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Sandown & Haydock Betting: Paul Nicholls on his Saturday runners

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Paul sends out a fair number of horses for what his final Weekend Runners column for Betting.Betfair - so here's hoping for a good weekend to mark a successful year. Thanks, Paul!

Sandown

13:30, 2m Listed
Sanctuaire: Did us proud last season when winning the Fred Winter by 9 lengths at the Festival. But I was on the verge of calling it quits for the season after he finished last of seven at Taunton in January, as he just wasn't helping himself, pulling far too hard and running far too freely. But, as I exclusively revealed here before his run in the Scottish Champion Hurdle last week, we gave him a breathing operation on January 26 and it looks to have done the trick to judge from his 1 ¾ length defeat of Bygones Of Brid, where Ruby gave him a peach of a stalking ride. Although visually very impressive, it may not be wise to get too carried away with that performance - it was a career-best effort but it may not have been the strongest of races -but I feel like that I have got a different horse in my hands now.
I said before Ayr that ideally I would have wanted to get another two weeks of work into him, so hopefully he can continue on his upward curve today. The race has cut up, which possibly wouldn't be ideal, and he has Clerk's Choice to beat.

14:05, 2m3f Handicap Hurdle
King Of The Night: Was a very smart bumper horse (only failed by a nose to give Sprinter Sacre 13lb at Ascot) and showed his best form over hurdles when beating Basford Bob by 1 ½ lengths over 2m4f at Doncaster. Wasn't exactly thrown in off 138 in the boys race at the Festival but in the end that didn't matter, as he fell four out when in contention. Doesn't seem to be any the worse for that experience and will love the ground here, so let's see how he goes.

14:35, 2m Grade 2 Chase
Tataniano: After he beat Osana by 13 lengths at Aintree last season, I thought he could develop into my number one Champion Chase hope this term. But things clearly haven't worked out, and he has a stop-start season since a slightly disappointing third to Gauvain at Cheltenham in November. He pulled muscles in his back in the lead-up to the Cheltenham Festival, and obviously didn't make it there, but we have been grafting him hard in the lead-up to this race. In fact, he has spent the last month working with Sanctuaire, so let us hope us that he can deliver like that one did at Ayr last week, though I think he will need it.
This certainly isn't an easy race for him on his comeback either, with the likes of French Opera and Oiseau De Nuit in opposition getting 4lb, but he goes well fresh and I am hopeful that he will give a very good account of himself. If he does, then it is off to Punchestown.

15:10, 3m5f Handicap Chase
Meanus Dandy: Is perhaps not the most consistent of horses, but I think he has a fair bit going for him here. He showed his likes these fences when winning over 3m1f here last March and again underlined what he could do on his favoured fast ground when beating Buena Vista by 3 ½ lengths in the Badger Ales in November, a race I targeted him at for his owners. Has to race off a 10lb higher mark and comes here on the back of a comprehensive defeat at Doncaster last time, but if he puts his best foot forward - and I think he is better going right-handed - then he is fair price at 12-1, in an obviously very competitive race.


Haydock
14:55, 3m Novice Chase
River D'Or: I think it is fair to say that he has been rather disappointing since joining us from France, but his mark of 116 now reflects that and there was certainly more promise in his close third over this trip at Newbury last time. Has something to find with some of these on official figures, but hopefully he can build on Newbury. Trip and ground are fine, and I have put blinkers on for the first time to sharpen up his jumping.

15:30, 2m4f Handicap Chase
Five Dream: Finished an excellent second over 2m7f at Market Rasen in September and ran his best since when third to Tyup Pompey over 2m4f at Ludlow this month, and the winner followed up at the same course on Thursday. Is clearly no more than fairly handicapped, but conditions should suit and it would be nice to win the race named after this column!


Newton Abbot
15:50, 2m Handicap Chase
Pepe Simo: Didn't make the best of chasing debuts when pulled up at Fontwell in September but jumped much better when winning at Sandown and then beat Noland in a jumpers' bumper. Possibly saw too much daylight when an otherwise good second to Nadiya De La Vega at Kempton (the pick of his chase form so far) and failed to run up to that form at Sandown and Cheltenham on his next two starts. Obviously had little more than a confidence-boosting spin round when winning at odds of 1-5 at Ludlow last time but is in good form and is fairly treated off 140 if able to return to the Kempton form. Ryan takes a very handy 5lb off, too.

Paul Nicholls / 23 Apr 2011

Sandown & Haydock Betting: Paul Nicholls on his Saturday runners

Weekend Runners RSS / / 23 April 2011 /

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Can Sanctuaire sign off with a win?

