Paul Nicholls looks forward to Aintree

Latest News / Paul Nicholls / 04 April 2011 / 2

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What a Friend is the current second favourite for the Grand National

"Mon Parrain and Take The Breeze are entered in the 3m1f handicap chase, and obviously I have my four in the Grand National, headed by the second favourite What A Friend."

Aintree gets underway on Thursday. Running plans are still to be finalised for a few of my entries but here is my current thinking.

Obviously, we will be giving chapter and verse on all my runners here each day at 8am during the Aintree meeting, but I thought it would be a good idea to give you my running plans at this stage.

Some are set in stone but quite a few of my horses have multiple entries - and a couple in particular have got me scratching my head - but I have to get them right, and so I may leave the final decision on them until I have studied all the entries (Saturday's are released today).

Thursday

We run both Big Buck's and Gwanako in the opening Grade 1 hurdle, and I think Zarkandar - I see the Triumph runner-up Unaccompanied won at the Curragh yesterday - may be my only runner in the juvenile hurdle, though Empire Levant is still a possible.

Denman obviously goes for the Totesport Bowl and I have three others in the race. What a Friend goes in the National, but Mon Parrain has two other entries (Topham, and a handicap on the Saturday). I will have to speak to Mr Hales about Neptune Collonges; ideally he would want plenty of rain, and if he is to get cut in the ground at Aintree then it will be on the Thursday.

Blu Teen is entered in the Fox Hunters' but I suspect he will run in a handicap at Ascot at the weekend, but both Woolcombe Folly and Tchico Polos run in the 2m handicap chase and Ghizao steps up in trip for the Grade 2 2m4f novices' chase.

We have four entries in the 2m4f handicap hurdle but it could be that I rely on just Sire Collonges if he gets in.

Friday

Again, I have four entries in the opening novices' hurdle, and none have been ruled out at this stage. But providing the ground isn't too quick, it could be that Brampour, a very fair ninth in the Triumph, is my main hope here. I could run Polisky too, but he is very much a horse for next year.

In the Grade 2 novices' chase I rely on Robinson Collonges. He disappointed me at Cheltenham, but I think it was simply a case of him missing the first three fences and game over. I certainly couldn't find anything wrong with him when he came back. My other entry, The Minack, goes for the Scottish National.

Master Minded will be my only runner in the Melling as the race may come too soon for Poquelin. It took Poquelin a good week to get over Cheltenham, which leads me to think that he wasn't at his best there. He could go to Cheltenham next week or maybe we will wait for Punchestown.

Fistral Beach and Free World go for the Topham, and Mon Parrain has that option too.

In the Grade 1 3m novices' hurdle, I have two entries and am coming round to thinking that Indian Daudaie, a good fourth in the boys race at Cheltenham, could be suited to this race. It is a Grade 1 race and it could cut up and I can see Ruby giving him one of his "creep rides" and going well. He also has the option of the 2m4f handicap on the Thursday but that trip could be on the sharp side round here, but let's see. We also have the option of the 3m handicap hurdle on this day; Pistolet Noir will run in that.

Saturday

I have entered four horses in the 2m4f novices' hurdle and it could be that Sam Winner will join Rock On Ruby in the race if the ground isn't too firm.

There were only eight initial entries in the Maghull, so that will be re-opened. I put two in the race; Ghizao, targeted for the Thursday, and Pepe Simo. The latter is a clearly a possible, and the return to a smaller field could suit him better.

Celestial Halo will be taking on some top-notchers in the Aintree Hurdle but he is no slouch himself and is in great form and good shape. I am looking forward to running him.

Mon Parrain and Take The Breeze are entered in the 3m1f handicap chase, and obviously I have my four in the Grand National, headed by the second favourite What A Friend.

I have three in the conditional handicap hurdle; Tito Bustillo, Rock Of Deauville and Empire Levant. This race is probably my preferred Aintree race for the latter if he gets in; I would be keen to see him race off his current mark with Ryan taking 5lb off.

We also run the Timeform Betfair Racing Club/Clive Smith partnership horse Plenty Pocket in the charity race. It is for horses rated 0-100 on the Flat and he had some fair middle distance form in France before disappointing on his hurdling debut at Ascot in January.

Click here to get the latest Ante Post prices for the Aintree festival.

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The Timeform Betfair Racing Club have three entries for the Aintree Festival. Indian Daudaie and Plenty Pocket with Paul and Red Merlin with Donald McCain.

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mark w | 04 April 2011

it would be nice to see daryl jacob keep the mount on zarkandar. i always think loyalty will be rewarded
paul | 05 April 2011

i will put a cross against any of your horses that are ridden by schofield and mahon not a chance of beating the top jocks like geraghty,mccoy-walsh and jacob are decent so will concentrate on them.Why cant you find decent young jocks like other stables eg henry brooke,kieran woods,sam twiston davies etc.Its a good job walsh is back and mccoy helped you out as you would not have even finished in the top 3 trainers with your 'not up to standard' other jocks !