Weekend Runners / Paul Nicholls / 21 January 2011 / 2

Paul's up-and-coming hurdler runs in the colours of the Timeform Betfair Racing Club for the first time at Ascot this Saturday. Read our man's verdict here

Plenty Pocket makes his debut for us in the colours of the Timeform Betfair Racing Club in the juvenile hurdle, so let's hope he gives a good account of himself on his hurdling bow.

He is actually owned 50-50 by Clive Smith and the Club, as Clive recently became their patron.

We bought Plenty Pocket out of the Elie Lellouche stable, out of which horses such as Binocular and American Trilogy were purchased.

He won over 1m4f at Saint Cloud and finished third at Craon on his final start in September, so he has decent middle distance form in France.

He was gelded after he came to us and has improved greatly physically since, and goes great in all his work and jumps nicely - hopefully, you will have seen some of the videos of him working and schooling that we have posted on the site.

So while we are clearly hopeful of a good run, he will undoubtedly improve massively physically and mentally for the run, as he needs experience.

We saw that with Brampour last week, and don't write him off. And while I am on the subject of that race at Kempton, I would very much like to know how A Media Luz, who would have won easily there, has only got a handicap mark of 119 - I wish that handicapper was rating my novice chasers!!!

I remember a juvenile called Hebridean in 2008. He was beaten 21 lengths into fourth on his debut at Newbury, but won the Adonis at Kempton by five lengths two starts later. These horses from the Flat do tend to improve enormously for the run.

The Club also bought Indian Daudaie from France, but he has already has experience of hurdling, having finished second in a Grade 1 last time. He goes to Cheltenham for a Grade 2 on Saturday week.

I still think that Sam Winner is one of the best juveniles seen out this season, as he beat Grandouet by 15 lengths at Cheltenham on his first start for us. So it will be interesting to see how Plenty Pocket gets on in receipt of weight from Nicky's horse, and with the assistance of Ian's claim, tomorrow.

But we have plenty more Triumph possibles to run in the next four to six weeks. Empire Levant goes to Doncaster next weekend, but this week's impressive Newbury winner Cedre Bleu won't be there. He is not a Cheltenham horse this season.

Polisky runs at Sandown in three weeks time, while Zarkava's half brother Zarkandar is about a month off a run. We have also just bought Tonic Mellysse from France; he won 2m2f a hurdle at Pau in December, and is another juvenile who will bid to stake his Cheltenham claim in the coming weeks.


We're offering £50 credit to anyone joining the Timeform Betfair Racing Club before the end of January. Once you're a member you could be in the parade ring with Paul Nicholls and visiting the stable next month. Click here to see all the great benefits .

Watch Plenty Pocket and Indian Daudaie work on the gallops and school last week.

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1. paul | 22 January 2011

   brampour and plenty pockets , have regressed since being sent to paul nicholls ,why ?
   alot of bets were placed on these 2 horses for their debut runs-so dont let people say they needed the run-somebody (connections ?)somewhere expected a decent first time out showing.How can a horse ,magic prospect (charlie mann),finish 5th,and plenty pockets,tailed off-when plenty pockets beat that horse easily over 12 fur in france-trainer comment,hopefully in next few days (but i doubt it).

2. paul | 23 January 2011

   paul nicholls could do with getting some help from nicky henderson's french horse psychiatrist,especially for his french juvenile hurdlers !

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