Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Review

Two winners this weekend for the Champion Trainer and a very promising run from Al Ferof, who finished in third place in the Grade 1 VC Chase at Ascot on Saturday...

Celestial Halo got Nicholls off to a flying start on Saturday afternoon, landing the Grade 2 Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock Park, seeing off Desert Cry by two and a half lengths to record a Timeform rating of 150, some 13lbs below his best (modest pace prevented the winner from showing full superiority). It wasn't all plain sailing for the Nicholls runner, who looked in trouble two flights out, but he responded well to late pressure to record the victory under Daryl Jacob. His Cheltenham Festival target remains unconfirmed at the moment, but he may run in one of the handicaps should Nicholls decide the Champion Hurdle itself is too competitive for the eight-year-old gelding, who finished second in the 2009 renewal of the Festival opening day feature.

Violin Davis completed a quick-fire, cross-card double for Paul shortly afterwards, the mare putting in a career best effort to win the Grade 2 Warfield Hurdle at Ascot under a very good ride from Ruby Walsh. The three mile contest developed into a tactical affair and Violin Davis, racing prominently, was allowed an advantage over the held-up, Kentford Grey Lady. Violin Davis travelled strongly for much the way and did well to hold off the late challenge of the favourite, scoring by half a length. The drop back in trip for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle will suit Violin Davis but she still has a lot to find with current ante-post favourite, Quevega.

Royal Charm was unable to complete the Nicholls treble in the following race on the Ascot card, finishing a disappointing seventh of ten in the Holloway's Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles. He made niggling mistakes throughout the race and was badly outpaced after a blunder at the sixth, producing very little here that would make him of interest in the near future.

The most anticipated Nicholls runner of the weekend was arguably Al Ferof, who finished third in the Grade 1 VC Chase at Ascot recording the best performance by any novice this season with a Timeform rating of 161. Al Ferof didn't travel with his usual fluency in Grade 1 Open Company and was pushed along by Walsh from some way out, but he responded extremely well for pressure and did well to finish as close to the experienced chasers as he did. The Arkle remains the target for Al Ferof who should be suited by the Cheltenham course and the manner in which that race is run, the grey-gelding arguably value for the Grade 1 contest based on current prices.

Noland and The Pretender rounded things off for Nicholls at Ascot, the former finishing in sixth position in a two mile and five furlong handicap chase, whilst the latter finished fourth in a two and a half mile novices' hurdle.

The Pretender looked to have needed the run after a two month absence and the way he travelled for much of the way was promising before weakening two furlongs out, as if lacking fitness rather than stamina being the issue. He produced his best performance for Nicholls so far and has been given a rating of 107p for Saturday's run.

Wincanton was the other venue for Nicholls' runners this weekend and Aldertune got things underway with a career best effort of 128 when finishing second behind Zarafakkt in a handicap chase. Held up for the initial stages of the contest, Aldertune made gradual headway and looked the only challenger to the eventual winner but, despite sticking to his task well in the closing stages, had no answer to the finishing effort of an undisputedly well handicapped rival.

Minella Starsand The Gossmoor Yank were unable to make amends for their stablemates defeat later on in the afternoon, finishing second and fourth respectively in the three miles and two furlongs handicap chase. Minella Stars responded well to pressure in the closing stages but probably didn't jump as well as the eventual winner and that arguably cost him the race.

The Gossmoor Yank, on the other hand, was disappointing, finishing fourth of five and he put in a labored effort having been held up in the early stages and it may be that he hasn't taken to fences as well as was thought.

The Timeform Racing Club horse Unpartou rounded things up for the champion trainer on Saturday afternoon but he put in a display well below what was expected, finishing twelfth of eighteen runners in a novice hurdle at Wincanton, shaping as if amiss on his British debut. It will be interesting to see if anything comes to light regarding his below par effort but he remains unexposed enough to bounce back from this temporary blip.

Timeform / 23 Jan 2012