3 minute read

Nicky Henderson’s mare bounces back to winning ways.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Fantastic Lady recorded a fourth success over fences and the biggest of her career when landing the Grade 2 bet365 Oaksey Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Sixth in the Topham on her only start of the season, Nicky Henderson's move to pitch his mare back into open-graded company proved a fruitful one as she battled on gamely to land the spoils under jockey Nico De Boinville.

The nine-year-old jumped with aplomb throughout the two-mile six-and-a-half-furlong contest and showed a willing attitude to fend off Ga Law (13/2) by two and a half lengths.

"She is remarkable, and we kept her all season for the Topham," said Henderson.

"She was second in the Topham last year and then came here and was third in this last year and I thought we haven't got anything else to do, so let's have a look at it.

"She was really good, and Nico said 'it's lucky you don't tie me down (to instruction)' as the plan was to get up there and go and when it was all happening up front, Nico said he decided to do the complete opposite. Well, done to Nico, fair play it was a great piece of riding."

He added: "It was great from her to come back so quickly from Aintree, she jumped round there again and finished sixth. She's a lovely mare and looks great and I was fearing she would be in foal this season, but it looks like she is going to have to play on.

"She jumps like nothing on earth and if you know the farm she has come from, she will have jumped a thousand fences before she came to Seven Barrows.

"Aintree was always our aim. At one stage we were thinking about the Grand National, but she wasn't going to get in – maybe the handicapper will have something to say about it after that and she will get in."

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