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Paul Nicholls' Week Ahead: The Timeform preview

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It's been a quiet week so far for the team at Ditcheat in terms of racecourse runners, but that's all about to change...

At the time of writing (Wednesday), Paul hasn't had any runners since Saturday, when he sent out a couple of winners (Master Minded and Poungach) from thirteen between Wincanton and Ascot. Nicholls has reported here on Betting.Betfair that he has no concerns about the health of his horses in general, but the stats don't lie and his current strike rate must be slightly worrying.

Nonetheless, it looks set to be a busy couple of days for all at Manor Farm prior to Cheltenham's Festival Trials meeting , with runners entered up for Ffos Las and Warwick on Thursday, and Fontwell and Doncaster on Friday.

The stable's first runner on Thursday comes in the opener at Ffos Las (13:20 ), where Ange Guerrier looks to build on his hurdling debut at Taunton in what looks a pretty ordinary maiden. The useful form he showed on the Flat in France certainly gives hope that improvement will be forthcoming, as does the fact that he wasn't really seen to best advantage under a patient ride at Taunton (also hampered), and with Pateese and Ballinteni likely to take each other on in front, it could be set up for Ange Guerrier to sweep through late.

The maiden hurdle over two and a half miles has been split. The market will prove the best guide in the first division as far as the Nicholls-trained runner, Rangitoto, is concerned, as it's hard to gauge what he achieved when winning an Irish point, but in division two it's hard to think Don't Turn Bach won't be thereabouts, having shaped with a bit of promise when fourth on his hurdling debut at Warwick in November. He left the impression that day that there was room for improvement in his jumping, and if he can match the form he showed for Willie Mullins in bumpers he should have little trouble landing a maiden. The stable's final runner at Ffos Las comes in the bumper at 16:40, where Karinga Dancer makes his racecourse debut. Again, the betting will likely prove informative.

Over at Warwick, The Minack has his second start over fences in a four-runner novice (14:50). The Minack made a really taking impression when winning at Wincanton on his chasing debut earlier this month, jumping and travelling fluently throughout, and he really ought to take this event under a penalty en route to better things. The Minack reportedly had a setback which delayed his return, but he's all set to make up for lost time now and looks a potentially useful staying chaser.

Nicholls' only other runner at Warwick is his debutant Themilanhorse, who, as his name suggests, is a son of 2001 St Leger winner Milan. He's out of an unraced half-sister to the fairly useful hurdler/chaser Knockavilla, who stays two and a half miles, but it's another one of those where the betting will tell you more than we can - see here for the current market.

Moving on to Friday, when Nicholls will potentially send a raiding party up north to Doncaster, starting with Empire Levant in the 15:05. One of the yard's numerous recruits off the Flat in France, Empire Levant shaped well when third to Third Intention in a juvenile at Newbury on his hurdling debut last month, still going strongly when blundering three out and unable to recover. Any improvement on that effort will see him in the mix.

Font could go in the handicap chase that follows, but he's on a recovery mission and will need to jump much better than he did at Cheltenham on his reappearance in December. The stable have two in the novice hurdle at 16:10, namely King of the Night and Vertige Dore, but the former looks up against it in such company and the latter is the more interesting. Vertige Dore showed his well-being when third in a bumper for jumpers at Kempton in December and had looked very much the type to improve when winning a novice at Bangor on his hurdling debut in the summer.

Definity and Qozak are entered in the beginners chase that gets the action underway at Fontwell on Friday (13:00). Qozak is a chasing type on looks, but he's yet to make the impact that his progressive hurdling form suggests he should have and the one to concentrate on is Definity. The winner of a couple of novice hurdles in his first season, Definity showed smart form when runner-up at Cheltenham on his final outing over timber in 2008/9 and belatedly made a promising start over fences when fourth behind Wymott at Exeter in December, when seeming to need the run on the back of his lengthy absence. The second and third from Exeter have won since, and Definity may well follow suit.

