Paul Nicholls' Weekend Runners: The Timeform Review

Whilst Ruby Walsh has decided to ride Mikael d'Haguenet instead of Aiteen Thirtythree in the RSA Chase on Wednesday, Paul Nicholls' number one jockey did ride his first winner since coming back from injury on one of the yard's other exciting young chasers at Sandown on Saturday.

The day didn't begin as expected for the trainer and jockey as The Reformer ran well below the level of form he had shown in his first three novice hurdles, trailing in behind Skint in the opening handicap at Sandown. However, the form of The Reformer's penultimate start, when third in a hot novice hurdle at Kempton, was useful, suggesting that all wasn't well here, and he is worth another chance.

Like The Reformer, San Remo Bello is seen as a prospective chaser by his trainer, yet he produced his best performance when fifth in the same race. He did make a promising move towards three out but may have just found the trip far enough for him at this stage in his career. Both horses are still lightly raced and have their best days ahead of them.

Another who promises much better is the ex-French Mon Parrain, who was weak in the market prior to his British debut in the handicap chase, but delivered in taking style. Jumping and travelling impeccably throughout, five-year-old Mon Parrain recorded a dominant performance in the hands of Ruby Walsh and looks the type to go on to better things. He's entered in the end-of-season showpiece (formerly the Whitbread) back here next month and looks in that class.

Stablemate Five Dream ran a bit better than his finishing position suggests when sixth in the same race, as he was travelling well under a patient ride before the longer trip proved his undoing. The fact that his jumping got progressively worse as the race went on emphasising the point and he can be given another chance dropped back in trip.

The trainer expressed his concern that the going had become unsuitably tacky for Imperial Cup runner Tito Bustillo, and, struggling from an early stage, Tito Bustillo never looked like making a move through the pack. Although he's not well handicapped, there has to have been other contributing factors.

Despite a couple of below-par performances at Sandown, Nicholls nevertheless recorded an across-the-card treble with two winners at Chepstow adding to Mon Parrain's comfortable victory.

Oscargo made an encouraging start to his career when winning in the maiden hurdle, producing a performance that showed him to be bordering on fairly useful already. He looks to have a bright future, especially given he's bred to make a better chaser.

The shorter-priced Harry The Viking was possibly unlucky to be overhauled by Oscargo in the aforementioned race, travelling well before losing momentum at the last, and he can go one better very soon. Both horses are sure to improve and should make up into valued members of the Ditcheat operation.

Novice chaser Aldertune improved slightly on his debut when narrowly winning the beginners' event from Saphire Night. Despite still having the scope to reach his fairly useful hurdles mark over fences, Aldertune's marked idling on the run-in was indication that there's more to come if he puts his mind to it.

The final runner at Chepstow was Round Tom who was far too keen before finishing well beaten in the handicap hurdle, and appears harshly treated on what he has actually he achieved to date.

Hawkes Point, Nicholls' only runner on Sunday, put in a disappointing performance when only managing fifth in the novice hurdle at Warwick and also appears one of the stable's lesser lights.

Timeform / 14 Mar 2011