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Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Review

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There were mixed fortunes for Team Nicholls over the weekend; Master Minded was turned over at Aintree and Ruby Walsh picked up a controversial ban, but four winners over the two days do at least soften the blow to some degree...

Ruby Walsh rode both of Nicholls' runners at Aintree on Saturday and might now wish he hadn't. Master Minded went off a short price to make a winning return in the Old Roan Chase but came last of the three runners.

Master Minded's jumping wasn't as fluent as usual and he was slow three out, just as things were taking shape, but the small field and steady pace probably didn't help that side of things and a reappearance defeat isn't necessarily anything to worry about, for all it doesn't look great with Pure Faith, Timeform rated 124 going into the race, finishing in front of him despite being 22 lb out of the handicap

Things got worse for Walsh later on the card, as while he gave Edgardo Sol what was quite rightly regarded in most quarters as an excellent ride to land the two mile novices handicap chase, it also landed him in hot water with the stewards under the controversial new whip rules. Edgardo Sol jumped much better than on his British debut a couple of weeks earlier and improved as a result, not travelling best but crucially getting over the last quicker than the runner-up and constantly responding to Walsh's urgings.

Walsh picked up a five-day ban for striking Edgardo Sol nine times - one more than the permitted eight that the new whip rules allow - and it was a suspension that almost caused the jockey and his weighing room colleagues to shun the remainder of the meeting. Walsh is now unwilling to commit to riding in Britain on a regular basis in fear of picking up more bans.

Daryl Jacob rode the majority of the stable's runners at Chepstow on Saturday and got the afternoon off to a great start when Harry The Viking justified favouritism in the opening three-mile maiden hurdle. Although he's still learning his craft, Harry The Viking shaped like a really strong stayer and can be expected to continue developing in both the short and long term, doing only what was required in getting the upper hand on Forgotten Gold.

Tataniano was the other winner at the Welsh track, scoring by eight lengths in his customary front-running fashion from Nomecheki, with stablemate Woolcombe Folly back in third.

Tataniano finally delivered the high-class performance that he has always threatened and if the problems that restricted him to just two runs last season are truly behind him, he is going be a major player in all the best two-mile chases, the form shown on Saturday not far off what the top contenders in an open-looking division have to offer.

It was also a fairly encouraging return under a big weight from Woolcombe Folly, who wasn't all that far off the high-class level he showed when winning a handicap at Cheltenham last December, perhaps in need of the run for all he has a good record fresh.

The other most promising effort at Chepstow came from Dualla Lord, who shaped really well when second to Rev It up in the second division of the maiden hurdle. Dualla Lord had won his last five starts in points (first of those in Ireland) and will have no problem getting off the mark under rules. He looked by some way the better prospect of the first two on Saturday, impressing with how he travelled into contention and appearing to have all moves covered prior to hitting the last, losing the initiative with that.

Join Together was travelling best when stumbling on landing five out on his chasing debut and is well worth another chance bearing in mind his good quality novice hurdling form, while That'lldoboy also shaped better than the result on his chasing bow, jumping assuredly but leaving the impression he'll be all the better for the outing.

Current Event and Robinson Collonges both finished third in their respective races, the former better than the result in the Persian War after blundering at the sixth and forced to make up ground out wide as a result, and the latter shaping as if in need of the run behind Arthurian Legend in the Silver Trophy.

Sunday also yielded some success for Ditcheat and it was Takeroc who did best out of a handful of Nicholls runners, running out the impressive twelve-length winner of a handicap up at Aintree. Takeroc travelled fairly well and took over between the last two fences before staying on powerfully to land the contest by a wide margin.

Earlier on the Aintree card, Take The Breeze had finished sixth of fourteen in a Pertemps Handicap Hurdle qualifier under 7 lb claimer Harry Derham. It was a fairly creditable reappearance for the eight-year-old gelding who was having his first run over timber for over two years.

There was disappointment over at Wincanton on Sunday with Rock of Deauville and Mendip Express beaten favourites, however. The former travelled well for much of the race and looked in with a good chance three out but found little under pressure and could only finish seventh. Mendip Express made various jumping errors throughout his race and looked well beaten when falling three out.

Sunday also marked the seasonal reappearance of Gullible Gordon, who finished fourth in a three-and-a-half mile handicap chase. This was fairly encouraging from the eight-year-old who will probably have more long distance handicap assignments on the agenda over the coming months.

Timeform / 24 Oct 2011

Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Review

Weekend Runners RSS / / 24 October 2011 / 4

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Tataniano could have the very top 2m races on his agenda this season

Tataniano could have the very top 2m races on his agenda this season

"The form shown on Saturday (by Tataniano) was not far off what the top contenders in an open-looking division have to offer..."

There were mixed fortunes for Team Nicholls over the weekend; Master Minded was turned over at Aintree and Ruby Walsh picked up a controversial ban, but four winners over the two days do at least soften the blow to some degree...

Ruby Walsh rode both of Nicholls' runners at Aintree on Saturday and might now wish he hadn't. Master Minded went off a short price to make a winning return in the Old Roan Chase but came last of the three runners.

