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Paul Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Preview

Whatever happens on Saturday, it will be a big day for Paul as he will be crowned champion trainer for the sixth consecutive year, having successfully fended off the challenge of Nicky Henderson, and a winner at Sandown would just be the icing on the cake...

Paul saddles Sanctuaire in the opener (13:30), a listed 2m hurdle that has attracted just four runners. Clerk's Choice is Timeform's top rated, but that's based on a never-threatening sixth in the Champion at Cheltenham and Sanctuaire looked a different horse when winning the Scottish version last time on the back of a breathing operation and will give him something to think about.

In the handicap hurdle that follows (14:05), King of The Night is the stable's sole representative, but he's been let down by his jumping either side of his Doncaster novice win and is really going to have to put it all together to make an impact in such a competitive race.

Tataniano is next up, in the Grade 2 Celebration Chase (14:35), and he ought to take a lot of beating as he bids to give Paul a fifth win in the race. Successful on three of his four starts in 2009/10, including the Grade 1 Maghull Novices' at Aintree, Tataniano shaped with plenty of promise in a valuable minor event at Cheltenham on his reappearance in November and remains an exciting prospect over fences. He forced too strong a pace against the likes of Forpadydeplasterer and Gauvain at Prestbury Park, and should be able to dominate much more easily this time, with only French Opera likely to take him on for the lead.

Paul has Meanus Dandy in the Gold Cup Handicap Chase (15:10), but he has plenty to prove having twice disappointed since his win in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton in November, when blinkers for the first time seemed to have a positive effect. Meanus Dandy is capable of winning if refinding his form, but whether you want to back him to do so is another matter.

Paul also sends two to Haydock on Saturday for the Betfair-sponsored card, namely River d'Or (14:55) and Five Dream (15:30), but the former has hardly set the world alight over fences so far and needs to improve while the latter is still a sketchy jumper and remains on a mark that he's opposable from.

Pepe Simo has an outing at Newton Abbot on Saturday, in the 2m handicap chase (15:50). There are only six declared, but there isn't much to separate them on Timeform ratings and Pepe Simo at least arrives in good form, having won what was admittedly a very weak race at Ludlow.

The new National Hunt season starts on Sunday, but it will be a blank day for 'Team Nicholls' as they recuperate from what will likely be a long night celebrating.


Timeform / 22 Apr 2011

Paul Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Preview

Weekend Runners RSS / / 22 April 2011 /

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Tataniano will be bidding to give Paul a fifth win in the Celebration Chase at Sandown

Tataniano will be bidding to give Paul a fifth win in the Celebration Chase at Sandown

"Tataniano shaped with plenty of promise in a valuable minor event at Cheltenham on his reappearance in November and remains an exciting prospect over fences."

Whatever happens on Saturday, it will be a big day for Paul as he will be crowned champion trainer for the sixth consecutive year, having successfully fended off the challenge of Nicky Henderson, and a winner at Sandown would just be the icing on the cake...

Paul saddles Sanctuaire in the opener (13:30), a listed 2m hurdle that has attracted just four runners. Clerk's Choice is Timeform's top rated, but that's based on a never-threatening sixth in the Champion at Cheltenham and Sanctuaire looked a different horse when winning the Scottish version last time on the back of a breathing operation and will give him something to think about.

In the handicap hurdle that follows (14:05), King of The Night is the stable's sole representative, but he's been let down by his jumping either side of his Doncaster novice win and is really going to have to put it all together to make an impact in such a competitive race.

Tataniano is next up, in the Grade 2 Celebration Chase (14:35), and he ought to take a lot of beating as he bids to give Paul a fifth win in the race. Successful on three of his four starts in 2009/10, including the Grade 1 Maghull Novices' at Aintree, Tataniano shaped with plenty of promise in a valuable minor event at Cheltenham on his reappearance in November and remains an exciting prospect over fences. He forced too strong a pace against the likes of Forpadydeplasterer and Gauvain at Prestbury Park, and should be able to dominate much more easily this time, with only French Opera likely to take him on for the lead.

Paul has Meanus Dandy in the Gold Cup Handicap Chase (15:10), but he has plenty to prove having twice disappointed since his win in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton in November, when blinkers for the first time seemed to have a positive effect. Meanus Dandy is capable of winning if refinding his form, but whether you want to back him to do so is another matter.

Paul also sends two to Haydock on Saturday for the Betfair-sponsored card, namely River d'Or (14:55) and Five Dream (15:30), but the former has hardly set the world alight over fences so far and needs to improve while the latter is still a sketchy jumper and remains on a mark that he's opposable from.

Pepe Simo has an outing at Newton Abbot on Saturday, in the 2m handicap chase (15:50). There are only six declared, but there isn't much to separate them on Timeform ratings and Pepe Simo at least arrives in good form, having won what was admittedly a very weak race at Ludlow.

The new National Hunt season starts on Sunday, but it will be a blank day for 'Team Nicholls' as they recuperate from what will likely be a long night celebrating.


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