Weekend Runners / Paul Nicholls / 16 March 2011 / 2

Al Ferof obliged in the Supreme Novices' on Day One - so where will the winners come from on Champion Chase day for Paul Nicholls?

Rock On Ruby - Neptune Novices' Hurdle
Has come a long way since being fourth on his debut in a Newbury bumper but even that wasn't too shabby a race, with Oscar Whisky winning, Court In Motion finishing third and Tail Of The Bank finishing fifth.
Progressed into a high class bumper horse when winning his next three starts, including a 5 length win a listed race here in November. Made all to beat the smart pair Megastar and Kid Cassidy by 6 lengths and the same at Newbury before things went a little awry, shall we say, when beaten 2 ¼ lengths by Bob's Worth at Cheltenham last time.
Timeform comment that it wasn't Harry's "finest hour" that day, pointing out that he dropped his whip when moving alongside the winner at the last but also being caught out when the winner kicked on with Backspin. I think everyone agrees that he is a bit better than he showed there and I am confident of a good showing.
But with horses like the winner that day and So Young - rumoured to Willie's banker of the meeting - in opposition you would be foolish to be confident of success. But he goes there well and in grand form, and schooled great last week.


Aiteen Thirythree - RSA Chase
Time For Rupert is many people's banker of the meeting. Clearly a horse that finished second to Big Buck's in the World Hurdle last year (finishing 11 lengths clear of the third) and has won both his chase starts on this course, showing high-class chase form when beating Hell's Bay here in November, is worthy of the utmost respect.
But don't underestimate my horse. It is clear that he is a different horse over fences to the one we saw struggle to find his feet over hurdles last season.
Yes, many have questioned the merit the form of his two chase wins - pointing out that both races fell apart, with Timeform saying "his form hasn't much substance to it" - but any horse that that wins by 50 lengths in the manner he did at Newbury last time should not be dismissed lightly. I actually read recently that Aiteen doesn't jump well enough to win a Sun Alliance, which is probably the biggest load of nonsense you will have ever seen in print.
Others' form may be more solid going into the race, but I am telling you something now - I wouldn't swap him for any horse, the favourite included. And I mean that.


Master Minded - Champion Chase
Probably the most maligned and misunderstood horse in training! Whatever he has done since 13th March 2008 seems to be a disappointment to everyone, no matter what he does. And that includes winning six Grade 1s and two Grade 2s subsequently!
But it is about time that people forgot his 19 length defeat of Voy Por Ustedes and focus on what he is doing at the moment. And that is continuing to be a top-class chaser who comes into this race with the form and with the best credentials - in my mind at least.
His stop-start 2009-10 campaign culminated in a modest fourth here last year, but a breathing operation in the summer has put that behind us. He looked a different animal in his first two wins this season at Ascot and Cheltenham and then we had the Victor Chandler victory in January.
And there are two ways of looking at race. Personally, I think that I didn't have him in the same form as his two earlier wins there. But then you have Tony McCoy admitting that he went far too soon there after looking set to win by a wide margin, and Timeform saying that his short head defeat of Somersby was actually his best form effort since that 2008 race.
But, whatever way you look at it, I am delighted with him at home - he looks magnificent and as well as he ever done. A lot of people think that the good ground is a negative and it is true that he has always had cut in the ground when winning, and lost both his starts on officially good going. But you play the hand you are dealt with and he wasn't right on good ground at last year's Festival, and it was a mistake 2 out (and possibly the 2m4f) that beat him in the Melling Chase at Aintree on the only other time he encountered the going.
I respect the opposition, particularly last year's winner Big Zeb and my other horse, but I think bookmakers are being generous in offering him at 10-3 to regain his crown and win his third Champion Chase.


Woolcombe Folly - Champion Chase
Had a bad fall schooling a week before finishing last in the Arkle but I can assure the Betfair punters who are on him at massive prices - I'm told one has backed him as high as [460.0] - that his preparation has gone very smoothly. He has subsequently developed into many people's fancy for the race. And I can see why.
We fancied him off a mark of 142 on his reappearance at Ascot and he duly did the business, and after that Noel got off and said he was very, very impressed. And he was proven right in no uncertain terms when beat Tanks For That by 6 lengths off a 12lb higher mark at Cheltenham in December (we were giving the runner-up 19lb), and the runner-up is now favourite for the Grand Annual. A lot of people were raving about the time he did there - his win was quicker than Master Minded's on the same card - but times can be misleading.
Funnily enough, I remember Araldur and Free World posting similar times to Master Minded at Sandown one day and they didn't really work out for that pair, did they? But clearly it isn't a negative and all is fine with the horse after he missed the Game Spirit after a couple of coughs and a dirty scope. I think that may have been a blessing in disguise missing that race. He is unexposed and could easily go and win this race - and in many ways I hope that he does - but if you asked me whether he will beat Master Minded off levels on what we see of the pair at home, I would have to say no. And I imagine most others in the yard would say that, too.
But then everyone thought Mon Parrain was four weeks off peak fitness at Sandown on Saturday; horses surprise and delight you, and this one certainly has. He will love the ground.


Pistolet Noir - Coral Cup
Every Cheltenham panel I have been on (and I have been on just the nine!) has said that Call The Police is a certainty and nobody else should bother turning up. But Pistolet Noir comes here with a chance. He has been largely disappointing since coming to me but ran well on good ground when third to Sir Harry Ormesher at Aintree last year and there was plenty of promise in his fourth at Taunton last time, his first start since having a breathing operation. Today's longer suit and better ground will suit him, and he is not a forlorn hope.


Rock Of Deauville - Fred Winter
In truth, he has disappointed me in his three runs over hurdles. Was a beaten favourite on his hurdling debut, then ran with much more promise (after a breathing operation) at Taunton, where he would have needed the run. So we went to Ludlow very hopeful off a mark of just 115 last time, only for him again to empty out after travelling well. I thought defeat there put paid to his chances of getting in this race - he is on 112 here, and I thought you'd need to be at least 122 to get in - but we get another crack at it in a handicap. On what he shows me at home he is very well treated off 112, but the fact it that he hasn't done it on the track. But he wears a tongue tie for the first time here (has worked in it at home) and that, and better ground, could just see him finally click. He finished second on firm ground on his debut on the Flat and won on good to soft too, and good to soft in France is most likely good to firm! In summary, I wouldn't be surprised if he won like Sanctuaire did last year, or was beaten a distance after finding nothing from 2 out after travelling well.

Click Here to Back Paul's Best Three Horses in a Multiple
Rock On Ruby - EW
Aiteen Thirythree - EW
Master Minded - Win

Get up to £50 Cashback on a Multiple and 10% Cashback on Tote bets, click here.

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(2)

1. Paul | 16 March 2011

   thanks for great , preview , wish the whole team best of luck,tough races ,

2. Ian Winfield | 16 March 2011

   Hi Paul, thank you for sending me the letter you wrote it was a fantastic surprise and all my mates are jealous as ive got something to brag about,on a more serious note i backed 4 of your horses in a lucky 15 bet and what a start when Al Ferof came in at 10s i thought the other three ran good races just being run out at the finish,ime just looking at today's runners and your Aiteen thirtythree and Master Minded stand out as cracking bets to me and i will be doubling them up but i will have a bit ew on your other runners just in case many thanks and all the best for a great Cheltenham.

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