Paul Nicholls: My Thursday runners at Taunton

Paul has seven horses running on a busy Thursday afternoon at Taunton and some of them might well have big futures ahead of them...

13:20 Taunton
Dualla Lord
Won all four of his 2011 points and looked set to carry on the winning theme in a 3m novice hurdle at Chepstow, only for a last flight mistake to cost him dear and see him beaten a length. But the form of that race has worked out well (the winner has won since and the 24 length third won a chase at Ffos Las last week). We pitched him at the deep end against Grands Crus over fences last time, but that run didn't tell us much as unfortunately he fell at the ninth. Has been off since then as he sustained a nasty cut to his face when falling, and we send him back over hurdles to get his confidence back. He's a horse with a future and hopefully he can put in a good show here. He's probably the form horse going into the race but he does face some interesting and unexposed horses from bumpers.

13:50 Taunton
Pearl Swan
Is a horse I own in partnership with Jared Sullivan (owner of stable sponsor Potensis) and Chris Giles, and hopefully he will give us some fun. Raced five times on the Flat in France, showing decent placed form over middle distance at some of the better tracks, and we like what we see of him at home. We have only had him since November though and we are still feeling our way with him, but let's see what he can do on the track. Jumps nicely, and he does get weight all round as a 4yo.

14:50 Taunton
Express Leader
Ran a very encouraging race when second to Drumbaloo at Chepstow in October and he ran far better than his finishing position implies over 2m1f at Exeter last time as he was still travelling well enough when blundering three out. Steps up markedly in trip but has form over 3m and I am convinced that he has a handicap hurdle in him off this mark. Let's hope he proves me right today, and I think this trip will suit him better.

15:20 Taunton
Ranjaan
Fair middle distance winner on the Flat in France and I have to admit that I was initially disappointed with his second at Newbury first time up. But the form looks better than I originally thought and he bounced back from an unfortunate fall at Doncaster (he caught a swinging hurdle) with a win at Kempton over Christmas. The form of that race isn't working out though - the second was unplaced at odds-on in an ordinary race at Musselburgh next time - and I think a mark of 132 is high enough on what he has done so far. But I see Timeform have him top-rated, so perhaps I shouldn't complain too much! This is a horse I like and he is still very much in my Triumph Hurdle plans, so let us hope he can progress enough to land this prize and keep the Festival hopes alive.

15:50 Taunton
Fistral Beach
Very talented horse on his day and that is usually after a break, so we have freshened him up after a disappointing pulled up effort at Newbury last time, where his jumping was not great. But if back to the form of his reappearance win at Wetherby, then he clearly has excellent claims here. Schooled nicely on Wednesday morning.

16:20 Taunton
Presenting Arms
Ran very much as in need of the experience when a 30 length fifth at Plumpton in November. Hopefully, you see a better horse today but he will clearly have needed to improve markedly to figure here. My bumper horses do progress with experience though, as we don't do a great deal with them at home.

Suspect
Was a very surprising springer in the market on his debut at Newbury last season, and only beat two home. But he showed dramatic improvement in finishing under two lengths third at Wincanton last time. Well-related individual who hopefully will continue on the upward curve and he has each way claims.

Paul Nicholls / 19 Jan 2012