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Captain Teague in good shape for Friday
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Paul picks his best chance on Saturday
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Grand National changes must not go too far
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Get completely free horse racing multiple this weekend
Every Friday Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls talks to Barry Orr about the Ditcheat horses that will be running at the weekend.
In the first Ditcheat Decs of 2023/24, Paul tells Barry about an exciting start to the season at Chepstow on Friday and Saturday.
Classy Captain ready for Chepstow on Friday
Captain Teague is clearly a class horse and is odds-on to win the 14:10 at Chepstow on Friday.
Paul said of Captain Teague: "He won his point to point nicely as a four-year-old, had two runs for us last year, winning at Plumpton and finishing third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.
"We always thought we would aim him for this race [the Persian War Novices' Hurdle]."
Watch Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat Decs
Four Ditcheat horses to watch on Saturday at Chepstow
Paul talked about four of his nine runners at Chepstow on Saturday. Here's what he had to say about them...
"He's a nice horse at home, has jumped well, and won on the Flat in France. He should run a nice race."
"He's won at this meeting for the last three years. He does like Chepstow. He has won on soft ground. He has been schooling very nicely and if he jumps well he will go very close."
"Nice horse. I have a light concern about the ground but he has to start somewhere. Whatever he does here he will improve for the run. The idea is to run here and go on to the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham next month."
"This lad is a big strong horse from a good family. Hopefully he will run very well."
Best chance: "If I have to pick one then it is Knappers Hill but I have two nice chances in the Silver Trophy at 16:15: Sonigino and Lallylag."
Read about all of Paul Nicholls' Saturday runners here.
Changes to Grand National must not go too far
Yesterday it was annouced that the field for the Grand National will be reduced from 40 to 34. Here's what Paul had to say about the news:
"Anything that improves the Grand National is a positive and there were always going to be fewer runners. But it is a special race and you don't want the changes to go too far.
"It is a challenging race and you don't want it to become almost not a challenge. Anything that can help to put the racing on the right footing, and show the public we are trying to do things right, is welcome.
"But there has to be a limit to what you change. A few tweaks now and again are fine, but don't go too far."
Paul will be back on Monday to reflect on the weekend with Ditcheat Diary.