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Paul Nicholls: The verdict on my Chepstow and Aintree runners

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A small squadron of Ditcheat runners are headed for Chepstow on Saturday while a high-profile pair go to Aintree - read Paul's exclusive views on all of them here

15:30, Aintree
Master Minded
See lead story.

16:40, Aintree
Edgardo Sol: Showed some fair form on soft ground in France but we thought he had a winning chance on better going and a workable handicap mark at Newton Abbot earlier in the month, but things didn't go to plan and he jumped a bit novicey. Needed more of a lead that day and hopefully he will be seen in a better light here; let's hope that things will pan out better here (though there is a small field again) and at least the handicapper has dropped him 1lb since Newton Abbot! I haven't lost faith in him just yet, especially as the fourth has won since.

13:35, Chepstow
Harry The Viking: Looked a useful prospect when winning at Larkhill and then ran a race full of promise for us when second over course and distance over hurdles for us last season. Was clearly in need of the experience there and we like what we see of him this summer/autumn. Runs here before going chasing, but appears to have strong claims, though clearly there are plenty of unexposed horses in the line-up.

14:05, Chepstow
Dualla Lord: Winning Irish pointer who joined Richard Barber last season, where he impressed in winning all four of his points. Quite an exciting prospect for fences this season, but we start him off over hurdles here and see where we go. Some of my novices have been needing the run this season, due to the unseasonably firm ground at home, and he may well be another. He was actually a bit novicey with his jumping in points and hopefully this will sharpen him up in that department. But we are hopeful of a bold show all the same.

14:35, Chepstow
Join Together: This is a very hot race. Winning pointer who exceeded all our expectations over hurdles last season, finishing second to Mossley in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham before winning by 20 lengths in the soft over course and distance in February. On the strength of those performances was sent off an 8-1 chance at the Festival but clearly didn't give his true running there. I have had this race in mind for him for a while and am looking forward to seeing him over fences. Jumps great at home but I hope the ground doesn't dry out too much.

15:05, Chepstow
That'lldoboy: Ran some decent races in handicap hurdles without setting the house on fire last season, finishing up with a third at Exeter to two well-handicapped rivals. Didn't run well over course and distance previously but hopefully he has strengthened up sufficiently over the summer to make his presence felt off a fair mark on his first start over fences, although he did win a point as a 5yo. Schooled well on Thursday.

15:40, Chepstow
Current Event: Didn't start off too promisingly for us after joining after a listed hurdle second at Auteuil in May last year, only finishing sixth when odds-on at Aintree. But we sent him for a breathing operation and he immediately showed what he could do when winning by 18 lengths next time up at Newbury. I would be inclined to ignore his poor final run - like his Aintree run, it was too bad to be true - as he remains a horse of some potential. Remains a novice until November 1, so we take our chances in this Grade 2 contest. Meets some highly regarded rivals here, notably Philip Hobbs' Fingal Bay.

16:15, Chepstow
Robinson Collonges: Is a horse that I am determined to get back on track because he showed us so much talent over fences in the first half of last season, winning at Hereford and Bangor and seemingly being poised to give Wishfull Thinking 6lb and a beating before falling in the Rising Stars at Wincanton. The less said about his performances at Cheltenham and Aintree the better, though. Chasing remains his game this season but I am starting him off over hurdles, trying to get his confidence back, and hopefully the break will have done good in that regard. And I could see why some may fancy him here given he is on a hurdles mark of just 134, compared to the 148 he started off with over fences (now rated 139). Has been going nicely at home. Will have an entry for the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Rebel Rebellion: We have had this race in mind for him for a while, he is fit enough, but this is very very competitive, as you'd expect. Decent pointer and bumper horse who disappointed badly on his hurdling debut at Ascot in November. But he choked there and a breathing operation obviously did him the world of good, as he surprised us when winning at Kempton last time (he hadn't done a lot of work beforehand) and followed up at Sandown next time. Is certainly not the best handicapped horse in the race on what he has shown to date but has bags of potential and can hopefully run well here before we send him chasing. Fences are where his future lies.

