Friday Racing: Paul Nicholls on his runners at Doncaster and Newbury

Weekend Runners / Paul Nicholls / 04 March 2011 / 1

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Will Newbury provide winners for Paul?

"We rode Ornais more negatively than usual (at Wincanton in February) because he wasn’t 100 per cent fit, but it is fair to assume that he will be ridden more handy today, especially as this 2m6f trip is short enough for him. Has the Grand National as his aim, where I quite like the look of him off 10st 4lb."

Six notable runners from the Ditcheat ranks are in action on Friday - read Paul's thoughts on them all here

14:55, Newbury
Forlovenormoney: Won a point in Ireland and started favourite for a Hereford novices' hurdle in November, travelling well but dropping away from 2 out to finish sixth. I am hopeful of a better run today.

15:20, Doncaster
Our Bomber Harris: Won a 2m bumper and 2m3f novice hurdle before proving himself a fair sort, ending last season with a fourth off a mark of 132 at Cheltenham in April; was slightly disappointing on his reappearance but better ground should suit him here on his chasing debut.

16:05, Newbury
River D'Or: Won a 2m2f hurdle at Auteuil in June 2009 and it is fair to say that he has disappointed in his three starts for me, running his best race when seventh at Doncaster last February. A mark of 119 is possibly a bit harsh on what he has done here but he had a breathing operation in the summer and that hopefully will see him improve on his chasing debut.

16:40, Newbury
Don't Turn Bach: This horse has had me tearing my hair out, but I hope he will be able to give Ruby a winner on his comeback ride. Showed very smart winning bumper form when with Willie Mullins but has proved very frustrating, travelling powerfully and looking like the winner on his last two starts, only to stop. He may be a bridle horse (runs in a cross noseband) but is well and has been given a very workable handicap mark of 106; conditions should suit today and he ought to be up to winning a handicap off this mark.

17:15, Newbury
Ornais: Came back from over a two year absence when fifth to his old stablemate Turthen at Wincanton last month. Although that run was light years away from his best - he was a high-class novice chaser in 2008 - that run delighted me, as he needed it badly and has come on enormously for the run. We rode him more negatively than usual there because he wasn't 100 per cent fit, but it is fair to assume that he will be ridden more handy today, especially as this 2m6f trip is short enough for him. Has the Grand National as his aim, where I quite like the look of him off 10st 4lb. We pulled him out of Fontwell on Sunday due to the heavy ground but hopefully this race will provide a decent stepping stone to Aintree.

17:35, Doncaster
Karinga Dancer: Like all my bumper horses would have needed the run on his debut, so he ran a nice race to finish third at Ffos Las. Can be expected to improve upon that but faces three decent last time out winners here, though he obviously gets weight off them. Can make up into a nice staying novice hurdler next season.

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mark evans | 04 March 2011

nice to see ruby back,all the best and may you have lots of winners.hope all goes well.good luck