Ramses de Marcigny could have his second start over hurdles in the following event but, to be honest, the form he showed when third in a novice at Wincanton on his hurdling debut earlier this month is a long way removed from what will likely be needed to win. Symphonick has been given an entry in the same race, seemingly with an eye to giving him a confidence-boosting round of jumping after unseating and falling in two runs over fences.

Tieptiep completes the stable's mid-week entries in the bumper (16:20), but he's another of those making his racecourse debut. What we can tell you is that he's certainly bred for the game as a half-brother to the fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser Pomme Tiepy and winning hurdler/chaser Molostiep.

In summary, even if the stable isn't firing on all cylinders, it will come as something of a surprise if 'Team Nicholls' don't have a couple of winners on Thursday and Friday, with the promising pair of The Minack and Definity sure to take the beating in their respective races.

Timeform / 26 Jan 2011

Paul Nicholls' Week Ahead: The Timeform preview

Latest News RSS / / 26 January 2011 / 8

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Smart hurdler Definity looks just as good a prospect over fences

Smart hurdler Definity looks just as good a prospect over fences

"Definity showed smart form when runner-up at Cheltenham on his final start over timber in 2008/9 and belatedly made a promising start over fences when fourth behind Wymott at Exeter in December."

It's been a quiet week so far for the team at Ditcheat in terms of racecourse runners, but that's all about to change...

At the time of writing (Wednesday), Paul hasn't had any runners since Saturday, when he sent out a couple of winners (Master Minded and Poungach) from thirteen between Wincanton and Ascot. Nicholls has reported here on Betting.Betfair that he has no concerns about the health of his horses in general, but the stats don't lie and his current strike rate must be slightly worrying.

Nonetheless, it looks set to be a busy couple of days for all at Manor Farm prior to Cheltenham's Festival Trials meeting , with runners entered up for Ffos Las and Warwick on Thursday, and Fontwell and Doncaster on Friday.

The stable's first runner on Thursday comes in the opener at Ffos Las (13:20 ), where Ange Guerrier looks to build on his hurdling debut at Taunton in what looks a pretty ordinary maiden. The useful form he showed on the Flat in France certainly gives hope that improvement will be forthcoming, as does the fact that he wasn't really seen to best advantage under a patient ride at Taunton (also hampered), and with Pateese and Ballinteni likely to take each other on in front, it could be set up for Ange Guerrier to sweep through late.

The maiden hurdle over two and a half miles has been split. The market will prove the best guide in the first division as far as the Nicholls-trained runner, Rangitoto, is concerned, as it's hard to gauge what he achieved when winning an Irish point, but in division two it's hard to think Don't Turn Bach won't be thereabouts, having shaped with a bit of promise when fourth on his hurdling debut at Warwick in November. He left the impression that day that there was room for improvement in his jumping, and if he can match the form he showed for Willie Mullins in bumpers he should have little trouble landing a maiden. The stable's final runner at Ffos Las comes in the bumper at 16:40, where Karinga Dancer makes his racecourse debut. Again, the betting will likely prove informative.

Over at Warwick, The Minack has his second start over fences in a four-runner novice (14:50). The Minack made a really taking impression when winning at Wincanton on his chasing debut earlier this month, jumping and travelling fluently throughout, and he really ought to take this event under a penalty en route to better things. The Minack reportedly had a setback which delayed his return, but he's all set to make up for lost time now and looks a potentially useful staying chaser.

Nicholls' only other runner at Warwick is his debutant Themilanhorse, who, as his name suggests, is a son of 2001 St Leger winner Milan. He's out of an unraced half-sister to the fairly useful hurdler/chaser Knockavilla, who stays two and a half miles, but it's another one of those where the betting will tell you more than we can - see here for the current market.

