Nicholls' Week Ahead: The Timeform Preview

The recent cold snap has meant that last Saturday's Betfair Super Saturday fixture has been rearranged for Friday, with Nicholls heading to Newbury with a very strong team...

Hold Fast is likely to get things underway for Ditcheat on Friday in the Grade 2 Betfair Super Saturday Chase (12:15) and he will be putting his Champion Chase credentials to the test against Sprinter Sacre, one of this season's most exciting novices. Hold Fast has 5 lb to find with Sprinter Sacre (who has a 'p') on Timeform ratings but the '+' assigned to the former's 148 figure indicates he may be better than he has been able to show so far. The race looks a high-quality renewal at this stage and Hold Fast will put himself in the Champion Chase picture overturning his biggest form rivals.

The Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase (12:45) is the very next race on the Newbury card and the champion trainer is double-handed in what also looks a strong contest. What A Friend and Tidal Bay will be Nicholls' representatives, with the former possessing the better chance of upsetting Long Run according to Timeform figures. Long Run is considered 6 lb superior to What A Friend at the weights but it is definitely possible that the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned nine-year-old will give the reigning Gold Cup champion something to think about. The race should provide plenty of Gold Cup clues with the Cheltenham showpiece the likely target for all three mentioned horses.

The Betfair Hurdle (13:20) will also be of interest to Nicholls supporters with leading Champion Hurdle hope Zarkandar heading a trio that otherwise consists of Brampour and Empire Levant. Last year's Triumph Hurdle winner hasn't been seen since his victory in the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree in April, but looks potentially well-in off of his current BHA mark of 151 given how his form from last season has worked out. Zarkandar is currently top on Timeform ratings, considered 1lb superior to his nearest rival Third Intention and, with almost certainly more to come, he's a worthy favourite. Nicholls has warned that Zarkandar may not be at the top of his game for Friday, however, with next month's Champion Hurdle the main target.

The Grade 1 Betfair Novices' Chase (more commonly known as the Scilly Isles, 15:00) could feature a three-pronged attack from Nicholls. Pacha du Polder, Cedre Bleu and Picture This are the three Ditcheat entries to choose from at this stage but each will have their work cut out to topple the likes of For Non Stop and Walkon, first and second respectively on Timeform figures. Pacha du Polder is the highest-rated Nicholls representative and still looks open to further progression, but it remains to be seen whether he can bridge the 15-lb gap with Nick Williams' seven-year-old.

Newbury aside, a novice hurdle (14:30) at Fakenham will probably provide Nicholls' followers with the most interest on Friday afternoon. The trainer currently has Themilanhorse and Balding Banker entered in the two-and-a-half mile contest that could also see the likes of Molotof and Top of The Range line-up. Balding Banker is the higher-rated of Nicholls' (though Themilanhorse does have a 'p'), but both have it to do against the aforementioned Nicky Henderson-trained pair.

There will be plenty of Cheltenham pointers at Ascot on Saturday with the three-mile Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase shaping up to be a particularly exciting affair. Join Together and Silviniaco Conti are the two Ditcheat runners currently entered, with the latter is top on Timeform figures (3 lb superior to Bobs Worth). Silviniaco Conti finished ahead of Bobs Worth in the Feltham Chase back in December and it will be interesting to see if he can confirm the form with that rival.

Michel le Bon and The Minack are set to go in the following race on the Ascot Card, a limited handicap chase also over three miles. The Minack has demonstrated marked improvement this term, landing the Badger Ales Trophy before a course-and-distance handicap success in December, experience that should hold him in good stead on Saturday.

Kauto Stone currently holds an entry in the feature race on the Ascot Card, the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase over two miles and five furlongs, a race in which he is considered 9 lb inferior to Riverside Theatre. Kauto Stone finished second in the Tingle Creek last time, eight lengths behind Sizing Europe over an inadequate two miles, and Saturday's step up in trip should see him in a better light before a likely tilt at the Ryanair Chase.

Over at Haydock on Saturday, Deireadh Re, Rolling Aces and/or Ruben Cotter are likely to get things underway for Nicholls, with the trio featuring in the entry for the three-mile Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Trial . Of the three, it is Deireadh Re who arguably has the greatest chance of victory but even he is 9 lb lower than Ballyrock on ratings and it is difficult to envisage him bridging the gap given that one's likely improvement.

The Knoxs and Crack Away Jack could also line up on the same card, that pair entered in the following race, The Grade 2 Betfair Goals Galore Hurdle (Rendlesham) over three miles. Of that pair, The Knoxs comes out best in terms of figures but he still remains some 11 lb adrift of Featherbed Lane and will have to improve if he is going to compete with a seemingly well-handicapped rival.

Neptune Collonges looks the most fascinating of the remaining Nicholls runners at Haydock, and he will put his Grand National credentials to the test in the Grade 2 Grand National Trial. Saturday's contest looks likely to be a fiercely-competitive affair with the likes of Giles Cross, Cappa Bleu and Le Beau Bai all set to line up, and John Hales' grey will have to produce his best to land the spoils. Neptunes Collonges is considered just 2 lb inferior to the first mentioned though and he should give a good showing on Saturday before an Aintree effort in the spring.

Timeform / 15 Feb 2012