Paul Nicholls: The verdict on my runners at Haydock and Newton Abbot

It's a quiet Easter Saturday for Paul with just three runners taking to the track but, with valuable Trainers' Championship money to play for, every race counts. Get Paul's exclusive thoughts on the chances of Pasco, Opening Batsman and Doeslessthanme here

The horses are in great form at the moment and we have now edged back in front in the trainers title, so here is hoping that we keep up the good run going into Aintree.

We only have three runners this weekend, so I will take this opportunity to answer a couple of questions from readers.

Firstly, Crack Away Jack has left us and gone to Tom George. And I can also report that Denman is fine, and he is walking two hours a day now. He will go out to grass with Kauto Star, Big Buck's and Master Minded in mid-May.

Master Minded is also back in the yard now and will be put on a walking routine, while Kauto Star is cantering.

Saturday
15:30, Haydock
Pasco
Hasn't really fired this season, even at his beloved Newbury, but at least he ran his best race of the campaign when fifth at that course last time. As ever, he travelled really well there before emptying out - again a touch too quickly for my liking - but let's hope he can build on that. The distance, 2m4f, on good ground should suit here and the added plus is that the handicapper has dropped him 3lb to 137, which I think is the lowest mark he has ever raced from over fences. Handicapped to go close but clearly he has to finish off his races better than he has been doing.

15:05, Newton Abbot
Opening Batsman
Was a fair sort in bumpers and improved upon his modest hurdling debut effort when winning over 2m4f at Wincanton last month. The form of that race is probably nothing to get carried away with, though the runner-up won a handicap off a mark of 108 next time, but he only has four runs under his belt and obviously has plenty of scope for improvement. He will need to step up on the Wincanton win to follow up here against Hindon Road but Harry's 7lb will help.

15:40, Newton Abbot
Doeslessthanme
We missed his engagement in a novice chase at Ascot on Sunday with a pricked foot but he is fine now. Has proved very consistent since joining me, winning three and finishing runner-up three times in his seven starts, falling on the other occasion. He is effective from 2m-2m5f on any ground and underlined his versatility with an 11 length win in a 2m novice chase on soft ground at Hereford last time. But good ground is equally to his liking today and I think a mark of 137 is fair. He was only beaten ½ length off a mark of 135 at Taunton in December and the horse who finished 12 lengths behind him there, Falcon Island, has won and run well in defeat since. Clearly, a very competitive handicap though.

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Paul Nicholls / 7 Apr 2012