Can Sanctuaire sign off with a win?

"This certainly isn't an easy race for Tataniano on his comeback, with the likes of French Opera and Oiseau De Nuit in opposition getting 4lb, but he goes well fresh and I am hopeful that he will give a very good account of himself. If he does, then it is off to Punchestown."

Paul sends out a fair number of horses for what his final Weekend Runners column for Betting.Betfair - so here's hoping for a good weekend to mark a successful year. Thanks, Paul!

Sandown

13:30, 2m Listed
Sanctuaire: Did us proud last season when winning the Fred Winter by 9 lengths at the Festival. But I was on the verge of calling it quits for the season after he finished last of seven at Taunton in January, as he just wasn't helping himself, pulling far too hard and running far too freely. But, as I exclusively revealed here before his run in the Scottish Champion Hurdle last week, we gave him a breathing operation on January 26 and it looks to have done the trick to judge from his 1 ¾ length defeat of Bygones Of Brid, where Ruby gave him a peach of a stalking ride. Although visually very impressive, it may not be wise to get too carried away with that performance - it was a career-best effort but it may not have been the strongest of races -but I feel like that I have got a different horse in my hands now.
I said before Ayr that ideally I would have wanted to get another two weeks of work into him, so hopefully he can continue on his upward curve today. The race has cut up, which possibly wouldn't be ideal, and he has Clerk's Choice to beat.

14:05, 2m3f Handicap Hurdle
King Of The Night: Was a very smart bumper horse (only failed by a nose to give Sprinter Sacre 13lb at Ascot) and showed his best form over hurdles when beating Basford Bob by 1 ½ lengths over 2m4f at Doncaster. Wasn't exactly thrown in off 138 in the boys race at the Festival but in the end that didn't matter, as he fell four out when in contention. Doesn't seem to be any the worse for that experience and will love the ground here, so let's see how he goes.

14:35, 2m Grade 2 Chase
Tataniano: After he beat Osana by 13 lengths at Aintree last season, I thought he could develop into my number one Champion Chase hope this term. But things clearly haven't worked out, and he has a stop-start season since a slightly disappointing third to Gauvain at Cheltenham in November. He pulled muscles in his back in the lead-up to the Cheltenham Festival, and obviously didn't make it there, but we have been grafting him hard in the lead-up to this race. In fact, he has spent the last month working with Sanctuaire, so let us hope us that he can deliver like that one did at Ayr last week, though I think he will need it.
This certainly isn't an easy race for him on his comeback either, with the likes of French Opera and Oiseau De Nuit in opposition getting 4lb, but he goes well fresh and I am hopeful that he will give a very good account of himself. If he does, then it is off to Punchestown.

15:10, 3m5f Handicap Chase
Meanus Dandy: Is perhaps not the most consistent of horses, but I think he has a fair bit going for him here. He showed his likes these fences when winning over 3m1f here last March and again underlined what he could do on his favoured fast ground when beating Buena Vista by 3 ½ lengths in the Badger Ales in November, a race I targeted him at for his owners. Has to race off a 10lb higher mark and comes here on the back of a comprehensive defeat at Doncaster last time, but if he puts his best foot forward - and I think he is better going right-handed - then he is fair price at 12-1, in an obviously very competitive race.


Haydock
14:55, 3m Novice Chase
River D'Or: I think it is fair to say that he has been rather disappointing since joining us from France, but his mark of 116 now reflects that and there was certainly more promise in his close third over this trip at Newbury last time. Has something to find with some of these on official figures, but hopefully he can build on Newbury. Trip and ground are fine, and I have put blinkers on for the first time to sharpen up his jumping.

15:30, 2m4f Handicap Chase
Five Dream: Finished an excellent second over 2m7f at Market Rasen in September and ran his best since when third to Tyup Pompey over 2m4f at Ludlow this month, and the winner followed up at the same course on Thursday. Is clearly no more than fairly handicapped, but conditions should suit and it would be nice to win the race named after this column!


Newton Abbot
15:50, 2m Handicap Chase
Pepe Simo: Didn't make the best of chasing debuts when pulled up at Fontwell in September but jumped much better when winning at Sandown and then beat Noland in a jumpers' bumper. Possibly saw too much daylight when an otherwise good second to Nadiya De La Vega at Kempton (the pick of his chase form so far) and failed to run up to that form at Sandown and Cheltenham on his next two starts. Obviously had little more than a confidence-boosting spin round when winning at odds of 1-5 at Ludlow last time but is in good form and is fairly treated off 140 if able to return to the Kempton form. Ryan takes a very handy 5lb off, too.

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