Paul Nicholls: My Saturday runners at Cheltenham

Paul Nicholls
26 January 2013

Sanctuaire will take on Sprintre Sacre once again today

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Betfair Ambassador Paul Nicholls has as many as seven runners at Cheltenham today and here he gives his usual honest views on each of them...

Paul Nicholls on Sanctuaire;

"I would hate myself - and wouldn't be doing my job - were Sprinter Sacre not run to form for some reason, and we were not the ones to benefit in a Grade 1 race."

12:10 Cheltenham - Irish Saint

We bought him after he won a listed newcomers' hurdle at Auteuil in September by five lengths, and that victory, however hard to gauge, obviously promised a great deal. But, being honest, although he was sent off at odds-on on his debut for us at Kempton last month, I didn't really know what to expect. He had worked well enough at home but he certainly was no morning glory, and is clearly a real chaser in the making. So I had to be very impressed with his 18 length win at Kempton, as he travelled really powerfully throughout and jumped well too.

The form of that race may not amount to a great deal - though it was good to see Captain Cardington, beaten 27 1/2 lengths at Kempton, finish a fair third under a penalty at Newbury next time - but this is clearly a horse of some potential. I never saw him as a Triumph Hurdle type at all before Kempton, but we will certainly know more after today's run in this better grade. He has improved at home since Kempton, and we like him a lot.

13:15 Cheltenham - Poquelin & Pacha Du Polder

Poquelin ran ok over 3m on his reappearance at Ascot but poorly in the Paddy Power last time. The ground was probably too soft there and conditions will be far from ideal here too, obviously. So it is hard to be confident about a bold show, though we know he likes it here - he was second in this race last year - and the handicapper has dropped him 6lb since the start of the season, so he is theoretically well-treated. And Harry takes 5lb off, too.

I think a lot of Pacha Du Polder, but he has had me scratching my head a bit after two below-par runs this season. He found it all happening too quickly for him over 2m4f on good ground in the Old Roan on his reappearance and I thought he would be suited by stepping up in trip at Sandown last time. But he clearly didn't run up to his best over 3m1f there in soft ground, even if the winner looks a good horse. It could be that this trip on soft ground is what he needs, and the handicapper has dropped him 3lb. I think he is better than a 147-rated horse, but he has to start showing that on the track. If he does, then he has definite chances.

13:50 Cheltenham - Sanctuaire

The enigma that is Sanctuaire. He clearly was little short of a revelation when we switched him to fences last season, looking so impressive at Sandown in April, and we went to the Tingle Creek full of hope that he could at least give Sprinter Sacre a race. The winner is obviously in a different league, but Sanctuaire obviously didn't run to his best that day after going off far too fast. And he again looked booked for defeat when he was headed at Kempton last time. He completely switched off after jumping the last down the back, Ruby dropped his stick and we both thought he was beaten around the last bend. But then he filled up his lungs again after another horse went past him and he remarkably went on to win by 13 lengths. An extraordinary performance.

Everything tells you that second place is the best we can hope for here, and he would also like better ground, but let's give it a go. I would hate myself - and wouldn't be doing my job - were Sprinter Sacre not run to form for some reason, and we were not the ones to benefit in a Grade 1 race. After all, Denman got beat at 1-6 once. And this horse is top class in his own right.

14:25 Cheltenham - Tidal Bay (Non-Runner)

You will have read about him here on Thursday and Friday, and we are struggling to get him to the race. If you are reading this column when it goes live at 8am, switch on to Channel 4 now for an update as I am on the Morning Line!!

15:35 Cheltenham - Kauto Stone

Is not the biggest and perhaps he found it all a bit too much physically in the testing conditions in the King George last time. I don't mind telling you that I was very disappointed there, as his reappearance Down Royal defeat of First Lieutenant had promised much and he had been working well prior to Kempton. But, with Big Buck's out of the way, we thought we would switch him back to hurdles to see what we have got with a view to a possible crack at the World Hurdle.

If he can translate the form of his Down Royal win to hurdles, then he is bang in the mix, though it is obviously a tough task. We have freshened him up since Kempton, and he seems in good order.

16:10 Cheltenham - Dildar

Showed us plenty of ability on the track last season but perhaps not quite as much as he showed us at home. So I was delighted with his comeback second at Kempton, his first start since a summer breathing operation. However, so was the handicapper who has raised him 6lb for that effort. Looking at the form though, and how the horses behind him have run since, that looks harsh. Let's hope I am wrong though, and this one-time smart French Flat horse does have scope for improvement and should have progressed from Kempton. We try him in cheekpieces here to keep his mind on the job as he idled going to the last at Kempton.

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