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Paul Nicholls: My Sunday runners at Cheltenham

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Paul has eight runners in action at Prestbury Park on the final day of the Open meeting so can he round off with some winners?

13:10 Cheltenham
Al Ferof
It was shades of Noland as he stormed up the hill to beat Spirit Son by two lengths in the Supreme in March and that form looked even better after the runner-up hacked up by 13 lengths at Aintree. Is clearly a very exciting addition to the chasing ranks - he beat Minella Class in an Irish point in 2009 - and he makes his start over fences here, with Ruby available. And after seeing Peddlers Cross win at Bangor on Wednesday, I am glad that we swerved that clash!

In all seriousness, I wouldn't be scared of taking on any horse with Al Ferof as he clearly is a high class animal whose potential is obvious. He has worked and schooled well in preparation but like all of my novices - the latest being Silviniaco Conti - he will improve enormously for the run. He could need further than this in time, too. Worked well with Polisky on Thursday morning but just remember that he got better as the season went on in the previous campaign and he was at his best in the spring.

Toubab

Didn't progress from his impressive Haydock win last season but he wasn't right after that. And although he was a beaten favourite on his chasing debut at Cheltenham (beaten by three-quarters-of-length by today's rival Lancetto, who is 1lb worse off here), I was more than satisfied, especially as he ran too free and was in front a bit too early. My novices all come for their first outings - like Ghizao, who won this race last year - so don't be surprised to see him improve a good deal here. This horse has plenty of class and would be suited by good ground.

13:45 Cheltenham
Woolcombe Folly
We run Woolcombe Folly here as Tataniano is being aimed at the Tingle Creek - but he is a more than an able substitute. Wasn't right when disappointing at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals but showed his true worth when giving his rivals lumps and a weight and a beating to Friday's winner Tanks For That in December. I was pleased enough with his reappearance third to Tataniano at Chepstow and, although life is difficult for him in handicaps off 165, he looks the form horse here at these weights. Looks to have Gauvain, winner of this race last season, to beat.

14:20 Cheltenham
Sanctuaire
Very talented horse but awkward and frustrating in equal measure. Never really recaptured the form of his Fred Winter win (tellingly that was off a 23lb lower mark than he races off here) until we gave him a breathing operation and brought him back for the Scottish Champion Hurdle, where he dotted up. But we probably turned him out too quickly just a week later on his final start, and he didn't want to know. Is best when fresh, so he could quite easily surprise here. He works on his own because he is so keen and fresh, but he has been going as well as ever. In fact, he is in seriously good order.

Brampour
I train him, my daughter Megan rides him out, and my nephew Harry wins on him - so depending on who you speak to at Nicholls' family gatherings, they were responsible for Brampour's comeback win at Ascot last month! To be honest, even though he went off as the 13-2 co-favourite, I didn't expect him to win as I thought he would need the run. We never really had him consistently right last season but a breathing operation looks to have helped judged on his reappearance win, where he battled really gamely for the win. He looks to have his work cut out after a harsh 10lb rise in the weights but Harry takes 7lb off and let's hope I was right about him possibly needing the run at Ascot. The stiff track should suit, as I think he will need further in time.

14:55 Cheltenham
Rangitoto
Came to us as a winner of his sole Irish point and a big reputation. I don't care much about reputations and bar gossip - I want to see them do it on the track - but all the same he did disappoint me in his first two starts before getting off the mark over 2m4f in the soft at Chepstow. But he has strengthened up and I must admit that I quite fancy our chances off a handicap mark of 119 (I think he is better than that) before we send him chasing. Any rain would be a help.

15:30 Cheltenham
Polisky
I have always liked this horse, and still do. Came to us after finishing second on his only hurdling start in France, and obviously lost nothing in defeat when second to Sprinter Sacre at Ascot in February. After that, we had a decision to make - either put him away to preserve his novice status, or go for a race worth winning, so we went to Aintree. He ran ok there, possibly running better than his finishing position implies, and I wouldn't dismiss him lightly here, even though he takes on some very highly-rated horses, such as Fingal Bay. Had a breathing operation in the summer, and the best is yet to come from him.

16:00 Cheltenham
Salubrious
Won a Stratford bumper by 21 lengths for Pam Sly at Stratford in September, after which he was offered to us and Mssrs Stewart and Johnson kindly got their chequebooks out. And that probably means that Andy has booked the "wife on her banjo" for the music entertainment at his next party, instead of Rod Stewart! More seriously, that was a very promising first run (the runner-up finished a fair second next time up) and he has done everything asked of him at home. Cheltenham bumpers are notoriously hard to win - Aintree runner-up Montbazon sets a high standard here - but I would hope and think that he would give a good account of himself. It would be nice if he did, because I didn't have a "flyer" in my bumper ranks last season.


We have 15 runners on one of the most competitive weekend's racing of the year, so you simply can't be confident of success for any of them.

But if you ask me what I think my three best chances are, I would nominate click here. But, in truth, they all face very difficult tasks first time up.


We had the cameras down on Thursday. Catch some of the Saturday runners working on the gallops:

Paul Nicholls / 12 Nov 2011

Paul Nicholls: My Sunday runners at Cheltenham

Weekend Runners RSS / / 12 November 2011 / 3

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Will Paul be celebrating on Sunday afternoon?

Will Paul be celebrating on Sunday afternoon?

"Toubab has plenty of class and would be suited by good ground."

Paul has eight runners in action at Prestbury Park on the final day of the Open meeting so can he round off with some winners?

