Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Review

Timeform take a look back at a meeting to remember for the reigning champion trainer...

Where else to start but the Grand National; Neptune Collonges landing a last-gasp victory to give the trainer his first ever win in the race from years of trying and almost certainly the trainers' championship for seventh year in succession.

Nicholls had 32 runners take to the track in between Big Buck's landing his seventeeth race in succession in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree on Thursday and Vrai Vert finishing fifth in the closing bumper at Chepstow on Saturday but none of the three winners and 10 placed runners would have come close to raising the cheer that greeted the gallant Neptune Collonges following his nose Grand Natonal victory over Sunnyhillboy.

Neptune Collonges has been totally rejuvenated this season and produced a top-class performance to land the massive prize off a high BHA mark, on par with the form that he'd shown to win 3 Grade 1s earlier in his career. With the handicap being compressed in recent years it seemed only a matter of time before one of those near the head of the weights would emerge victorious and so it proved, Neptune Collonges running to a rating that not many National winners have matched.

While it did take the horse a little while to become accustomed to the very unique elements of the race, not the fences (jumped boldly throughout) but more the atmosphere, big field and false start that occurred, Neptune Collonges made steady progress on the final circuit and displayed a fantastic attitude under pressure from after the second last, getting up only on the line under an all-out drive from Daryl Jacob. Connections reported afterwards that a decision had been made pre-race to retire the 11-year-old grey and he bowed out on the highest possible note.

As previously mentioned, Big Buck's got the Aintree meeting off to the best possible start for the yard when again proving imperious to land his fourth Liverpool Hurdle. Big Buck's winning streak is the longest ever recorded in National Hunt racing, testament to his talent and toughness, whilst his stable deserves plenty of the plaudits too. In performance terms Thursday's nine-length defeat of former stablemate Crack Away Jack was a long way short of Big Bucks' best, but it's not the horse's fault he was left with a simple opportunity and he could hardly have done it any more easily, cruising to the front approaching 3 out and stretching clear between the last 2 before heavily eased.

Tidal Bay also ran in the Liverpool Hurdle, staying on steadily after being hampered early on, as did Poungach, who finished fifth.

With Cristal Bonus and Al Ferof failing to withstand Menorah in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase on the same card, it was left to Edgardo Sol to produce the goods, and he did exactly that when taking the Red Rum Handicap Chase in some style. The five-year-old has progressed over hurdles since successful in a chase over the Aintree course and distance at the October meeting and he did much better still to defy a career-high mark in style, his performance not far off what's required in some graded races. A fluent round of jumping helped him to travel strongly prior to quickly asserting between the last two fences and connections have a horse to look forward to for next year.

With Gwanako falling when going well close up in the Fox Hunters' and Hinterland also unshipping when moving into contention in the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle (Dodging Bullets sixth), Jump City provided further cheer when scoring in a novice hurdle at Newton Abbot.

Prospect Wells could do no better than third in the opening Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree on Friday so it was left to Silviniaco Conti to add another win to the yard's tally, the six-year-old, who boasts strong form having split Grands Crus and Bobs Worth in the Feltham at Kempton in December, jumping impeccably for a 13-length defeat of Champion Court with stable-companion Join Together a further 12 lengths behind in third.

Of the other Friday representatives, Fistral Beach did best in finishing third in the Topham, with Frankie Figg, a previous winner over the National fences, managing only twelfth. Poquelin and Kauto Stone were both well held in the Melling Chase.

On Grand National Day itself, Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby shaped as if still feeling those exertions when only third in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle (Zarkandar fell at the sixth), while Chapoturgeon failed to justify favouritism when fifth in the listed chase that saw the last appearance of the now-to-be-retired Noland. There was another winner to add to Neptune Collonge's, however, as American Trilogy took the charity race that began the card in the hands of three-time Derby-winning former jockey Mick Kinane.

Timeform / 16 Apr 2012