After resaddling and reassessing the horse’s condition, Henderson instructed jockey Nico de Boinville to take no risks if anything felt off. Once de Boinville mounted, the horse returned to his usual calm, and the team felt ready to proceed.

During the race, Jeriko Du Reponet made an early error, followed by a larger mistake at the last of Sandown’s iconic Railway fences. This prompted de Boinville to pull him up, prioritising safety. Henderson likened the error to one made by Altior, noting that unfamiliar obstacles can sometimes rattle even the best-trained horses.

Speaking to Racing TV, Henderson explained that Jeriko Du Reponet had seemed to regain his rhythm, with de Boinville feeling him settle into a smoother jumping pattern—until the final fence, where a misstep caused an abrupt halt. "Nico did the right thing by pulling him up," Henderson stated, acknowledging that the horse’s confidence had already taken a few hits.

Initially, Henderson had seen this race as an ideal precursor to the Grade One Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase next month, but now plans have shifted. “He’s a fantastic horse, and I was confident he’d coast through today,” Henderson remarked. “But we’ll need to rethink that for now.”

Despite a flawless training record and solid practice rounds, Jeriko Du Reponet’s performance at Sandown was a surprise. Henderson commented, “You can prepare all you want, but these moments still manage to catch us off guard. He’s sound and unharmed, but this was an unexpected series of events that we’ll need to learn from as a team.”