13:10 Cheltenham
Al Ferof
It was shades of Noland as he stormed up the hill to beat Spirit Son by two lengths in the Supreme in March and that form looked even better after the runner-up hacked up by 13 lengths at Aintree. Is clearly a very exciting addition to the chasing ranks - he beat Minella Class in an Irish point in 2009 - and he makes his start over fences here, with Ruby available. And after seeing Peddlers Cross win at Bangor on Wednesday, I am glad that we swerved that clash!

In all seriousness, I wouldn't be scared of taking on any horse with Al Ferof as he clearly is a high class animal whose potential is obvious. He has worked and schooled well in preparation but like all of my novices - the latest being Silviniaco Conti - he will improve enormously for the run. He could need further than this in time, too. Worked well with Polisky on Thursday morning but just remember that he got better as the season went on in the previous campaign and he was at his best in the spring.

Toubab

Didn't progress from his impressive Haydock win last season but he wasn't right after that. And although he was a beaten favourite on his chasing debut at Cheltenham (beaten by three-quarters-of-length by today's rival Lancetto, who is 1lb worse off here), I was more than satisfied, especially as he ran too free and was in front a bit too early. My novices all come for their first outings - like Ghizao, who won this race last year - so don't be surprised to see him improve a good deal here. This horse has plenty of class and would be suited by good ground.

13:45 Cheltenham
Woolcombe Folly
We run Woolcombe Folly here as Tataniano is being aimed at the Tingle Creek - but he is a more than an able substitute. Wasn't right when disappointing at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals but showed his true worth when giving his rivals lumps and a weight and a beating to Friday's winner Tanks For That in December. I was pleased enough with his reappearance third to Tataniano at Chepstow and, although life is difficult for him in handicaps off 165, he looks the form horse here at these weights. Looks to have Gauvain, winner of this race last season, to beat.

14:20 Cheltenham
Sanctuaire
Very talented horse but awkward and frustrating in equal measure. Never really recaptured the form of his Fred Winter win (tellingly that was off a 23lb lower mark than he races off here) until we gave him a breathing operation and brought him back for the Scottish Champion Hurdle, where he dotted up. But we probably turned him out too quickly just a week later on his final start, and he didn't want to know. Is best when fresh, so he could quite easily surprise here. He works on his own because he is so keen and fresh, but he has been going as well as ever. In fact, he is in seriously good order.

Brampour
I train him, my daughter Megan rides him out, and my nephew Harry wins on him - so depending on who you speak to at Nicholls' family gatherings, they were responsible for Brampour's comeback win at Ascot last month! To be honest, even though he went off as the 13-2 co-favourite, I didn't expect him to win as I thought he would need the run. We never really had him consistently right last season but a breathing operation looks to have helped judged on his reappearance win, where he battled really gamely for the win. He looks to have his work cut out after a harsh 10lb rise in the weights but Harry takes 7lb off and let's hope I was right about him possibly needing the run at Ascot. The stiff track should suit, as I think he will need further in time.

14:55 Cheltenham
Rangitoto
Came to us as a winner of his sole Irish point and a big reputation. I don't care much about reputations and bar gossip - I want to see them do it on the track - but all the same he did disappoint me in his first two starts before getting off the mark over 2m4f in the soft at Chepstow. But he has strengthened up and I must admit that I quite fancy our chances off a handicap mark of 119 (I think he is better than that) before we send him chasing. Any rain would be a help.

15:30 Cheltenham
Polisky
I have always liked this horse, and still do. Came to us after finishing second on his only hurdling start in France, and obviously lost nothing in defeat when second to Sprinter Sacre at Ascot in February. After that, we had a decision to make - either put him away to preserve his novice status, or go for a race worth winning, so we went to Aintree. He ran ok there, possibly running better than his finishing position implies, and I wouldn't dismiss him lightly here, even though he takes on some very highly-rated horses, such as Fingal Bay. Had a breathing operation in the summer, and the best is yet to come from him.

16:00 Cheltenham
Salubrious
Won a Stratford bumper by 21 lengths for Pam Sly at Stratford in September, after which he was offered to us and Mssrs Stewart and Johnson kindly got their chequebooks out. And that probably means that Andy has booked the "wife on her banjo" for the music entertainment at his next party, instead of Rod Stewart! More seriously, that was a very promising first run (the runner-up finished a fair second next time up) and he has done everything asked of him at home. Cheltenham bumpers are notoriously hard to win - Aintree runner-up Montbazon sets a high standard here - but I would hope and think that he would give a good account of himself. It would be nice if he did, because I didn't have a "flyer" in my bumper ranks last season.


We have 15 runners on one of the most competitive weekend's racing of the year, so you simply can't be confident of success for any of them.

But if you ask me what I think my three best chances are, I would nominate click here. But, in truth, they all face very difficult tasks first time up.


We had the cameras down on Thursday. Catch some of the Saturday runners working on the gallops:

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(3)

  1. paul | 12 November 2011

    so reading your comments punters need to be on AL FEROF (YOU THINK TOUBAB ! ).Toubab does not get up the hill at chelt as he showed last time,another red herring.

  2. paul | 12 November 2011

    apologies for my first post you have tipped AL FEROF as one of your best chances for sunday,i thought after reading your article that toubab was the more fancied.(i am still a bit confused over which horse to back).

  3. Kevin | 13 November 2011

    Toubab ran really keen at cheltenham last time thats why he didn't stay up the hill you heard Paul Nicholls say he will come on a hell of a lot for the run. Why are you being so rash about him his last run was a pipe opener for the season.