Paul Nicholls 2021-22 Season Preview: Runner by Runner Guide to my new recruits, juveniles and dark horses

Lalor

AGE: 9yo
NH FORM: 1211/23201/13P6/433/P-P
Official Rating: 149 (Chase) 149 (Hurdles)
EARNINGS: £135,848

Kayley Woollacott did well with Lalor but he had a disappointing time last season with several issues and was pulled up twice. We gave him a wind op when he was sent to us by David Staddon at the start of July and we are still learning about him.

But he is a Grade 1 winner, has done plenty since he arrived, works with lots of enthusiasm and schools well so provided we don't see a re-appearance of his problems he could be very interesting. The plan at the moment is to go straight to the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Saint Calvados

AGE: 8yo
NH FORM: 1116/1114/1336/1422/4U-
Official Rating: 167 (Chase) 143 (Hurdles)
EARNINGS: £296,340

He is a smart chaser who has been been campaigned at a high level and was fourth in the King George on Boxing Day when he travelled well for a long way before weakening late on. It was hard to know whether the trip found him out or maybe it was his breathing. We decided he needed a wind op and he is now pleasing in his work. A good starting point could be a two and a half mile handicap at Ascot in November.

Rouge Vif

AGE: 7yo
NH FORM: 1/5212113/14213/1349-
Official Rating: 161 (Chase) 142 (Hurdles)
EARNINGS: £165,298

Owned, like Saint Calvados, by Kate and Andrew Brooks, he joined us in July. He, too, has had wind surgery and I'm hoping a change of scenery might do him the world of good. Rouge Vif is a nice horse who goes well and ran in classy company over two miles.

Magistrato

AGE: 3yo
NH FORM: 2-
Official Rating: N/A
EARNINGS: £11,143

An attractive son of Kapgarde he showed plenty of promise on his debut when second at Auteuil in April. I liked his willing attitude that day, he has summered well and is all set to run at Chepstow in the race we have won six times in the last 11 years.

Matterhorn

AGE: 3yo
NH FORM: 3-
Official Rating: N/A
EARNINGS: £7,500

He looked like winning on his debut at Auteuil in April until a bad blunder at the last flight knocked him sideways. I loved the way he picked himself up and rallied to finish third behind Paradiso who is one of the best three-year-old hurdlers in France. He wants cut in the ground and will probably follow the route taken by Monmiral last season.

Brave Kingdom

AGE: 5yo
NH FORM: 3/1-
Official Rating: N/A
EARNINGS: £2,275

A lovely horse who looked smart when making all the running in a bumper at Fontwell in February. He won easily that day and the form has already been franked. Brave Kingdom joined us in July and though we haven't pressed any buttons yet he shapes like a decent novice.

Huflower

AGE: 4yo
NH FORM:
Official Rating: N/A
EARNINGS:

He won twice from four starts in bumpers in France and we had him in training for a month in the spring to get used to our routine. He has done very well over the summer, has quickly taken to jumping, and is showing the right signs at home. In time he will make a chaser.

Holetown Hero

AGE: 4yo
NH FORM: Unraced
Official Rating: N/A
EARNINGS:

We have 16 bumper horses for this season who are coming along steadily. There is no rush with them and at this stage you never quite know what you have got but I do like Holetown Hero who is going the right way.