16:50, Chepstow
Woolcombe Folly: This may only be a seven runner race now but it is competitive and he has his work cut out here off a mark of 165. But I suppose he deserves it, given that he put up a very impressive display when giving Tanks For That 19lb and a 6 length beating off 154 at Cheltenham last December. Didn't have the smoothest of preparations in the lead up to the Festival before his disappointing effort in the Champion Chase and again wasn't at his best at Aintree afterwards. Goes well fresh and has been working nicely enough, but giving weight all round obviously won't be easy. Whatever happens here, this will be a nice prep race for the Bottle Green Chase at Cheltenham at the Paddy Power meeting.

Tataniano: He runs here instead of in the Old Roan at Aintree because I think he will need the run, and I didn't want to stretch his stamina by running over 2m4f in the circumstances. I had my sights set on the Champion Chase for him at the start of last season but things didn't go to plan at all, and he had niggle after niggle after an opening third at Cheltenham in November. So much so that he missed the Festival and only had one run thereafter, when disappointing us when only fifth of six at Sandown in April. But I certainly haven't lost the faith in him - his 13 length defeat of Osana over 2m at Aintree in April 2010 was a stunning effort - so let us see how he gets on here. Hopefully, it will give us something to build on towards Grade 1 prizes later in the season.

My three best chances of the weekend are:

MASTER MINDED (BANKER)

JOIN TOGETHER

DUALLA LORD

Master Minded is Paul's banker, so get up to £/€100 Cashback if he lets your Multiple down. Opt in now.

Click here to place these three as a treble

Fancy a Paul Nicholls fleece to keep you warm this winter? Well just follow @BetfairRacing on twitter before midnight on Sunday 23rd and you'll be in the draw to win one of four fleeces. Get the latest racing news, promotions and betting advice from Betfair by following @BetfairRacing on Twitter.

Paul Nicholls / 21 Oct 2011

Paul Nicholls: The verdict on my Chepstow and Aintree runners

Weekend Runners RSS / / 21 October 2011 / 1

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Which of the Nicholls' horses takes your fancy?

Which of the Nicholls' horses takes your fancy?

"Rebel Rebellion is certainly not the best handicapped horse in the race on what he has shown to date but has bags of potential and can hopefully run well here before we send him chasing. Fences are where his future lies."

A small squadron of Ditcheat runners are headed for Chepstow on Saturday while a high-profile pair go to Aintree - read Paul's exclusive views on all of them here

15:30, Aintree
Master Minded
See lead story.

16:40, Aintree
Edgardo Sol: Showed some fair form on soft ground in France but we thought he had a winning chance on better going and a workable handicap mark at Newton Abbot earlier in the month, but things didn't go to plan and he jumped a bit novicey. Needed more of a lead that day and hopefully he will be seen in a better light here; let's hope that things will pan out better here (though there is a small field again) and at least the handicapper has dropped him 1lb since Newton Abbot! I haven't lost faith in him just yet, especially as the fourth has won since.

13:35, Chepstow
Harry The Viking: Looked a useful prospect when winning at Larkhill and then ran a race full of promise for us when second over course and distance over hurdles for us last season. Was clearly in need of the experience there and we like what we see of him this summer/autumn. Runs here before going chasing, but appears to have strong claims, though clearly there are plenty of unexposed horses in the line-up.

14:05, Chepstow
Dualla Lord: Winning Irish pointer who joined Richard Barber last season, where he impressed in winning all four of his points. Quite an exciting prospect for fences this season, but we start him off over hurdles here and see where we go. Some of my novices have been needing the run this season, due to the unseasonably firm ground at home, and he may well be another. He was actually a bit novicey with his jumping in points and hopefully this will sharpen him up in that department. But we are hopeful of a bold show all the same.

14:35, Chepstow
Join Together: This is a very hot race. Winning pointer who exceeded all our expectations over hurdles last season, finishing second to Mossley in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham before winning by 20 lengths in the soft over course and distance in February. On the strength of those performances was sent off an 8-1 chance at the Festival but clearly didn't give his true running there. I have had this race in mind for him for a while and am looking forward to seeing him over fences. Jumps great at home but I hope the ground doesn't dry out too much.

