Wincanton Betting: Paul Nicholls on his Saturday runners

There's top quality racing away from Ascot with some notable runners at Wincanton, not least from the Ditcheat yard of Paul Nicholls. our star columnist runs you through his runners at the Somerset track here

14:35
Carlicue: Point to point winner whose future really lies over fences. But he isn't shaping up too badly over hurdles, following up his Chepstow second with an odds-on win at Ffos Las. The form of that win may not be that solid, but he won well and I think he has been given a fair mark on 126. Will wear the tongue tie he wore at Ffos Las and AP takes the ride.

15:45
Silviniaco Conti: I hear Timeform are moaning at me for running him over 2m at a speed track like Wincanton and, yes, it may not be ideal. But if they would like to tell me where else to run him before the Festival, then I'm all ears - and this is a valuable race, too. As everyone knows his progress this season has astonished me and I thought he probably wasn't at his best when third to Menorah in the International in December, where his fourth run of the campaign may have caught up with him. But, even as that form stands, it certainly wasn't a bad effort, as we were giving the winner 4lb. But this race may tell us if we do indeed have a Champion Hurdle horse on our hands, especially as he has to give 8lb to Mille Chief and 4lb to Overturn, or we go straight to Aintree for the 2m4f race. Obviously, the more rain the better for him. His homework tells us nothing, other than he is fit and well.
Celestial Halo: Takes his chance here as the race has cut up to just five runners. Hasn't had the most successful of seasons so far, and we quickly shelved the chasing plans. Thrilled me when third to Karabak over 2m5f at Cheltenham in December, but didn't progress from that run on New Years Day. Gave Mamlook 20lb and a 10 length beating on good to soft ground over this course and distance in 2009, but it is fair to say that he has lost some of his Champion Hurdle speed these days. I was aiming him at Fontwell on February 27, and he may still go there as well.

16:15
Aerial: Lost his way after winning a chase at Auteuil in June, but joined us before Christmas and I like what I have seen of him so far. Will improve for the run, though; he has an entry in the Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase at the Festival.

17:20
Jump City: Won over 1m4f in France in 2009 but injured a leg soon after joining us, so we fired him and gave him plenty of time. Will definitely improve for the experience and run.

My Three Best Chances Today:
13:50 - Ascot - The Minack
15:00 - Ascot - Pride of Dulcote
14:35 - Wincanton - Carlicue

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Paul Nicholls / 19 Feb 2011