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Paul Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Review

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A notably quiet weekend for Nicholls-trained runners, especially with Pride of Dulcote and Indian Daudaie denied their crack at a Grade 1 at Leopardstown with that course succumbing to heavy rain on Sunday morning.

What's more, none of the three horses sent to Sandown on Saturday could make any telling impact in what were competitive affairs. In particular, it was a cracking renewal of the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, and Alan King's Medermit put himself firmly in the Arkle picture with an authoritative defeat of Captain Chris. Rebel du Maquis was ridden with more patience than when failing to fully see things out at Cheltenham last time, so it was disconcerting to see him again finishing weakly. Such was his early-season promise it's not inconceivable that he may yet improve, but he's hardly one to be overly positive about as things stand.

A cast of twenty made for a really well-contested totescoop6 Heroes Handicap Hurdle and the form promises to prove strong with the main protagonists Kilcrea Kim and Alfie spinner both young up-and-comers. In the context of the race Prince Tom was anything but discredited in finishing fifth, beaten around nineteen lengths, a 13 lb hike for his Taunton win leaving him vulnerable. Even so, he'd surely have benefited from having more use made of him dropping back from three miles, never able to get on terms after a mistake three out.

Take The Breeze was sent off favourite for the totesport Masters Handicap Chase, though even with Ryan Mahon claiming a valuable 5 lb he could manage no better than fourth. That said, he should still prove a fixture in similarly high-end handicaps upcoming this season, travelling best on briefly nosing ahead two out only for his run to peter out, the emphasis the race placed on stamina more likely to have been the issue than any lack of fitness on his first start since late-October.

As for Pride of Dulcote, it's been reported that he'll swerve the restaged Hennessy next Sunday in favour of a crack at the Ascot Chase the following weekend. Indian Daudaie, on the other hand, is still expected to go for Leopardstown's Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle.

Harry Bowles / 7 Feb 2011

Paul Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Review

Weekend Runners RSS / / 07 February 2011 /

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Hopefully the scene at Leopardstown won't be quite as grim next weekend

Hopefully the scene at Leopardstown won't be quite as grim next weekend

"Rebel du Maquis was ridden with more patience than when failing to fully see things out at Cheltenham last time, so it was disconcerting to see him again finishing weakly."

A notably quiet weekend for Nicholls-trained runners, especially with Pride of Dulcote and Indian Daudaie denied their crack at a Grade 1 at Leopardstown with that course succumbing to heavy rain on Sunday morning.

What's more, none of the three horses sent to Sandown on Saturday could make any telling impact in what were competitive affairs. In particular, it was a cracking renewal of the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, and Alan King's Medermit put himself firmly in the Arkle picture with an authoritative defeat of Captain Chris. Rebel du Maquis was ridden with more patience than when failing to fully see things out at Cheltenham last time, so it was disconcerting to see him again finishing weakly. Such was his early-season promise it's not inconceivable that he may yet improve, but he's hardly one to be overly positive about as things stand.

A cast of twenty made for a really well-contested totescoop6 Heroes Handicap Hurdle and the form promises to prove strong with the main protagonists Kilcrea Kim and Alfie spinner both young up-and-comers. In the context of the race Prince Tom was anything but discredited in finishing fifth, beaten around nineteen lengths, a 13 lb hike for his Taunton win leaving him vulnerable. Even so, he'd surely have benefited from having more use made of him dropping back from three miles, never able to get on terms after a mistake three out.

Take The Breeze was sent off favourite for the totesport Masters Handicap Chase, though even with Ryan Mahon claiming a valuable 5 lb he could manage no better than fourth. That said, he should still prove a fixture in similarly high-end handicaps upcoming this season, travelling best on briefly nosing ahead two out only for his run to peter out, the emphasis the race placed on stamina more likely to have been the issue than any lack of fitness on his first start since late-October.

As for Pride of Dulcote, it's been reported that he'll swerve the restaged Hennessy next Sunday in favour of a crack at the Ascot Chase the following weekend. Indian Daudaie, on the other hand, is still expected to go for Leopardstown's Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle.

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