Weekend Racing: Paul Nicholls on his non-Aintree runners

Outside Aintree Paul has plenty of other runners including Pepe Simo, Blu Teen and Just Amazing. Read the great man's thoughts on his other weekend runners here

Saturday
Chepstow, 15:10
Valentine Vic: Winning pointer who will hopefully start making his proper mark now we send him over fences. But he showed fair form over hurdles when beating Triggerman by 6 lengths at Taunton last season, before a breathing problem surfaced when disappointing next time. We took steps to rectify that before his reappearance in a handicap hurdle at Newbury in February, where he travelled well before weakening 4 out and was well beaten when falling. Hopefully, we will see a different horse today. Faces just the four rivals, but some fair, in-form sorts are in the field.

Chepstow, 17:55
Sin Bin: I train his one for Mr Hemmings. Is by Presenting out of a dam related to Mighty Mogul. Is a half-brother to the smart bumper/hurdler Line Ball. Looks a nice sort but we will obviously know more after his first taste of the racecourse today.


Sunday
Ascot, 14:35
Aerial: Lost his way after winning a chase at Auteuil in June, but joined us before Christmas and I liked what I saw of him before his debut for me at Wincanton in February. And he was very impressive there in beating Tamadot by 9 lengths off a mark of 126. We missed Cheltenham with him, and you would have to think he would give a good account of himself back in novice chase company, especially as some higher-rated rivals were taken out of the race at the overnight stage.

Ascot, 15:10
Rock Of Deauville: Decent middle distance sort in France who frustrated me in his first three starts, travelling powerfully but finding very little when push came to shove. So we put a tongue tie on him and he improved to finish a good sixth in the Fred Winter; has definite chances off a mark of 112 here if continuing to progress.

Ascot, 16:20
Blu Teen: Won the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown for my good friend Dave Staddon last time out, but he runs in my name here because this is a handicap. Dave, who trains the horse on my gallops, knows him better than me but I would say he has a fair mark of 124 in this Veterans Handicap. Ryan takes the ride and takes off 5lb.

Ascot, 17:30
Just Amazing: Smart novice chaser last season and we got him qualified for the Cheltenham Foxhunter after recording quick wins at Sandown and Taunton in February. But he was tailed off when pulled up there, clearly disappointing us. Obvious claims if bouncing back to his best, and this is another race that has cut up.


Ludlow, 14:55
Pepe Simo: We sidestepped Aintree this week to take in this race, and this looks a good opportunity to get back on the winning track. Ran no more than a fair race in the Grand Annual but I think a return to a smaller field will suit him, and his length second to Nadiya De La Vega at Kempton clearly makes him the one to beat here.

Ludlow, 16:40
Five Dream: We step him back in trip after he probably failed to stay behind Mon Parrain over 3m1f at Sandown last time. He has at last begun to come down the weights, dropping 4lb, and he would have claims here if returning to the form of his second at Market Rasen in September. James is having his first ride over fences and takes 10lb off.


Wincanton, 14:10
San Remo Bello: Has run three respectable races since joining us from France, running well when fifth off a mark of 127 in the EBF Final at Sandown last time. A reproduction of that effort puts him bang in the mix here, and he looks to have Spanish Teasure to beat.

Wincanton, 15:55
Rivaliste: Has not built upon a promising reappearance third at Cheltenham and unseated James in a handicap hurdle at Stratford last week. We send him back chasing here and he is weighted to go close, providing he brushes up his jumping.


Read Pauls' three best chances at Aintree here

Paul Nicholls / 9 Apr 2011