Paul Nicholls: My Saturday runners at Wincanton and Haydock

It's a big day for Paul away from Ascot with a clutch of good horses, including Celestial Halo, travelling to Haydock and Wincanton. Read about all his entries at both tracks here

14:10, Wincanton
Aldertune
Failed to give his true running in heavy ground at Chepstow in December, but it wouldn't be the first time a horse has seriously underperformed in bottomless conditions at that track. We have freshened him up since then and he would certainly have place claims if returning to the form of his fourth to Giles Cross in the Southern National at Fontwell in November, and is actually able to race from a 1lb lower mark here. Has his moments but is largely consistent.

14:45, Wincanton
Billy Merriott
Things didn't look too promising when he finished tailed off on his reappearance at Kempton but he has progressed significantly in his last two runs, and gave African Broadway a fright at Exeter on New Year's Day, only going down by ½ length. Had decent bumper form and a handicap mark of 116 looks fair. Has his stamina to prove here but I think the step up in trip will suit. Ryan takes 3lb off.

15:55, Wincanton
The Gossmoor Yank
Made a very pleasing reappearance after a two year absence when runner-up in a 3m handicap hurdle at Chepstow in November. But he was undeniably disappointing on his chasing debut on his return to the track last month. But as I have said earlier, heavy ground at Chepstow has the ability to bottom any horse and I would be very hopeful of an improved showing here, back in handicap company and on better ground. This race has cut up at the overnight stage, too.

Minella Stars
Ran well in his two novice hurdles last season but was a winning pointer and chasing was always going to be his game as he is a big, powerful sort. However, his two starts in novice chases over 3m at Exeter and Newbury this season have been a touch disappointing. I am convinced that he is better than he has shown there, and I think he has races in him off a mark of 121. But he has to start showing me on the track what he does at home. Spends plenty of time in the air at his fences, so we run him in blinkers here to sharpen him up.

16:25, Wincanton
Unpartou
We bought him for the Timeform Betfair Racing Club after he won a 2m1f hurdle in the soft at Compeigne in August but he has taken a while to acclimatise and strengthen up, as he wasn't the most robust of horses when he came to us. And we are still feeling our way with him to a certain extent. He gives his work riders little feel of him being a good horse at home, but once he gets the bit between in his teeth in his work he definitely shows us that he has ability. So it is very much a watching brief with him here and hopefully he can run well and give us something to build on for the future. It's A Gimme will obviously be a red-hot favourite, so the rest of us are playing for places at best.


14:20, Haydock
Celestial Halo
May not be able to mix it with the best off levels over 2m these days - although we left him in the Champion Hurdle at the recent entry stage, and there are plenty of worse horses than him still in that race - but we set him a task giving weight to lesser horses in handicaps and, boy, can he deliver. In fact, he has won all three of his handicap hurdles, and he won off a mark of 160 at Newbury on New Year's Eve and not many horses have done that.
In short, he is a top class horse on his day, especially on soft ground, and one I love. That Newbury win was simple awesome. Whether or not today's conditions are ideal, I am not sure. But he is clear on official ratings, and this Grade 2 contest has not attracted a vintage field and is too good a prize to ignore.
I see some people have mentioned that he has disappointed when travelling long distances before, but I am not worried on that score. Yes, he has disappointed in Ireland and in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, but that was when he stayed overnight. He will be travelling up this morning. The one nagging doubt that I have in the back of my mind is if this race comes too soon after his hard race at Newbury.
But I will clearly be disappointed if he is beaten, though the likes of Marsh Warbler and Desert Cry are no slouches.

15:30, Haydock
Take The Breeze
Undoubtedly has a race in him off this mark - he is 3lb lower than when an excellent second to Massini's Maguire at Ascot at the start of last season - but he hasn't clicked so far this season. That said, he ran his best race of the current campaign when fourth over 2m4f at Chepstow last time out, where he finished well after looking badly outpaced for a lot of the race. He could be one of those horses without an ideal trip - he has won over the minimum trip and ran a blinder behind Burton Port over 3m1f at Aintree - but we step him back up in trip on his favoured heavy ground here. Harry takes a valuable 7lb off in what looks set to be a real slog.


On a very competitive weekend of racing, I will be happy with one winner. But Celestial Halo has an obvious chance, and I hope Al Ferof and Billy Merriott have winning claims too.

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Unpartou makes his debut for Paul and the Timeform Betfair Racing Club today. Join the club and you can experience what it's like to be an owner in his yard and cheer home your horses at the track plus a host of other amazing benefits. For just £249 a year you can follow our 13 horses, get access to to owners badges, annual stable visits to all our trainer's yards, access to tickets for Betfair sponsored events and £1000's of pounds worth of Timeform Race Cards. Check out all the club horses and join today!

Paul Nicholls / 21 Jan 2012