Paul Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform review

There was an across-the-card double for the yard on Saturday, but there was also a tragic loss at Ascot.

What had looked a competitive opening novice hurdle at Ascot did, indeed, see the rating principals fill the first four places, with Sonofvic maintaining his unbeaten record with a useful performance to see off another improver in Tornado Bob, the pair finishing well clear in a good time. Sonofvic travelled smoothly before responding well after the last, and although he doesn't hold any Cheltenham entries, he certainly looks Festival class, if more as a novice chaser further down the line.

The Minack, who lined up for the Reynoldstown, lost all realistic chance with a bad mistake at the fourteenth fence. Although he did recover to make ground after three out, the effort had taken its toll and it was for that reason, rather than a lack of stamina, that he lost out on second to Billie Magern near the line. Whilst this performance must only be seen as a blip, as he is usually a reliable jumper, he would still have to show a fair bit more if lining up in either the RSA or Golden Miller at Cheltenham.

In Ascot's listed handicap chase, Breedsbreeze proved disappointing, failing to travel with his usual fluency before fading into a remote seventh of the eight runners. He became very tired three out, suggesting that a testing three miles in rain-softened ground stretches his stamina, yet it will remain to be seen whether anything else comes to light as he just never seemed like he was on top of his game.

Over at Wincanton, handicap hurdle favourite Carlicue made a mistake at the eighth but that cannot be the sole the reason for him dropping out so tamely and, like Breedsbreeze, it remains to be seen whether any other factors come to light after this performance. On his previous form he seemed likely to prove up to defying the sort of mark he raced off , but the fact the tongue strap has been employed so early on in his career is slightly off-putting.

Whilst Riverside Theatre was impressive in the Betfair Ascot Chase, the race was marred by the fatal injury suffered by Gold Cup contender Pride of Dulcote when coming down at the eighth.

There was more disappointment for Nicholls in the next, too, as Like Minded, tongue tied for the first time, made a promising move three out only to find his effort petering out in the straight. Still lightly raced, however, there may be better to come when he tackles further and fences.

Nicholls saddled two in Wincanton's Kingwell Hurdle, which looked a relevant Champion Hurdle trial beforehand, but it will have left many scratching their heads.

Celestial Halo looked more like his old self in going down by a nose to Mille Chief, showing there's still races to be won with him, and whilst the suspicion that he needs further might still hold true (came off the bridle well before the straight) he battled all the way and could have beaten Mille Chief but for making a mess of the last. His chasing career, and his World Hurdle entry, will surely fall by the wayside for the time being and, as he's not in the Champion, he will likely have to wait until April for his chance to right the wrongs of last year's Aintree Hurdle.

Stablemate Silviniaco Conti's Champion Hurdle chances now look slim after failing to land a blow, for all that he was conceding weight all round. Even allowing for the fact he'd been off two months and stays further, he just never seemed like getting involved, and for now there is a question mark over him.

The useful-looking Polisky made his British debut in the novice hurdle at Ascot after finishing second in a listed race for newcomers on his only French start for Guy Cherel. He was always going to be up against it, tackling the potentially top-class Sprinter Sacre, yet put up a sterling performance in defeat, chasing the winner from three out and then not knocked about when his chance had gone in the straight. Like Sonofvic, a lack of a Cheltenham entry doesn't detract from his profile, and he is presumably seen more as a potential novice chaser for next term anyway.

Compatriot Aerial was Timeform top-rated ahead of his British debut in a handicap chase at Wincanton and was most impressive, winning with loads to spare. His only error came two out but he fairly cruised home after that and, as a young chaser on the up, must be considered should he line up at Prestbury Park.

Finally, another British debutant in Jump City was facing an impossible task trying to give weight to the year-younger Smad Place in the last at Wincanton, but he made the Triumph Hurdle fancy work harder than his odds would have implied, coming clear of the remainder. A former Flat winner, Jump City achieved a high figure for a hurdling debutant and rates as a smart prospect, sure to win good races.

Timeform / 21 Feb 2011