Master Minded's jumping wasn't as fluent as usual and he was slow three out, just as things were taking shape, but the small field and steady pace probably didn't help that side of things and a reappearance defeat isn't necessarily anything to worry about, for all it doesn't look great with Pure Faith, Timeform rated 124 going into the race, finishing in front of him despite being 22 lb out of the handicap

Things got worse for Walsh later on the card, as while he gave Edgardo Sol what was quite rightly regarded in most quarters as an excellent ride to land the two mile novices handicap chase, it also landed him in hot water with the stewards under the controversial new whip rules. Edgardo Sol jumped much better than on his British debut a couple of weeks earlier and improved as a result, not travelling best but crucially getting over the last quicker than the runner-up and constantly responding to Walsh's urgings.

Walsh picked up a five-day ban for striking Edgardo Sol nine times - one more than the permitted eight that the new whip rules allow - and it was a suspension that almost caused the jockey and his weighing room colleagues to shun the remainder of the meeting. Walsh is now unwilling to commit to riding in Britain on a regular basis in fear of picking up more bans.

Daryl Jacob rode the majority of the stable's runners at Chepstow on Saturday and got the afternoon off to a great start when Harry The Viking justified favouritism in the opening three-mile maiden hurdle. Although he's still learning his craft, Harry The Viking shaped like a really strong stayer and can be expected to continue developing in both the short and long term, doing only what was required in getting the upper hand on Forgotten Gold.

Tataniano was the other winner at the Welsh track, scoring by eight lengths in his customary front-running fashion from Nomecheki, with stablemate Woolcombe Folly back in third.

Tataniano finally delivered the high-class performance that he has always threatened and if the problems that restricted him to just two runs last season are truly behind him, he is going be a major player in all the best two-mile chases, the form shown on Saturday not far off what the top contenders in an open-looking division have to offer.

It was also a fairly encouraging return under a big weight from Woolcombe Folly, who wasn't all that far off the high-class level he showed when winning a handicap at Cheltenham last December, perhaps in need of the run for all he has a good record fresh.

The other most promising effort at Chepstow came from Dualla Lord, who shaped really well when second to Rev It up in the second division of the maiden hurdle. Dualla Lord had won his last five starts in points (first of those in Ireland) and will have no problem getting off the mark under rules. He looked by some way the better prospect of the first two on Saturday, impressing with how he travelled into contention and appearing to have all moves covered prior to hitting the last, losing the initiative with that.

Join Together was travelling best when stumbling on landing five out on his chasing debut and is well worth another chance bearing in mind his good quality novice hurdling form, while That'lldoboy also shaped better than the result on his chasing bow, jumping assuredly but leaving the impression he'll be all the better for the outing.

Current Event and Robinson Collonges both finished third in their respective races, the former better than the result in the Persian War after blundering at the sixth and forced to make up ground out wide as a result, and the latter shaping as if in need of the run behind Arthurian Legend in the Silver Trophy.

Sunday also yielded some success for Ditcheat and it was Takeroc who did best out of a handful of Nicholls runners, running out the impressive twelve-length winner of a handicap up at Aintree. Takeroc travelled fairly well and took over between the last two fences before staying on powerfully to land the contest by a wide margin.

Earlier on the Aintree card, Take The Breeze had finished sixth of fourteen in a Pertemps Handicap Hurdle qualifier under 7 lb claimer Harry Derham. It was a fairly creditable reappearance for the eight-year-old gelding who was having his first run over timber for over two years.

There was disappointment over at Wincanton on Sunday with Rock of Deauville and Mendip Express beaten favourites, however. The former travelled well for much of the race and looked in with a good chance three out but found little under pressure and could only finish seventh. Mendip Express made various jumping errors throughout his race and looked well beaten when falling three out.

Sunday also marked the seasonal reappearance of Gullible Gordon, who finished fourth in a three-and-a-half mile handicap chase. This was fairly encouraging from the eight-year-old who will probably have more long distance handicap assignments on the agenda over the coming months.

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  1. paul | 24 October 2011

    Whatever betfair is paying Paul Nicholls for his column its 'too much'.He puts readers OFF tataniano (won easily) and ON master minded (beaten easily).I know its not meant to be a tipping column,but its not meant to put betfair readers and betfair punters off the right horses either !

  2. NickAuthor Profile Page | 24 October 2011

    yet another class act coming out of the nicholls yard,TATANIANO, ouzed sheer class,near perfection jumping,cant wait to see the horse again in the paddy power gold cup in november hopefully,and i for one will be taking the 14/1 on offer..

  3. alan eden | 25 October 2011

    do not get carried away with tataniano as he is injury prone and will flop when least expected,especially when the better horses start appearing.master minded also so dodgy at times,you never know with him.the irish 2m division will dominate these 2 nichols horses.be warned and be careful!!

  4. andy parker | 26 October 2011

    Times at Chepstow on Saturday were all slow apart from that put up by Tataniano, just 1.9 secs above standard, another pointer to the quality of the performance.