Paul Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Preview

The period between Cheltenham and Aintree is usually quiet for the leading yards and this weekend is a prime example, as Paul Nicholls spreads just four runners between Newbury on Saturday and Wincanton on Sunday.

The two most prestigious races on the card at Kempton are both listed events for mares, with Nicholls sending Violin Davis for the limited handicap hurdle at 14:50. Since her disappointing hurdling debut, Violin Davis has put in three solid performances, most recently when winning a novice at Wincanton by one and a half lengths from favourite Chilli Rose. The fact that she won there on good to firm ground is going to stand her in good stead, as will the reassociation with Ruby Walsh (rode her to win a bumper in October), but she is going to have her work cut out against a number of in-form rivals, most notably Whoops A Daisy and Emmaslegend, who have both achieved a lot more than Violin Davis and look to be progressing.

The second Nicholls runner is Current Event in the novice hurdle later on the same card (16:00). Judged on his debut performance when trained in France by Guy Cherel, Current Event does hold a good chance of winning a race such as this, but he was very disappointing on his first run for Paul Nicholls at Aintree in November, when weakening rapidly after travelling well until four out. The absence since suggests Current Event has had problems and, with horses like Kid Cassidy in opposition, he's going to have to be on his A-game to win. Kid Cassidy had subsequent winners Hildisvini and Shuil Royale two and a half lengths in front and 12 lengths behind him when second at Sandown last time and is certainly going to be hard to beat, whilst Alan King's Tony Star impressed in victory on his British debut and also looks a formidable opponent.

A juvenile bumper closes the card and the trainer looks to have found a suitable opportunity for Broomfield (17:05) to build on his encouraging debut, when third to Medinas at Newbury. Slightly keen, it wasn't surprising that Broomfield failed to quite last home there and, with that experience behind him, he certainly looks up to winning a race such as this before possibly going on to better things. On the figures, Jumps Road is the danger based on his first start and, despite being well beaten in a better race last time, he's given a chance to atone, whilst Dark Shadow can also be expected to do better after disappointing when favourite for his debut at Warwick. Jonjo O'Neill had newcomer Ballyclough win a bumper at Haydock in the week and his Silver Stirrup, a half-brother to smart hurdler Won In The Dark, must also be considered a threat.

In keeping with the previous weekend, the yard has a very quiet end to the week with novice hurdle entry That'll Do (15:55) the sole representative at Wincanton. Despite finishing well beaten in a big-field course-and-distance handicap last time, That'll Do can be expected to come on for that run as it came after a two month lay-off and, prior to that, he had posted fairly useful efforts at both this track and Taunton. The biggest danger to the Nicholls runner is undoubtedly Paint The Clouds, who produced his best performance when runner-up to subsequent Festival-placed mare Oceans Transit at Kempton in February and has the assistance of Tony McCoy on board for the first time.

Timeform / 25 Mar 2011