Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Review

A disappointing start to the week was soon turned around on Saturday afternoon, with a Nicholls Ascot treble which included the fourteenth consecutive win of the phenomenal Big Buck's...

Those who had started to question the form of Nicholls earlier in the week were forced to eat their words come Saturday, a day which typically sees the stable come alive.

After just one winner from his previous 16 runners prior to Saturday, Nicholls landed an Ascot treble courtesy of successes from Aerial, Big Buck's and The Minack.

Nicholls sent a strong team to Ascot, the only course where he had runners this weekend, and he couldn't have got off to a better start as Aerial ran out a ten-length winner of the two-and-a-half mile Graduation Chase.

Although the race fell apart to some degree, Aerial's main rivals putting in numerous mistakes and all but forfeiting their chances of victory, he himself travelled and jumped with noticeable enthusiasm under Ruby Walsh. Saturday's performance was an improvement on his PP Gold Cup fourth, posting a Timeform rating of 144+, and he looks set to continue on an upward curve even if he is going to find things more difficult back in handicaps.

Big Buck's (rated 176+) extended his record to fourteen successive victories in the following race, the Long Walk Hurdle, taking well to the task of racing right-handed for the first time in his career. David Pipe's Dynaste set the early pace and, turning for home, looked to have Big Buck's under a bit of pressure, but the three-times World Hurdle Champion closed the gap on the leader in a matter of strides before staying on well to secure an eight-length victory, the bare form of which has been rated 152. Five Dream (143) ran on to finish second, completing a Nicholls 1-2, but the race truly belonged to Big Buck's who was securing his third victory in the Long Walk Hurdle and now looks all set to defend his Cheltenham Crown in March. Five Dream is likely to be targeted at the Cleeve Hurdle and, in the absence of his illustrious stablemate, may have a live outside chance of victory.

The Minack (157p) soon completed a treble for the big-race Saturday duo, showing stamina to be his forte in the three-mile handicap chase, travelling strongly and staying on impressively to land a six-length victory. This was The Minack's fourth victory in five career starts over fences and he looks set to give a good account of himself in the future, with the Welsh National a possible short-term target. The Minack jumps well and clearly stays, so a tilt at the Aintree Grand National could be in the offing come April, although that race may come a year too early for him given his limited experience thus far.

Prospect Wells (143+) ran encouragingly in the Ladbroke Hurdle but was unable to complete the Nicholls four-timer, held up in touch and travelling well for much of the way before delivering his challenge inside the final two furlongs. He was unable to land a winning blow given the way the race panned out, and will be better suited in future by a more strongly-run race. The totesport Trophy could be his next target, whilst he is likely to hold every chance in the Supreme Novice Hurdles in the Spring, with further improvement still likely from the lightly-raced six-year-old.

Brampour and Tonic Mellysse were unable to match the efforts of Prospect Wells in the same race, finishing eleventh and fifteenth respectively, the ground arguably the undoing of the former, whilst the latter failed to settle given the slow early pace. Brampour could now be targeted at the Champion Hurdle, with his handicap mark now making him difficult to place in the following weeks.
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Timeform / 19 Dec 2011