Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Review

Individual winners at both Doncaster and Hereford combined with three Cheltenham victories made it a weekend to remember for the champion trainer as he took his overall total at Prestbury Park past the 150 mark...

Sam Winner could have got Nicholls off to the perfect start on Friday afternoon at Cheltenham, travelling ominously well, but it wasn't to be and he fell three out. He remains an exciting prospect, however, despite falling on his two chasing starts so far, and there are definitely races to be won with him.

Nicholls was out of luck in the following three races, too, with Edgardo Sol, That'lldoboy and Mon Parrain all beaten favourites.

Edgardo Sol (139) showed improvement in defeat (now rated 139) and may have gone much closer under a more positive ride, worth at least as much credit as the winner bearing in mind he started his challenge from a lot further back. That'lldoboy (126) also progressed a bit more, despite having gone up 9 lb for his latest success, and further improvement could still be expected. Mon Parrain travelled well for much of his race but, once again, as in the Topham last season, he failed to get home, emptying markedly in the closing stages and unable to land a blow on Nicky Henderson's Shakalakaboomboom. There probably are races to be won with Mon Parrain but he is likely to be better over shorter distances and catching him right could be difficult.

Oscargo (137) opened Nicholls' account at the International Meeting in the penultimate race on Friday, staying on extremely well to win the three-mile handicap hurdle by nine lengths, and in the process giving his trainer his 150th Cheltenham winner.

Oscargo duly justified the strong market support he came in for, but supporters did have an anxious moment turning for home, the seven-year-old gelding firmly off the bridle with others around travelling much the better. There is an inclination that Oscargo may be slightly quirky, having been a touch edgy in the preliminaries before racing freely for the opening parts of the race, but he is still lightly raced and further progress can definitely be expected in both the short and long-term.

Hinterland headed into the opener on Saturday as the highest-rated juvenile hurdler in the country (135) but was unable to follow up his course victory a month earlier, having to play second fiddle to Tom George's Baby Mix. Few excuses can be made for the Nicholls runner, who seemed to have his own way out in front, but he has an excellent physique and looks the type to do even better when sent chasing, likely to be the plan next season.

Join Together soon made amends for his stablemate's defeat in the following race, putting in an impressive round of jumping to secure his second win at the track in as many starts. It was a promising performance from Join Together, who gave weight and a beating to two rivals who are themselves expected to develop into smart chasers in the future. The initial plan may have been the four-mile National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but his performance suggests that Join Together is likely to be more than capable of holding his own in the RSA Chase.

Neither Takeroc nor Robinson Collonges were able to make it a quick-fire double for Nicholls in the next race, the former falling whilst the latter could manage only fifth, but it was Robinson Collonges' first try at two miles since his novice days and he'll be better suited to more of an emphasis on stamina, despite sometimes having finished weakly.

Deireadh Re was fortunate to find himself in the winners' enclosure later on the card, as Sea of Thunder looked sure to win before falling at the last. This looked a fairly weak for the grade renewal and Deireadh Re will probably struggle in top company this winter but he did stay on admirably, responding well to pressure from Walsh, and the suspicion is that a truer-run race or a step up in trip will see him in a better light.

Woolcombe Folly was withdrawn before the start of the December Gold Cup, leaving Nicholls' hopes solely with Ghizao, who, despite putting in some early jumping blemishes, did reasonably well to take sixth place in a competitive handicap. Ghizao made smooth headway over three out and looked set to challenge for a place before his stamina eventually gave way. He looks capable of winning races off his current mark but a strongly-run two miles may be more his scene, though his jumping will need to improve.

Brampour (160+) proved his worth in Graded company in the following race, finishing third behind the impressive Grandouet in the Grade 2 International Hurdle. Whilst Brampour was no match for the decisive winner, he battled well in the closing stages and was only narrowly denied second by Overturn. Ridden by Harry Derham (unable to claim his usual 7 lb), Brampour was always going to be up against it and did well to get as close as he did. Ruby Walsh took the ride on Sanctuaire , but he finished well beaten in fifth, never able to get amongst the principal contenders.

Across the card at Doncaster, Harry The Viking (127p) was the sole winner for Ditcheat, successful on his chasing bow over three miles and making just his fourth racecourse start. He remains open to progress and his jumping will hold him in good stead wherever he is targeted, with the four-miler at Cheltenham possibly a long term ambition.

Ranjaan was Nicholls' other high profile runner at the Doncaster meeting but he was unable to win the Grade 2 Summit Hurdler, crashing out at just the second fence.

Ascendant (131+) was the highlight for Nicholls on Sunday afternoon at Hereford, and he rounded things off with a victory for the team, taking a selling hurdle with relative ease. Ascendant travelled well for much of the way and ended up running out a comfortable 15-length winner of a weak race.
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Timeform / 12 Dec 2011