Nicholls' Week Ahead: The Timeform Preview

Weekend Runners / Timeform / 28 December 2011 / 2

" class="free_bet_btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">

Chester Vase winner Ted Spread (right) is likely to make his debut for Nicholls this week

"One of the Graham Wylie-owned clan that moved to Paul Nicholls in the summer is the enigmatic Tidal Bay, who could make his debut for Paul Nicholls over hurdles at Cheltenham..."

Timeform take a look at the entries from the Paul Nicholls yard for the week ahead, including a number of exciting novice hurdlers and chasers, alongside a few more familiar names...

Noland is the stable's sole representative on Wednesday, and he takes his chance in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown. He is a high-class chaser on his day, having won five pattern races including Newbury's Aon Chase in February when last seen, but he looks to have his work cut out on his return after ten against the likes of Rubi Light, Quito de La Roque and Joncol.

Thursday could see Ted Spread, a smart performer on the Flat for Mark Tompkins, make his debut for Nicholls in a maiden at Doncaster - however, he does hold three alternative entries throughout the week. Ted Spread's debut over hurdles at Ascot suggested that he may need further than two miles (stayed a mile and three-quarters on the flat) but, such is was his ability on the level, he will be of obvious interest wherever he turns up.

Salubrious holds a plethora of entries in the coming week and will be makifng his hurdling debut on his second start after switching from the Pam Sly yard. He was rather disappointing in a listed bumper at Cheltenham last time, still looking in need of experience, but his very impressive 21-length success at Stratford in September still sticks in the mind, so he is not one to lose faith in yet.

Jump City's latest start saw him finishing fourth in a strong Grade 2 behind the likes of Fingal Bay and Simonsig, but it was a performance that suggested his stamina reserves were truly tested by the two and a half miles he faced that day. He holds several entries over that same trip and a furlong shorter this week, but he could really kick into gear if dropped back in trip even further in the near future.

Also entered on Friday are Black Thunder (finished second to recent winner Tetlami last time), The Reformer (making his seasonal return and possibly his chasing debut) and Domtaline (third to Grandouet last time, but would have top weight in handicap company).

Broomfield is currently entered at Newbury on New Year's Eve, and would have claims of gaining his first career win despite it looking a fairly hot race with the Nicky-Hednerson-trained trio All The Aces, Top of the Range and Tetlami all entered, as well as Timeform Betfair Racing Club's unbeaten Bourne. Broomfield featured in the most recent edition of Timeform's Horses to Follow Extra, and looks one to stick with, although he may appreciate further than two miles in time.

The first of Celestial Halo's two entries is on Saturday, and could see him drop into handicap company after contesting a number of pattern races against the likes of Grandouet, Overturn and Oscar Whisky. A BHA rating of 160 is going to make things very difficult for him.

Another entered on Saturday, in the same race as Celestial Halo, is Empire Levant, who notched a wide-margin win at Newbury before finding stablemate Rock On Ruby (who finished a head second to Binocular in the Christmas Hurdle recently) too good just two days later. Third that day was Raya Star, who went on to win the Ladbroke Hurdle, so Empire Levant's form is clearly strong.

New Year's Day is traditionally a busy one for racing and this year looks to be no different. Of the Nicholls contingent that will be heading to Cheltenham, Sonofvic is most definitely one to take a close look at in the Dipper Novices' Chase. Sonofvic's debut over fences saw him gave outstanding Feltham-winning novice Grands Crus a bit of a scare at Newbury, and he ought to improve further given that it was only his third start under rules. Although his task is far from straightforward with Solix, Walkon, Champion Court, Invictus and For Non Stop all currently entered, Sonofvic has the potential to go to the top.

Nicholls could be doubly represented in the Grade 3 handicap chase later on the card, with The Nightingale and Ghizao both towards the head of the weights. The Nightingale won a Grade 2 at Down Royal last season, before finishing a good third on his debut this year to Quito de le Roque. He fell at the fifth in the Peterborough Chase last time, too early to see what effect the first-time tongue tie was having, and he could be worth chacning despite having to shoulder top weight.

Ghizao shaped as if he was returning to form in the December Gold Cup on his latest start, making smooth progress despite throwing in a couple of mistakes before his stamina ran out up the Cheltenham hill. His jumping needs to improve, and he could be better served by dropping back towards two miles.

One of the Graham Wylie-owned clan that moved to Paul Nicholls in the summer is the enigmatic Tidal Bay, who could make his debut for Paul Nicholls over hurdles at Cheltenham. He will carry top-weight should he contest the handicap, but Harry Derham's 7-lb claim will help, and Tidal Bay has more than enough ability to win provided he's on a going day.

Entered in the same race is recent Cheltenham winner Oscargo, who could well take another step forward given his lightly-raced profile. The race he won earlier this month is not one to write home about, but Oscargo did it comfortably enough and he could quite easily develop into a smart performer.

One more to mention at Cheltenham is Poungach, who has won three of his four career starts, with the latest win being particularly impressive. He is thoroughly unexposed, ought to improve considerably and could well take the beating before connections decide upon whether he's to undergo a novice chasing campaign.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

(2)

ian urquhart | 30 December 2011

I THOUGHT THE BEST HORSE I WOULD EVER SEE WAS DESERT ORCHID I LOVED THIS HORSE TO BITS AND BACKED IT IN EVERY RACE AND IAM CURRENTLY READING THE BOOK ITS OWNER WROTE ABOUT IT ,BUT IWAS IN THE BOOKIES ONE DAY WITH MY BROTHER AND I SAID THERE IS A NICE HORSE FROM FRANCE RUNNING AT NEWBURY FOR PAUL NICHOLLS ITS CALLED KAUTO STAR IM STICKING TWENTY POUNDS ON IT IAM SURE THAT WAS ITS FIRST RACE IN THE UK BUT WHAT A HORSE ANY DISTANCE NO PROBLEM AND JUST WHEN EVERY BODY THOUGHT HE WAS FINISHED HE CAME OUT AND THRASHED THEM AT HAYDOCK I HAD TWENTY POUNDS ON AND THEN BOXING DAY I WAS CRYING AS HE WENT PAST THE WINNING POST.I TRUELY LOVE KAUTO AND ROLL ON CHELTNHAM THREE INA ROW FIRST TWO THIS YEAR WERE EASY BUT THIS WILL BE HARDER AT CHELTNHAM BUT WITH RUBY YOU AND YOUR GREAT STAFF WORKING FOR KAUTO I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU ALL .LET YOU GO NOW IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET A E MAIL BACK FROM YOU PAUL KEEP ON HAVING LOADS OF WINNERS AND BEAT HENDERSON TO BE CHAMPION TRAINER BYE..
chris | 31 December 2011

do you think poungach will beat oscar whisky