Nicholls' Week Ahead: The Timeform Preview

An interesting collection of entries for Nicholls this week, with his highest profile runners coming on Saturday at Sandown, where Neptune Collonges and Michel Le Bon will be looking for handicap glory...

With no runners on Wednesday owing to the abandonement of Ludlow, the yard will look to Thursday's declarations to add to the wins of Dildar, Sanctuaire and Ted Spread at Taunton on Tuesday.

With Towcester (the trainer had Taoufick de Seuil and Sky Watch entered) another meeting to fall by the wayside, Escort'men (c127$) is one of only two Nicholls horses engaged on Thursday, and the only one to have had previous racecourse experience. Escort'men (15:45), who is entered in a two-mile novices' handicap chase at Wincanton, hasn't really taken to fences in three outings so far, and it would take a leap of faith to bank on him regaining the winning thread in what looks a strong contest.

The champion trainer will also be giving a debut to Atlantic Roller, a half-brother to National Hunt flat race winners Tax Excemption and Supreme Attraction in the track's closing bumper at 16:45.

Dualla Lord (h135) could be heading to Chepstow on Friday, for a two-and-half-mile novice hurdle. Dualla Lord has demonstrated form well in advance of the standard usually required to win that race and, at this stage, looks by far the most likely winner, well clear of stablemate Ruben Cotter (h117p) according to Timeform Ratings. Ruben Cotter does hold other entries throughout the week, however, and this may not be his intended target.

Likeable Rogue and Rolling Aces (h123p) feature amongst the current declarations for a 3m Novices' Hurdle on the Chepstow card. The former finished runner-up on his completed start in maiden points in Ireland and will be making his debut under rules, whilst Rolling Aces also finished second on his latest outing at Taunton before Christmas.

Sandown looks the destination of choice for the majority of Nicholls runners this Saturday with Takeroc (c147) likely to get things started in a handicap chase over 2m. Saturday's field is likely to be fairly competitive and it will be interesting to see how Takeroc gets on back in handicap company after a creditable fourth behind Finian's Rainbow in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton in December.

Crack Away Jack (h?), Sonofvic (h166p) and American Trilogy (h162+) also hold entries at Sandown this weekend, the trio set to go in the Grade 3 Heroes Handicap Hurdle over 2m6f. Of the three, Sonofvic probably has the best chance of winning reverting back to hurdles after disappointing in the Grade 2 Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

Neptune Collonges (c161) and Michel le Bon (c141+) are entered in the other feature handicap on the Sandown card, the 3m Masters Handicap Chase. Of the pair, Neptune Collonges is arguably better treated at the weights after a fine second placed effort over course and distance last time when in behind the well-handicapped Hold On Julio. If capable of reproducing a similar effort then there is no reason why he shouldn't go close against the likes of Burton Port and Master of the Hall. Michel le Bon could be better than his current form reads, as emphasised by the + attached to his Timeform rating, and he has been given ample time to recover from his exertions in the Hennessy Gold Cup, notably his first start in two years.

Just the one potential runner at Wetherby for the champion trainer on Saturday, with Picture This (c130) entered in the Grade 2 Towton Novices' Chase. Picture This lost his maiden tag at the second time of asking when running out the comfortable winner of a Novices' Chase at Folkestone at the beginning of the year and, if finding the expected improvement, he should be able to feature here. Nicky Henderson's Mossley currently sets the standard but his jumping wasn't very tidy on debut and he could be vulnerable.

Timeform / 31 Jan 2012