Nicholls' Week Ahead: The Timeform Preview

An abundance of runners for the champion trainer this week and Charlie Hall-bound Poquelin is arguably the most exciting at Wetherby on Saturday...

Doeslessthanme is the sole runner at Fontwell for Team Dicheat on Thursday afternoon, in a novice chase scheduled to take place at 14:00. He just about sets the standard based on hurdles form, having won a fairly competitive handicap last year when in the care of Howard Johnson, and he also has some previous fencing experience after a couple of runs over the bigger obstacles in 2009/10. Helium is likely to be his main rival, but he's not straightforward and Doeslessthanme should be able to take care of him.

The stable's only other runner on Thursday is at Stratford, where Themilanhorse goes in the maiden hurdle at 16:50.

Golden Call is an interesting debutant for Donald McCain, having shaped well in a couple of bumpers (won one) and a hurdle for Gordon Elliott, but Themilanhorse showed a similar level of form to that rival in the former sphere and should be suited by the step up in trip - the market should give a good guide as to what he's been showing at home.

Another bumper performer, Billy Merriott, could make his hurdling debut in the opener at Uttoxeter (14:00) on Friday. He showed a likeable attitude when runner-up on all three starts on the level and has a reasonable jumping pedigree, being from the family of The Listener.

The stable's two other runners on the card come in the final two races. Flaming Gorge will be making his debut for Nicholls, having left Nick Williams earlier in the year, and starts off in the handicap chase at 16:55, a race for which he is rated 2 lb clear of his nearest rival. A front runner for his former stable, he's shaped as if he should get the two-and-a-half mile trip.

Provo, who's by Presenting and out of a bumper winner, will be making his first racecourse start in what looks to be an interesting bumper.

Up at Wetherby, Fistral Beach is Paul's only runner on the card on Friday, and he looks have every chance in the listed handicap chase (15:20). Fistral Beach put in a career-best when winning on his reappearance last season and could easily put subsequent disappointing displays in the Racing Post Chase and the Topham behind him. He has only a few pounds to find with some of those currently entered, including the likes of Misstree Dancer and Safari Adventures, so he should give a good account.

The most high-profile of the Ditcheat runners on Saturday also appear at Wetherby, where Poquelin and Neptune Collonges are entered in the Charlie Hall Chase (15:20). Poquelin is currently joint top on Timeform ratings, alongside Diamond Harry, but he has to prove himself over the longer trip of two and a half miles and there are plenty of other strong contenders including Time For Rupert and last year's winner Nacarat. Neptune Collonges has 8 lb to find with his stablemate and will have to hope his main rivals are a little below their best if he is to strike.

Round Tom, a former pointer who got off the mark over fences at Worcester in the summer, could go in the opening novice chase at Wetherby, and he looks to have a good chance based on the form he showed back over hurdles at Cheltenham in October.

The John Smith's Hurdle (14:45) looks a good renewal and it will be no surprise if What A Friend makes a big impact. He's Timeform rated 127+ over hurdles, but clearly has much better form over fences, a Grade 1 winner and fourth in last season's Gold Cup at Cheltenham, so if he can run anywhere near his chase rating of 166 he'll be the one to beat, acknowledging the likes of Ashkazar, Carlito Brigante and Restless Harry are good-quality hurdlers in their own right.

Ex-French Pacha du Polder could be in line to make his debut for Nicholls in a novice chase later on the card. The winner of a four-year-old hurdle in his homeland, he fits a similar profile to so many successful Nicholls recruits in the past so it will be fascinating to see how he gets on.

Tigre d'Aron, who also makes his debut for Nicholls, finds himself joint Timeform top-rated in the following handicap hurdle. A winner for Howard Johnson over two miles, he looked stretched upped in trip when last seen at Carlisle in March.

A whole host of Nicholls runners are currently entered at Ascot on Saturday and chief amongst them are Niche Market and The Minack, who are both set to run in the Grade 3 United House Gold Cup (15:40) over three miles. Of the two, Niche Market comes out on top in terms of Timeform ratings, currently 8 lb superior to his stablemate, but even he's got a bit to find with top-rated Exmoor Ranger.

Niche Market will more than likely have his season geared around another crack at the Grand National next April and it remains to be seen whether he will be fully tuned for his seasonal reappearance. The Minack, on the other hand, remains open to improvement after failing to produce his best in last season's Scottish Grand National, but he is also engaged at Carlisle on Sunday.

Merehead could go in the opening novice handicap hurdle, but looks to have quite a bit to find as it stands, while recent Kempton winner Pepe Simo has it do against stablemate Takeroc in the listed handicap chase that follows, the latter looking a good bet to complete the hat-trick after wins at Stratford and Aintree.

Also entered at Ascot on Saturday is Brampour, in the listed handicap hurdle (15:00). Brampour came to Nicholls with a lofty reputation and went some way to fulfilling his promise last season, landing a novice in impressive fashion before finishing a creditable ninth in the Triumph Hurdle. He then disappointed at the Aintree Festival, but the race might have come too soon after Cheltenham. He could be up against some very talented individuals on Saturday, however, and comes out 7 lb adrift of Via Galilei on Timeform ratings.

Nicholls followers could also be rewarded, however, when Sam Winner makes his chasing debut at the Berkshire course (16:50). The useful novice hurdler stayed on strongly to finish fourth in the Triumph Hurdle and should be right in the mix if able to make a smooth transition to the larger obstacles, although Micheal Flips does set a good chasing standard.

Royal Charm completes the weekend for Ditcheat with an entry in an Intermediate chase at Carlisle on Sunday. He has a bit to find with Wymott in ratings terms, but if able to build upon his very best from last season then there is every reason to believe that the six-year-old could be competitive. Royal Charm made three starts last year and posted two victories from his first couple of starts for Nicholls, before a disappointing performance at Aintree, where he could only finish a distant third behind Wishfull Thinking.

Timeform / 26 Oct 2011