Nicholls' Week Ahead: The Timeform Preview

A plethora of top-quality runners for Paul Nicholls again this week, including Big Buck's in the Long Distance Hurdle and a triple assault on the Hennessy Gold Cup...

Merehead is one of the most fascinating of the Nicholls entries on Thursday afternoon and he holds no fewer than four engagements across the course of the week, including two handicap hurdles at Taunton and a pair of handicap chases at Newbury. Merehead was the much-improved winner of a handicap hurdle at Ascot last time and, despite racing freely in the early stages of that contest, seems there is little doubt that he has more to offer in both spheres of National Hunt racing.

Join Together is also entered on Thursday, in his case with Sonofvic in what looks a very high quality renewal of the three mile Grade 2 Worcester Novices' Chase. Join Together fell on his chasing debut at Chepstow last month, but made up for that disappointment when winning a strong novice at the Cheltenham Open Meeting on his next start. His jumping was once again far from impeccable on that occasion, but he managed to secure the victory nevertheless under a superb ride from Ruby Walsh. He is open to further improvement, especially if improving his jumping, but he has a lot to find with the Timeform top-rated Grands Crus, who looks to have the making of a potential top-notch chaser, and is current considered 16 lb superior to the Nicholls runner.

Empire Levant could make his seasonal reappearance on Thursday in the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at Newbury. Having recorded a promising novice hurdle victory at Doncaster in January, Empire Levant failed to build on the bare form of that on his two subsequent starts, but did finish second in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices' Hurdle prior to a fourth-placed effort in a race at the Punchestown Festival. Connections believe he still has more to offer and looks sure to be winning more races. He is also entered in the listed Gerry Feilden Hurdle on Saturday, but Newbury event looks a more realistic target considering he is only 1 lb behind the Timeform top-rated.

Poungach could get things underway for the stable on Friday afternoon in the Grade 2 Berkshire Novices' Steeple Chase over two and a half miles at Newbury. Connections have always thought extremely highly of Poungach and the bumper winner went some way to justifying his lofty reputation in two starts over hurdles last term. He was the runaway winner of a novice at Ascot on the second of those in January, before a minor injury kept him sidelined for the remainder of the season, but is expected to improve significantly for the switch to the larger obstacles. What's more, the fact that Nicholls is considering racing him in a graded contest in which Grands Crus and Cue Card are currently entered on his first chasing start surely speaks volumes.

Hold Fast could make his debut for the trainer on Friday having left Howard Johnson. Hold Fast demonstrated improvement from his first to his second chase start last winter, but was then seemingly overfaced when thrown into a graded chase against the likes of Wishfull Thinking and Medermit at the Grand National Festival at Aintree in April. Although he unseated his rider on that occasion having been under pressure five out, he remain a horse of untapped potential having had just three chasing starts so far.

Prospect Wells could make a quick reappearance on Saturday, having put in a solid performance to finish second behind Steps To Freedom at the Open Meeting a fortnight ago. Prospect Wells currently ranks as one of the best novice hurdle prospects around and, if able to inject some further fluency into his jumping, the former useful Flat performer could be a horse destined for the top.

Rock On Ruby looks set to make his seasonal reappearance this week and will be fancied to land the Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury should he line up. Rock On Ruby developed into one of the better novice hurdlers last season, finishing second behind First Lieutenant in the Neptune Investment Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He is top on Timeform ratings for Saturday's contest and, with further improvement this season likely, looks the one to beat in a race that Empire Levant is also entered.

Big Buck's will also be making his reappearance at the weekend when trying for his thirteenth victory in a row in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle on the same card, a race that the champion has won for the past two seasons. Big Buck's put in some of his best displays last year, taking the World Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Stayers Hurdle at Aintree and, with reports suggesting he could be even better this season and Grands Crus now over fences, another unbeaten term looks highly likely.

The Grade 3 Hennessy Gold Cup is arguably the biggest race this weekend and Nicholls is currently triple-handed with ante-post favourite Aiteenthirtythree, Michel Le Bon and Neptune Collonges . Of the three it is Aiteenthirtythree and Michel Le Bon who make most appeal, both of whom have lightly-raced profiles and appearing potentially well-in at the weights. With Michel Le Bon having to overcome a two-year absence, Ruby Walsh has elected to partner the first-named, with Noel Fehily on Michel Le Bon and Harry Derham aboard Neptune Collonges.

The feature race at Newcastle on Saturday is the two-mile Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle , a race in which Celestial Halo and Brampour are both due to go to post. Binocular and Overturn currently head the Timeform ratings but the much-improved Brampour could be very dangerous if continuing his upward curve. He deserves his chance to take his place in graded company after winning the Greatwood Hurdle two weeks ago and, with the early pace likely to be strong (see stable-companion Celestial Halo and Overturn), the race could play into his hands.

Be a part of the Timeform Betfair Racing Club. Click the banner below to find out more about our horses & the amazing benefits you receive as a member.

Timeform / 23 Nov 2011