Paul Nicholls: My Saturday runners at Cheltenham

He's cautious about some, optimistic about others, but Paul Nicholls believes in all his horses and that's what makes reading his frank views on his Saturday runners at Cheltenham so essential...

13:20 Cheltenham

Hinterland

I see that he is already third in the Betfair betting for the Triumph Hurdle at [18.5] - but let's not get ahead of ourselves here. We bought him as a long-term chasing prospect, very similar to Sam Winner in that regard, and it would be tempting fate somewhat to think that Jared Sullivan (owner of my stable sponsor Potensis) and Chris Giles could win the race again after Zarkandar this year! But clearly Hinterland is a very exciting recruit to the yard, who we have very high hopes for. He won the listed Prix Monarch at Auteuil by ten lengths on his only hurdling start and he has done everything right since he came to us, working and jumping well, but what has pleased me most has been his attitude and appetite for the job in hand.

He has to carry a hefty penalty for that win in France, so this won't be easy, but I'll be honest and say this is currently my most forward juvenile at this stage - although, as Zarkandar showed last year, these juveniles can surprise you once they get on the track and the likes of Dildar and Ranjaan are other very exciting prospects. But I very much like what I see so far, and that included a good piece of work with Mon Parrain on Thursday morning. Nicky Henderson's smart French Flat recruit, and Autueil winner, Ozeta is the one to beat getting 7lb from us. But it looks a hot race all round.

13:55 CHELTENHAM

Promising Anshan

I have said that going right-handed might suit this horse. But he has won going this way round, so I wouldn't get too hung up on that, especially as he has plenty more going for him. Has been raised 4lb after his reappearance one-and-three-quarter length third to Exmoor Ranger and Razor Royale at Ascot, but I suppose that is fair enough, as the winner was well-handicapped on his old form, the second is fancied for the Hennessy and we pulled 18 lengths clear of the fourth. And I think he will have come on for that too. He may have got a little tired after travelling well, as I was originally aiming him for the Badger Ales before re-routing him to Ascot a week earlier because one of his owners wanted to run him there. Lightly-raced over fences and improving, he looks to have a solid chance here in a competitive race.

14:35 Cheltenam

Aerial, Mon Parrain and Poquelin

See main story from Friday evening.

15:10 Cheltenham

Oscargo

I hope Ruby didn't eat last night because Oscargo is set to race off 10st 4lb here! But he should be fine. This horse surprised us when winning on his debut at Chepstow in March, as he certainly wasn't fully tuned up and we fancied his stablemate (and runner-up) Harry The Viking more. That form has already been franked this season, although I don't think a mark of 124 is that generous on what he has shown on the track. But is clearly unexposed and a horse of potential, though his future lies over fences, possibly even the four miler at Cheltenham in March.

15:40 Cheltenham

Edgardo Sol

This horse is bound to get a lot of attention as Ruby got banned for striking this one nine times when winning at Aintree, in a ride most observers thought was sensational - that is sensational, for the right reasons. He just got up to win by a nose there but the form looks pretty fair - the six length third Flinty Bay would probably have won if standing up at Sedgefield next time - and he probably has more improvement in him. But we put him over hurdles here as he is still novice and can race from a 5lb lower mark than at Aintree; looks to have solid claims.

16:10 Cheltenham

Join Together

Showed real ability over hurdles when second to Mossley at Cheltenham and when winning by 20 lengths at Chepstow and this winning pointer could well have been set for a winning chase debut but for falling five out at Chepstow last month. This race will clearly take a lot of winning with the likes of Restless Harry in opposition but ours is a smart horse, whose chance would be increased by rain.


We have 15 runners on one of the most competitive weekend's racing of the year, so you simply can't be confident of success for any of them.

But if you ask me what I think my three best chances are, I would nominate click here. But, in truth, they all face very difficult tasks first time up.

We had the cameras down on Thursday. Catch some of the Saturday's runners working on the gallops:

Paul Nicholls / 12 Nov 2011