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

Empire Levant bids to strike back, there's high hopes for King of the Night and a chance for improvement in Yorkshire. All this and more as Paul Nicholls provides exclusive insights on his Friday runners.

Doncaster, 15:05
Empire Levant: Won his first three starts on the Flat in France last season over 1m3f/1m4f, before losing out by a nose in a listed race on his final start at Nantes in June. Shaped really well at home priory to running nicely enough in third at Newbury on his hurdling debut and would have been a lot closer there had he not blundered three out. But he also ran too free and the important thing with him is to get him to learn to settle and not be so keen. He's a horse I like an awful lot and the better ground will suit, as it was a little bit tacky at Newbury. As for the Triumph, we'll see what happens here first. Looks to have Palawi and Franklino as his main rivals here.

Doncaster, 15:40
Font: Won over 2m4f at Haydock back in 2009, but is not an easy horse to place and, frankly, he ran a dire race at Cheltenham last month (he finished second in a Flat charity race in October), where he didn't jump at all and tailed off at the finish. The positives are that this race has cut up to just seven runners, and we have done loads of work with his jumping at home since.

Doncaster, 16:10

King of the Night: Was very impressive when beating Fiulin by nine lengths at Cheltenham in October, but he disappointed on easier ground, when stepped up markedly in class, behind Cue Card last time. He's been going nicely enough at home recently but I think the key to him is better ground, so the expected good going will suit. This is a competitive race, though.


Fontwell, 13:00
Definity: Very progressive two seasons ago when landing two novice hurdles after winning his point, and then showing smart form when only losing out to Tazbar over 3m at Cheltenham in April 2009, where the three horses behind him were Franchoek, Blazing Bailey and Hills Of Aran. Missed last season with a leg injury and ran a nice race when fourth at Exeter on his reappearance, where he travelled well, maybe a touch too keenly, before weakening. That didn't surprise me, as I thought he would need the run and he has improved enormously since. Is out of the Irish National winner Ebony Jane but 2m4f on soft ground should be fine here. Holds an entry in both the 2m4f and Sun Alliance at the Festival.

Fontwell, 16:20
Tieptiep: Is a half-brother to a number of winners, notably Willie Mullins smart hurdler/chaser Pomme Tiepy. Goes nicely at home but, as with so many of my bumper horses, will improve a good deal for the run and experience.

Click Here to place all of Paul Nicholls' horses in a Multiple.

Paul Nicholls / 28 Jan 2011