15:05, Chepstow
That'lldoboy: Ran some decent races in handicap hurdles without setting the house on fire last season, finishing up with a third at Exeter to two well-handicapped rivals. Didn't run well over course and distance previously but hopefully he has strengthened up sufficiently over the summer to make his presence felt off a fair mark on his first start over fences, although he did win a point as a 5yo. Schooled well on Thursday.

15:40, Chepstow
Current Event: Didn't start off too promisingly for us after joining after a listed hurdle second at Auteuil in May last year, only finishing sixth when odds-on at Aintree. But we sent him for a breathing operation and he immediately showed what he could do when winning by 18 lengths next time up at Newbury. I would be inclined to ignore his poor final run - like his Aintree run, it was too bad to be true - as he remains a horse of some potential. Remains a novice until November 1, so we take our chances in this Grade 2 contest. Meets some highly regarded rivals here, notably Philip Hobbs' Fingal Bay.

16:15, Chepstow
Robinson Collonges: Is a horse that I am determined to get back on track because he showed us so much talent over fences in the first half of last season, winning at Hereford and Bangor and seemingly being poised to give Wishfull Thinking 6lb and a beating before falling in the Rising Stars at Wincanton. The less said about his performances at Cheltenham and Aintree the better, though. Chasing remains his game this season but I am starting him off over hurdles, trying to get his confidence back, and hopefully the break will have done good in that regard. And I could see why some may fancy him here given he is on a hurdles mark of just 134, compared to the 148 he started off with over fences (now rated 139). Has been going nicely at home. Will have an entry for the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Rebel Rebellion: We have had this race in mind for him for a while, he is fit enough, but this is very very competitive, as you'd expect. Decent pointer and bumper horse who disappointed badly on his hurdling debut at Ascot in November. But he choked there and a breathing operation obviously did him the world of good, as he surprised us when winning at Kempton last time (he hadn't done a lot of work beforehand) and followed up at Sandown next time. Is certainly not the best handicapped horse in the race on what he has shown to date but has bags of potential and can hopefully run well here before we send him chasing. Fences are where his future lies.

16:50, Chepstow
Woolcombe Folly: This may only be a seven runner race now but it is competitive and he has his work cut out here off a mark of 165. But I suppose he deserves it, given that he put up a very impressive display when giving Tanks For That 19lb and a 6 length beating off 154 at Cheltenham last December. Didn't have the smoothest of preparations in the lead up to the Festival before his disappointing effort in the Champion Chase and again wasn't at his best at Aintree afterwards. Goes well fresh and has been working nicely enough, but giving weight all round obviously won't be easy. Whatever happens here, this will be a nice prep race for the Bottle Green Chase at Cheltenham at the Paddy Power meeting.

Tataniano: He runs here instead of in the Old Roan at Aintree because I think he will need the run, and I didn't want to stretch his stamina by running over 2m4f in the circumstances. I had my sights set on the Champion Chase for him at the start of last season but things didn't go to plan at all, and he had niggle after niggle after an opening third at Cheltenham in November. So much so that he missed the Festival and only had one run thereafter, when disappointing us when only fifth of six at Sandown in April. But I certainly haven't lost the faith in him - his 13 length defeat of Osana over 2m at Aintree in April 2010 was a stunning effort - so let us see how he gets on here. Hopefully, it will give us something to build on towards Grade 1 prizes later in the season.

My three best chances of the weekend are:

MASTER MINDED (BANKER)

JOIN TOGETHER

DUALLA LORD

Master Minded is Paul's banker, so get up to £/€100 Cashback if he lets your Multiple down. Opt in now.

Click here to place these three as a treble

Fancy a Paul Nicholls fleece to keep you warm this winter? Well just follow @BetfairRacing on twitter before midnight on Sunday 23rd and you'll be in the draw to win one of four fleeces. Get the latest racing news, promotions and betting advice from Betfair by following @BetfairRacing on Twitter.

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  1. John | 22 October 2011

    Sure Master Minded just had an off day jumping. Hope all's well with him. Tataniano ran a blinder - would be interested to hear what plans are or targets - surely more of a Champion Chase horse than a Grand Annual (he won a Novice Chase at Cheltenham). Good day's racing (MM, aside) and hope your back held up without any discomfort Mr Nicholls.