Paul Nicholls' Week Ahead: The Timeform Preview

The lull before the Cheltenham fanfare it may be, but some of Ditcheat's lesser lights get the chance to shine this week, beginning with three who roll down the road to Taunton on Thursday.

Merehead is the first to dip his toes into the Somerset mud, and the five-year-old faces strong competition in the opening novice hurdle. Merehead is still open to improvement after two starts over hurdles, but recent second Romulus d'Artaix is a fair way clear of the Nicholls runner on the figures and should provide stern resistance. Henry King is the other possbible.

Earth Planet looks to have the strongest chance of providing the team with a winner at Taunton, when he tackles seven rivals in the maiden chase. Earth Planet was still on the bridle when falling three out last time and, provided he's over that experience, he seems sure to give a good account.

The final Ditcheat runner at the meeting is Round Tom, who is still unexposed after just two outings over hurdles, but he needs to improve on what he has shown so far to figure here.

Friday at Newbury sees the return of Ruby Walsh, whose first ride back looks set to be Current Event in the opening juvenile hurdle. Current Event flopped on his British debut , but it's possible he needed the outing and he'd certainly have claims on his second in a listed juvenile in France during the spring.

The following novice hurdle sees Rebel Rebellion as the highest-rated of the Nicholls' entries after his impressive victory in a similar event at Kempton, proving the Ascot run on his penultimate start wasn't his true form (had a breathing operation in between). He remains an interesting novice, for all that his future looks to lie as a staying chaser.

Also entered is Rangitoto, who created a big impression when second to Doctor Foxtrot on his hurdling bow, and he looks capable of significantly better . Coming from Ireland with a tall reputation, it remains to be seen just how high he can climb the ladder, but it's certain that he will be winning races very soon. Robin Will (also entered in the 16:40) and Forlovenormoney are another two entered, but neither look up to the standard set by Rebel Rebellion and Rangitoto.

Earth Planet is in the novices' handicap chase but is due to run at Taunton on Thursday, so it seems that the intriguing River d'Or is likely to represent the Champion Trainer. Not seen since this time last year, when labouring in a Kempton handicap hurdle on only his fifth start over hurdles, he makes his reappearance over fences and it's very difficult to know how he's going to fare. Fairly useful hurdler Wolf Moon is now just as good over fences, so he could rate the biggest danger.

The handicap hurdle sees another couple of entries with the aforementioned Robin Will and Don't Turn Bach both under consideration. Despite showing his best form over hurdles when second last time, Don't Look Bach has still failed to come up to expectations somewhat after appearing an exciting prospect early in his career. It isn't going to get an easy for him here, either, with likely improvers Bally Legend and Remember Now, both in competition.

The penultimate hunters' chase looks an ideal opportunity for Grand National entry Ornais to continue his build-up towards the big race in April. Off for two years before his staying-on effort in a similar race at the beginning of the month, he gave the indication that it was only rustiness, and not a lack of ability, that failed to see him involved there and he isn't one to write off just yet.

Further north, four horses are in-line for a trip up to Doncaster, with Vertige Dore entered in the opening novices' hurdle. Joining the yard from Willie Mullins after three runs in bumpers, Vertige Dore won his only hurdles start to date before a below-form third in a jumpers' bumper suggesting he isn't the easiest to ride. However, he still remains open to improvement over obstacles and is not without a chance in an open-looking race.

Useful hurdler Our Bomber Harris is entered in the novices' chase but has been off for nearly 15 months and, consequently, it's very hard to predict how he's going to fare against some useful rivals, whilst Karinga Dancer and Suspect are due to line-up in what looks a warm bumper.

Adam Brookes / 2 Mar 2011