Paul Nicholls: The lowdown on my Sunday runners
Weekend Runners
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Paul Nicholls /
03 December 2011 /
Take The Breeze will like the conditions at Kelso and looks to be reasonably handicapped, says Paul
"Opening Batsman's form is probably amongst the best bumper form on offer here and I have to be hopeful of another good showing."
Kelso and Warwick are the venues for Paul's Sunday runners this weekend. He talks us through their chances...
14:00 Kelso
Take The Breeze
Arguably his best race when third to Burton Port and Dance Island in a Grade 2 at Aintree last year, though I suppose his reappearance second at Ascot off 145 last season was no shoddy effort either. Made his reappearance in a handicap hurdle at Aintree in October and ran OK, though he would have probably preferred a bit more cut in the ground than he encountered there. So soft ground over this trip should be ideal and he is reasonably handicapped if returning to the form of that Ascot run. Harry takes a handy 7lb off, too.
14:10, Warwick
Themilanhorse
Showed a smart level of form in three bumper starts, among them a win at Newton Abbot win. Was beaten a fair way when third on his hurdling debut at Stratford but I think this well-related individual is a bit better than that and the Stratford form could be fair anyway. The winner is well regarded (ran in a Grade 2 next time) and the second won subsequently (albeit at odds of 1-10). Hopefully, he will show improvement here and go close here.
15:40, Warwick
Opening Batsman
Would probably have won his second point but for unseating his rider and he certainly showed promise again when a narrow runner-up to a well-regarded newcomer in Jeremy Scott's Decimus at Taunton last month. That form is probably amongst the best bumper form on offer here (good Ascot runner-up Be All Man sets the standard though) and I have to be hopeful of another good showing, though you never really know what you are up against in bumpers. But has an each way chance, for sure.