Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Review

A mediocre weekend for the Champion trainer but the victory of Celestial Halo will have brought a smile to many a face at Ditcheat...

Black Thunder got the Nicholls yard off to the perfect start on Friday afternoon, landing a two-and-a-half mile novice hurdle at Taunton by the narrowest of margins under Daryl Jacob. Black Thunder has acquitted himself well in two hot races over timber so far, increasing his Timeform master rating to 131p on Friday, and he looks just the type to continue progressing. Black Thunder showed improvement to land the Taunton contest and the attitude he demonstrated in the closing stages to get the better of two potentially useful rivals in Captain Sunshine and Talkonthestreet was particularly admirable.

Salubrious quickly followed up for the trainer/jockey combination just over an hour later when winning division two of the same novice hurdle, demonstrating the type of form (ran to a rating of 126) his bumper victory (for Pam Sly) suggested he should be capable of. Things were not all plain sailing for Salubrious, with the four-year-old hitting the front too soon and showing signs of greenness in the closing stages, but he clearly had a fair bit in hand over his rivals come the line. Whilst not short of speed at present, he definitely looks the type to stay further with time.

Ted Spread and The Reformer rounded things off for Nicholls at Taunton, but neither could manage a victory, finishing second and third in their respective races. Although beaten as a short-priced favourite, it could just be that Ted Spread needs further to show his best (stayed 1¾m on Flat) and he probably still has more to offer given his class on the level (Chester Vase winner).

Celestial Halo was the only runner for Nicholls on Saturday and a well-fought victory off top-weight in a valuable handicap at Newbury was his contribution. Amazingly for a horse that seems to have been around forever (he's actually only just turned eight), Saturday's success was a career-best performance, pushing his master rating up to a top-class 165.

Sonofvic had looked a potentially high-class novice chaser when finishing second to Grands Crus last time, but he could not build upon his chasing debut when a disappointing fifth behind Champion Court in the Grade 2 Dipper at Cheltenham on Sunday. Put plainly, his jumping was very sloppy throughout the contest and early mistakes meant he was already beaten even before being hampered after the fourth last. It is too early to write him off though and a step back up in trip to three miles is also likely to prove favourable. The RSA Chase still appears his long-term target.

The Nightingale and Ghizaowere unable to make amends for their stablemate in the Grade handicap chase later on the card, the former unseating early and the latter stopping as if amiss. It was later reported by Ruby Walsh that Ghizao may be suffering from a breathing problem.

Oscargo also unseated in the following handicap hurdle, hitting the sixth particularly hard and giving Ruby Walsh no chance of maintaining the partnership. Oscargo remains lightly raced, however, and should have more to offer, but he's going to need to improve to defy the 12 lb weight increase for his victory at Cheltenham last month. Tidal Bay managed to complete in the same race for Nicholls but he could only manage third, showing signs of temperament (he does have a Timeform 'squiggle') when asked for his finishing effort in the closing stages. It remains to be seen whether the switch of yards can reform him.

Poungach completed the weekend for Nicholls, but despite running to an improved Timeform rating of 154 on just his fourth hurdling start, he could only finish runner-up to Oscar Whisky. Poungach lost nothing in defeat against a top-class rival, however, and did well to pull clear with the eventual winner over a trip that was probably less than his optimum.

Timeform / 2 Jan 2012