Nicholls' Week Ahead: The Timeform Preview

A whole host of representatives for the Champion Trainer this week, with the majority of Paul's runners holding multiple entries, but the undisputed highlight of comes on Saturday afternoon at Ascot, where Al Ferof goes in the Grade 1 VC Chase...

Cedre Bleu should get Team Ditcheat underway at Newbury on Wednesday afternoon, entered in the 17f novice chase (13:30). Bellvano looks the one to beat based on Timeform ratings, but if Cedre Bleu takes to fences - he looks the part and has always struck as a prospective chaser - he could give the Henderson runner a race, bearing in mind he ran to 128 when winning a Taunton novice hurdle from two starts in Britain last season. Nicholls' other runnner at Newbury is Workbench (15:40), a €40,000 purchase who makes his debut in the penultimate race on the card, an 18-runner bumper over an extended mile and a half.

Unpartou (111p), a recent Timeform Betfair Racing Club recruit, could be the first of many Nicholls runners on Thursday as he's currently entered in a novice hurdle at Lingfield (13:00), whilst also holding similar engagements at Taunton and Wincanton. Unpartou won a juvenile hurdle from a handul of starts in France but may well improve now in the care of Nicholls, who has an excellent record with his recruits from the other side of the Channel.

The 13:20 at Taunton on Thursday could prove a fascinating race for followers of the the yard given that Grandioso (101p), Billy Merriot (119p), The Pretender (77p) and Duala Lord (131p) all hold entries at this stage.

Of the quartet, Dualla Lord is arguably the most talented based on his performance over timber at Chepstow last November, and though he was disappointing on his one and only chasing start last time, the point winner has untapped potential over hurdles. Of the other Nicholls runners, Billy Merriott holds an entry at Lingfield on the same afternoon, Grandioso likewise, whilst The Pretender could be going to either Ascot or Wincanton on Saturday.

The 15:20 on the same Taunton card is also likely to feature at least one Nicholls runner with Jump City (128), Ranjaan (133p) and Domtaline all currently entered.

Ranjaan currently heads the field based on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings and looks well treated, especially as it's likely that he's got more still to offer. Jump City has a bit to find with his stablemate having recorded just one victory in four starts this term, but it is worth noting that he has been finishing behind some of the season's leading novices and may find things slightly easier dropped in class here. Domtaline, however, looks difficult to assess after his latest showing in the Lanzarote Hurdle, where he was pulled up, and with that race having taken place only last week, Nicholls may be reluctant to race the five-year-old gelding so soon. Once again, the Nicholls representatives hold multiple entries throughout the week, with a juvenile hurdle at Ascot on Saturday a potential target for Ranjaan, whilst Jump City could be seen at Friday in a Chepstow handicap hurdle, a contest that looks even stronger than that Taunton event.

Hawkes Point (110) is another set to go to Chepstow for Nicholls on Friday, the lightly-raced gelding entered in a three-mile maiden. He should have every chance judged on the form of his third at Ludlow on his hurdling debut last season, though a number of his rivals, including Donald McCain's Red Rocco, will have the advantage of race fitness.

The Knoxs (139) will be an interesting runner for Nicholls on Saturday, in the Betfair Graduation Chase at Haydock. The Knoxs was ultimately disappointing on his latest start, when seventh behind Hold On Julio at Sandown, but he raced keenly up with the pace that day, jumping well for most of the way, and should benefit from the drop in trip on Saturda. There's little doubt that he's a well-handicapped horse judged on his hurdles form.

Over at Ascot, Nicholls has a whole host of high-profile runners on Saturday, and Violin Davis (132) could get things rolling in the Grade 2 Warfield Mares' Hurdle as she has finished third on her last two starts and only has 4 lb to find with Our Girl Salley. However, whilst Violin Davis is effective over three miles, it is worth remembering that her best performances have come over shorter and Saturday's test could stretch her stamina.

Al Ferof (155p) will be the Nicholls runner that everybody is looking forward to seeing this weekend, as the leading novice lines up against a strong field of chasers in the Grade 1 VC Chase at 15:10. Last year's Supreme Novices' winner has made a smooth transition to fences (two from two) and landed the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase last time. He is considered some 9 lb inferior to Somersby based on Timeform ratings, but Al Ferof is clearly far less exposed than that rival, who has probably reached his maximum ability. Saturday will be the cast-iron test for Al Ferof, who still holds entries in both the Arkle and the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and, if Nicholls' charge comes home the winner on Saturday, his trainer may have to rethink his end of season target.

Noland (152) and The Nightingale (160+) are likely to round-off proceededs at Ascot for Nicholls, the pair entered in a handicap chase over two miles and five furlongs. Of the duo, Noland, who shaped as if he would benefit from his return in the Lexus, looks to have the greater chance, as The Nightingale is up against it from a handicapping point of view.

Finally, Take The Breeze could represent the yard in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock. He got back to form with a third at Chepstow (third won next start), shaping as if three miles is his trip nowadays and, though he has a fair bit to find on the figures, he certainly has place claims if building on that latest outing.

Timeform / 17 Jan 2012