Moving on to Friday, when Nicholls will potentially send a raiding party up north to Doncaster, starting with Empire Levant in the 15:05. One of the yard's numerous recruits off the Flat in France, Empire Levant shaped well when third to Third Intention in a juvenile at Newbury on his hurdling debut last month, still going strongly when blundering three out and unable to recover. Any improvement on that effort will see him in the mix.

Font could go in the handicap chase that follows, but he's on a recovery mission and will need to jump much better than he did at Cheltenham on his reappearance in December. The stable have two in the novice hurdle at 16:10, namely King of the Night and Vertige Dore, but the former looks up against it in such company and the latter is the more interesting. Vertige Dore showed his well-being when third in a bumper for jumpers at Kempton in December and had looked very much the type to improve when winning a novice at Bangor on his hurdling debut in the summer.

Definity and Qozak are entered in the beginners chase that gets the action underway at Fontwell on Friday (13:00). Qozak is a chasing type on looks, but he's yet to make the impact that his progressive hurdling form suggests he should have and the one to concentrate on is Definity. The winner of a couple of novice hurdles in his first season, Definity showed smart form when runner-up at Cheltenham on his final outing over timber in 2008/9 and belatedly made a promising start over fences when fourth behind Wymott at Exeter in December, when seeming to need the run on the back of his lengthy absence. The second and third from Exeter have won since, and Definity may well follow suit.

Ramses de Marcigny could have his second start over hurdles in the following event but, to be honest, the form he showed when third in a novice at Wincanton on his hurdling debut earlier this month is a long way removed from what will likely be needed to win. Symphonick has been given an entry in the same race, seemingly with an eye to giving him a confidence-boosting round of jumping after unseating and falling in two runs over fences.

Tieptiep completes the stable's mid-week entries in the bumper (16:20), but he's another of those making his racecourse debut. What we can tell you is that he's certainly bred for the game as a half-brother to the fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser Pomme Tiepy and winning hurdler/chaser Molostiep.

In summary, even if the stable isn't firing on all cylinders, it will come as something of a surprise if 'Team Nicholls' don't have a couple of winners on Thursday and Friday, with the promising pair of The Minack and Definity sure to take the beating in their respective races.

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(8)

  1. paul | 26 January 2011

    his horses need to turn the corner with the festival only 6 weeks away-another bad weekend and he may end up with a season like his mate alan king last year.one saving grace is the return of ruby walsh,who i now realise since his absence,is a massive part to this team,not just in a riding capacity !

  2. lewi 38 | 27 January 2011

    id have to agree with paul i lost today on rangitoto and dont turn bach and dont turn bach also lot me the placepot verry disapointing his horses are latelly

  3. paul | 27 January 2011

    can the betfair reporters get an update on what paul nicholls thinks about the running of his horses-some running o.k. but mostly bad.i hope he sorts it out soon as i'm running out of money backing them (hoping that they might just come back to form ,ive been backing some of them most days).

  4. bob | 27 January 2011

    Paul, personally i think your horses are not right, please i know your a good man for the punters, but the way this thing ran in the 1st race a ffoss ? should it have run at all... help....

  5. dont moan | 28 January 2011

    unless paul wins with every runner theres still going to be moaners. try layin all pauls horses and you wont be long about changing your views! have a happy day

  6. Anonymous | 28 January 2011

    MAYBE WHAT THE HORSES NEED LIKE THE REST OF US IS A COUPLEIS A BIT OF WARM WEATHER

  7. Anonymous | 28 January 2011

    Of his last 30 runners, he has saddled nine winners. I think every trainer in the country would be happy with a percentage like that.

  8. lewi38 | 29 January 2011

    well im giving his horses 1 last chance on saturday im doing fistral beach, noland and pepe simo not sure about robinson collonges yet and i cant bet against backspin so wont bet pauls in that even though i think its a good horse and neptunes collonges whas better than them but i cant bet it after his first 2 runs this term though if he come back to his form hes a good price anyway good luck to us all lets hammer the layers