Paul Nicholls: The views on my eight Friday runners at Newbury

Paul Nicholls
26 November 2015

It's day two of the Hennessy meeting at Newbury and Paul Nicholls saddles eight runners on the card

Join

Twitter

Facebook

View the Betslip

Paul Nicholls enjoyed a couple of winners on Thursday and heads to the second day of the Hennessy meeting with an octet of chances at Newbury. Here you can read the Betfair Ambassador's exclusive views on his chances of claiming further success...

Newbury 14:40 - Howlongisafoot

"Howlongisafoot was ready early this season, continues in form at home and should handle the softer ground here."

Newbury 12:25 - Copain De Classe

Is a grand, big strong chasing type very much in the mould of Saphir Du Rheu. We bought him in the summer after he won a bumper at Vichy in France where they use stalls for these types of races.

He managed to win despite being very slowly away out of the stalls and the form has since been franked by the runner up.

Copain de Classe is not really a a Triumph Hurdle horse, but as he is a three-year-old it makes sense to start him over hurdles here.

Newbury 12:55 - Mon Successeur

We gave him a spin over hurdles last time at Cheltenham where he looked as though he would appreciate a bit further.

Mon Successeur is a half brother to Easter Day and before joining us had already won twice over fences in France which makes life a bit more difficult for him.

Before Cheltenham he came tantalisingly close to making a winning debut for us over fences at Wetherby but has quite a tough task here as the only four-year-old in the field.

Newbury 13:30 - Easter Day

Is due a change of luck and ran well enough when we put him back over hurdles at Cheltenham last time to bolster his confidence. Previously he was sensibly pulled up by Sam Twiston-Davies after three fences at Kempton when he was unsettled by jumping into the back of another horse at the first.

Easter Day has had plenty of schooling, and is on a fair mark over hurdles so I am looking for an improved run this time.

Newbury 14:05 - Sametegal

Won impressively at Huntingdon on his debut over fences after a long absence with a leg injury.

I was thrilled to see him return in such sparkling form and loved the way he jumped there. Though this race is more competitive I am hopeful he can take another step forward over two and a half miles which should suit him well.

Newbury 14:40 - Howlongisafoot

Like quite a lot of mine this season he improved a fair bit from his first run by winning handily at Taunton just over two weeks ago.

He is not the most straight-forward horse to ride as he has a habit of pulling himself up once he hits the front but Sam timed things to perfection at Taunton.

Howlongisafoot was ready early this season, continues in form at home and should handle the softer ground here.

Newbury 15:15 - Chartbreaker

Is one we found in Germany in the summer of 2014 but he then took an age to get over a gelding operation. So it was good to see him in action for the first time at Ascot four weeks ago where he was a bit careful at his hurdles early on.

We are still learning about Chartbreaker but we think he is crying out for a trip which he gets here and he will love the soft ground.

Newbury 15:45 - Alibi De Sivola

His jumping let him down badly at Chepstow just over three weeks ago on his return to action from a long absence with a leg injury.

He has done plenty of schooling since then and is entitled to improve from that run. But he does need to pick his feet up if he is to go one better this time.

Newbury 15:45 - Baron de Ligniere

Has had a couple of runs in bumpers for experience without setting the world on fire. He has looked a bit green in those two races and is now ready for the next stage of his career over hurdles.

We'll see how he gets on here but I suspect he is more of a long term project.