-
Best chance Regent's Stroll was convincing winner
-
Team are investigating Solo bleed
-
Threeunderthrufive will go to Sandown not Aintree
-
Rachael Blackmore Serial Winners Fund at £205K
-
Betfair NRMB for 2024 Aintree Grand National
Paul Nicholls highlighted Regent's Stroll as his best chance on Saturday in his exclusive Betfair column and so it proved as he took the £100k race at Newbury.
Looking back on the race today, Paul said:
"He was the one that we wanted to win on Saturday. It was a well-sponsored race and we have it in mind for him since we bought him. He won well at Ascot in November and there was no reason to run him again before Newbury on Saturday.
"Our plan worked out nicely and he was very impressive, giving all that weight away."
Watch Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat Diary here!
Larchmont Lass finished fourth in the Mares' Novice and Paul admitted he had hoped she would go close:
"She won on heavy at Wincanton but here the ground dried up. She got a little behind on Saturday then stayed on strongly. She ran ok but I thought that off 113 she would go close to winning. We will find another race for her before the end of the season."
We must get Solo back to form
Following reports that Solo bled after his race, Paul said:
"Solo had a small bleed, not massive but we are doing investigations at home today. There are one or two in the yard that are not at their best at the moment but I think you would find that in lots of yards.
"Watching Solo's run on Saturday, I think he needs to go right-handed. He has a been a tad disappointing so we need to get him back to top form."
Threeunderthrufive will go to Sandown instead of Grand National
Paul responded to reports that Threeunderthrufive will not run in the Grand National.
He said: "That story was making something out of nothing really. I've never been that keen [on him running in the race]. I don't think the Grand National will suit him and don't think the jumping will suit him.
"He's very good right-handed on good ground, as he was at Ascot, and I though the Gold Cup at Sandown at the end of the season will be a great race for him.
"He is only nine-years-old. We will look at the Grand National again next year. I'm sure we will run him in it one year.
"He was my only National entry so will not have anything in the race this year."
Paul Nicholls will be back on Friday to preview his weekend runners.