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Nicholls calls Betfair Ascot Chase "the race of the season"
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Fasol at Kempton is Paul's best chance of the weekend
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Betfair Ascot Chase was the race of the season
Last weekend's Betfair Ascot Chase was a fantastic race, with two very smart horses - a 12-time winner in Jonbon and my horse Pic D'orhy going for his third win in the race. It was one of Pic D'orhy's career best runs. I thought turning into the second last we might have just put the race to bed, but Jonbon keeps finding, it was an incredible performance by him having won only a month before.
We are extremely proud of Pic D'orhy for what he has achieved and that race put him in the millionaires' club. He is the 10th horse with whom we have won over a million pounds in prize money with and it was nice that Pic D'orhy ended up winning that million. It shows what a fantastic horse he has been over the years. To keep his form at 11-years-old, and for Jonbon to do the same at 10, is great for the sport. It was the race of the season in my book, and I am mighty proud of Pic D'orhy.
Happy with No Drama This End and Regent's Stroll ahead of Cheltenham
I took No Drama This End and Regent's Stroll away for a gallop this week, they both worked nicely and are where I want them to be.
The program has gone great and I am happy with them.
Paul Nicholls Kempton Runners on Saturday
13:10 - Fasol
He has really turned his form around this year, and it seems that he goes well for Olive Nicholls. I just thought we should try a girl jockey on him, and it worked very well when he won at Wincanton, he won very well up at Musselburgh, and he ran well in the Lanzarote at Kempton last month.
This is not quite as hot a race. He does not want any more rain, and looking at the forecast there should not be any more, so the more it dries up the better for him. Good to soft is as soft as he would want it. I think he always has plenty in the locker, he is a little bit cute, looks after himself and you wouldn't know what was in the engine. He could be anything if he put his best foot forward and it would not surprise me if he kept improving.
He is my best chance of the day.
13:45 - Falls of Acharn
He was a little disappointing last time at Musselburgh, running a little keen, it didn't go quite right for him, and he has got to learn to settle. He needs a third run to get in the Fred Winter so this will qualify him and is his last chance to do so. But he has a lot do here.
14:25 - Go West
He's got a great chance. He ran here over Christmas, the ground was a bit fast for him and the two in front went absolutely flat out, it never happened for him and Harry Cobden looked after him. He won well at Musselburgh the last day. Lucy Wadham's Jax Junior, who is in this race, is a fair horse but he did bleed two runs ago and is not unbeatable. We've got a great record in the race and Go West loves Kempton, so we have got a chance.
16:05 - Viroflay
He won here over three miles at Christmas but that was on good ground. He was supposed to be in the big race this weekend, but I felt that because the ground is good to soft-soft, this is a less competitive race and on this ground this is as far as we want to go. He put up a good time at Kempton last year over two-and-a-half, so we have got a chance. Olive rides him and they get on well, so hopefully they will have a good day.
Paul Nicholls Chepstow Runners on Saturday
14:55 - Monmiral
He is 132 over fences, he kept dropping his chase mark and left his hurdle mark where it was, so he is 146 which is quite high, but he did have some good form over hurdles last year. Two years ago, he ran in this race and qualified for the Pertemps, then won it, so we will try and do a repeat. He needs to be in the first four to qualify for the Pertemps and, if he does it, that is where he will go next. At 146 he is high enough.
14:55 - Rickety Bridge
He will need the run. He's had problems coming back from a long lay-off, he will improve tons for the run and then go novice chasing.