Paul Nicholls: The verdict on all my Chepstow runners

Here we go then! The National Hunt season gets truly under way with Saturday's meeting at Chepstow where Paul is sending out six runners. Read the great man's view on all of them here

15:35, Slightly Tanned
He made all to win his only point start in Ireland in February in heavy ground. To be honest, I really don't know what I have got on my hands - you never really know with these lightly-raced pointers until you get them on the track - but we liked what we saw of him that day and Anthony Bromley bought him for us for 100,000gns at the Newbury Spring Sale in March. He goes and jumps nicely enough at home and has been in work since mid July. But we are on the start of the learning curve with him.

16:10, Silviniaco Conti
Proved a revelation last season. Was very workmanlike at home and took us by surprise when making his debut for us at Bangor on this Saturday last season, winning by 29 lengths. And then he went on to beat Captain Chris by 10 lengths over this course and distance before beating Karabak by seven lengths at Ascot; a staggering improvement in such a short space of time. He had his winning run ended when third in the International but he was only half-a-length behind today's rival Cue Card there, and we were giving him 4lb (you can forget his final hurdle start at Wincanton).
I wouldn't read too much into the Cheltenham form as a pointer here though as chasing is obviously a totally different ball game but I am excited by this horse. And if he runs well here, then I have the Rising Stars at Wincanton in mind for him next month. But a word of warning for punters; while he has done lots of schooling and this trip will suit, he is not totally revved up for this and will improve enormously for the run. So while defeat would be slightly disappointing it wouldn't be the end of the world as he has bigger targets further down the line. But as a highly rated hurdler going chasing, we clearly have high hopes for him this season. I just want to see him jump nicely here.

16:45, Domtaline
May not have beaten much but could no more than win by 25 lengths on his debut for us at this meeting last season, only to run a shocking race at Wetherby next time - it was so bad that we decided to draw a line through it. He was then going nicely when falling 3 out against the likes of Grandouet and A Media Luz at Newbury in December. But unfortunately he sprained a hock there too, so we put him away for the season. I have trained him for this race since he came in and I quite fancy our chances off a mark of 130.

17:20, Edgardo Sol
Was entered just in case the ground was too quick at Newton Abbot today.

17:50, Five Dream
Is another horse who I have targeted at this meeting ever since he came in. Was basically in the grip of the handicapper last season but ran some decent races all the same, notably when sixth in the Galway Plate and when runner-up at the likes of Ascot and Market Rasen. The handicapper has actually relented slightly and he does go well when fresh, so I am hopeful of a good showing. But if he doesn't show us much in his first two or three runs, then we have the option of putting him away for hunter chases in the spring.

18:20, Wiffy Chatsby
You never know what you are going to bump into in these types of races but he showed a fair level of form for us last season, following up his debut third with a win at Stratford. Was still a bit green there and this more galloping track will suit him better. This will be his last run before going hurdling.

[show_at "08-10-2011 08:00"] Click here to find out my best chance of the day [/show_at]

Paul Nicholls / 7 Oct 2011