Paul Nicholls: The verdict on my runners at Cheltenham, Doncaster and Lingfield

Paul Nicholls
26 January 2018

Paul Nicholls sends Adrien Du Pont to the Lightning Novices' Chase

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Paul has runners over jumps and obstacles on Saturday including Warriors Tale at Doncaster who he thinks has a solid each-way chance...

13:30 Doncaster - Adrien Du Pont

Has bags of speed as he showed at Ascot last time when he was too keen in front for his own good. That was over two miles, five furlongs yet he was still ten lengths clear three out before tiring once headed. Adrien Du Pont has plenty of class, jumps like a natural and will be more at home dropping back to two miles at Doncaster.

He doesn't have to lead provided they go a good gallop which is quite possible with Dan Skelton's Shantou Rock among his three opponents. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Adrien Du Pont runs very well in this.

13:50 - Cheltenham - Frodon

Was also entered in the Sky Bet Handicap at Doncaster but I decided to run him here at this shorter trip as I'm not sure that he quite got the three miles at Ascot a month ago against Gold Present. He has never won at three miles and most of his wins have come at around two and a half miles.

Frodon did briefly look like winning at Ascot when Bryony Frost produced him with a well timed run but he was no match in the closing stages for Gold Present who does stay well.
He has a sporting chance here again ridden by Bryony who takes off a handy five pounds in a competitive handicap.

15:10 - Lingfield - High Secret

It rather looks as though the handicapper has got the measure of High Secret on the flat but he runs here because he can't operate over hurdles in mid winter when the going is so testing everywhere.

Hopefully it will be a different story for him over hurdles in the spring once the ground dries up. High Secret has to give weight all round here though my daughter Megan's five pound claim will definitely help. He ran well enough on the flat at Chelmsford in November when third in a valuable handicap and should be in the money again here.

15:15 Doncaster - Warriors Tale

Has plenty in his favour as he goes well fresh, is in very good shape and his best form is on flat, left handed tracks. He also has a good record ridden by Sean Bowen.
He was at the top of his game last time at Newbury almost two months ago when he was just run out of it on the flat by Gold Present.

Warriors Tale hasn't been the best traveller in the past so we avoid sending him overnight these days. The journey to Doncaster on Saturday morning shouldn't be an issue for him and I'm hoping they don't get any more rain at the course. Solid each way chance.

Paul's Best Chance of the Day

As I said, I hope they don't get anymore rain at Doncaster but Warriors Tale looks to have a really solid each-way chance in the three mile Listed Chase at 15:15.