'It was crazy and out of character' - Nicky Henderson perplexed as odds-on Jeriko Du Reponet is pulled up on chase debut

The highly anticipated chase debut of Jeriko Du Reponet ended in disappointment at Sandown when the classy novice hurdler was pulled up by Nico de Boinville.

Reluctant to be saddled before the race, Jeriko Du Reponet caused a ten-minute delay to the start before joining his three rivals for the 1m7½f novice handicap chase.

There were early warning signs when the JP McManus-owned five-year-old ballooned the first ditch (second fence) and although he warmed into the race down the back, a shuddering error four out ended any hopes of a winning debut over fences and he was pulled up soon after. Brookie emerged the winner for Anthony Honeyball and Sam Twiston-Davies.

"He's got a wonderful temperament but to saddle today, you'd have thought we were trying to break in a lion," said Nicky Henderson. "It was crazy and totally out of character."

Having made it to the paddock, Henderson and his team were not happy with the horse's tack and decided to make adjustments but to be able to do that Jeriko Du Reponet had to be taken back to the saddling boxes, leading to a lengthy delay.

The trainer added: "The vet looked at him and listened to him and he was checked again at the start but as soon as Nico got on there were no problems and everything was normal.

"We were happy with the ground too but I've got to say the first ditch is exactly what Altior used to do at that ditch every time. It's just one of those things and it's probably a bigger white rail than they see at home and consequently they balloon it. He had to be quite clever to survive.

Jeriko Du Reponet: favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Jeriko Du Reponet: a smart hurdler last seasonCredit: Mark Cranham

"He started to warm back up and was starting to get his jumping going but Nico said at the last of the Railway fences he slipped from yards out and went straight into the fence. Quite rightly in my opinion he pulled him up after that because you can't take a chance with the horse but he wasn't going to win at that point anyway. His confidence by then had taken two serious shocks and it wasn't ready for another one."

A general 1-5 shot overnight, Jeriko Du Reponet was easy to back on Sunday and his price continued to drift until the off when he went off the 8-11 favourite. Despite being pulled up, he cantered past the stands under De Boinville and Henderson gave him a clean bill of health after the race.

He added: "He's a very good horse and I really believed he'd canter round today and we'd be talking about coming back here for the Henry VIII but I don't think we'll do that for the time being. We've got to go away and regroup. We can always get surprised and fooled, and I'm afraid the horse has done that to us today in every sense.

"He's 100 per cent and pulled up completely sound. I just think it's a bizarre chapter of circumstances that have contributed to this. I'm sorry, but no-one is going to be more disappointed than our team. We've got to correct it and we will."

Of the winner, Twiston-Davies said: "He'd had three goes over fences in Ireland so we thought jumping around here would be okay. He was safe and sound, and there should be another day. The only vision I got of Nico's horse was at the last Railway fence. He went to put himself right and slipped into it. There was a hell of a thud."

El Rio follows up

El Rio looks to have put his ailments behind him after following up last month's success at Huntingdon with a bold jumping display to land the 2m4f handicap chase.

Connections seriously considered calling time on his career after he was pulled up in two of three starts last term but he has returned full of zest and looks a chaser on the up.

"He was a really sick horse last year. He had a fibrillating heart and we were all for giving up," said winning trainer Kim Bailey, who recently passed 1,500 winners. "The owners have been incredibly patient and last season was a nightmare.

"We gave him a good summer holiday and we all went to Huntingdon on his first run this season thinking he's either going to retire or win and thankfully he won. We'll wait and see what's next."

Power finish from Anno

Harry Fry looked a relieved man after Anno Power overcame a bad blunder at the last to come out on top in a photo-finish to the 2m maiden hurdle.

A bumper winner at Ascot and Cheltenham last season, Anno Power left room for improvement on her first start over hurdles but showed tenacity to edge out runner-up Big Ginge.

"I feel better now the photo-finish has been called," said Fry. "She looked like she came there to win her race nicely at the last and to dig deep and get herself back in front after what happened showed she has the guts to go with her latent ability.

"It was messy up the straight but she got the job done and can build from here. I had in mind the mares' Listed novice hurdle at Newbury at the end of the month but we'll have to see as she's given herself a harder race than we'd have liked."

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