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Paul Nicholls Stable Tour

Rocky Creek

He was second in the Hennessy and looked like winning when he led over the last but just faded on the run-in. He did something similar in the Argento and then ran a really tidy race in the Grand National, travelled with plenty of exuberance and led over the second-last. He tired from then but he was giving weight to the four horses that finished in front of him. He was big and weak last season and we’re trying to get him to finish his races better. He’s had a soft palate operation during the summer. He’ll start in the Hennessy with the Grand National as his big target. He looks stronger this year and he’ll be winning races.
Just A Par

He was slightly disappointing last season. He won a Grade Two novice chase at Newbury in November and after that he was consistent without setting the world alight. He jumps well. He’ll definitely get an entry in the Welsh National and he’s a possible for the Grand National. He’ll start in a decent three-mile handicap or a graduation chase. He might just be one of those horses who need a year to acclimatise after coming over from Ireland.
Rolling Aces

He’s been a little bit in and out. We had him just right first time out last season to win the Grade Two 2m 4f chase at Down Royal in November. He didn’t fire as we’d hoped in mid-season but then he was second in a Grade One at Aintree in April. I haven’t really made a plan for him but he seems to like Aintree and he likes a flat track so it’s quite possible he’ll go for the Old Roan Chase at Aintree early in the season. We might give him an entry in the three-miler at Down Royal if the ground is good or faster but 2m 4f to 2m 6f looks ideal for him.
Emerging Talent

This is a well-named, gorgeous, big five-year-old. He won a bumper at Naas in March on his only visit to a racecourse and the second has run well again since. He’s a chasing type and he’s really pleased us since we’ve had him in. He’ll be a novice hurdler this season before going over fences next year. He might start off in the novice hurdle at Wincanton in which Denman made his debut. He’s one for the future.
Present Man

Ran a blinding race in his point to point, travelling well and being beaten about three lengths, with the third horse 20 lengths back. He possibly didn’t get three miles as a four-year-old. We’ll start him in a bumper and go on to novice hurdles. He’s a horse we really like and he’s got chaser written all over him.
On Blueberry Hill

18 months ago, he won a valuable bumper at Fairyhouse. He had a leg injury last season, so we put him away. He’s been in since 1 July. It might have been a blessing in disguise that we gave him time because he’s matured physically. He’ll be a novice hurdler this season and should make a very nice chaser over a trip in the future.
Irish Saint

We’ve got some serious horses to go novice chasing with this season and I’m really looking forward to this one. He’s a lovely five-year-old, he looks really well, he’s done really well in the summer. Last year he made a slow start to the season but won a Grade Two handicap at Ascot in January by 11 lengths and was a two-length third in the Betfair at Newbury. He looks as well as I’ve ever seen him and he’ll be ready to run at the end of October.
Saphir Du Rheu

This is a gorgeous horse who started at the bottom last year and ended up winning the Welsh Champion Hurdle beating Whisper, who then won at the Cheltenham Festival and at Aintree. He might have one more run over hurdles but he’s got chaser written all over him and I can’t wait for the day he starts over fences. He’s only five and he looks stronger after the summer.
Keppols Hill

Won a beginners chase at Chepstow in early 2013. He missed last season, he had a touch of a leg, so we fired it and gave him some time off. He’ll be a staying chaser but we might run him in a three-mile novice hurdle at the end of October first. He’s sure to be up to winning.
Ibis Du Rheu

This is a three-year-old, a big, green baby. We’ve had him about a month and he’s not quite as forward as the others. He’ll run in December in a juvenile hurdle. We got him from Guillaume Macaire’s yard in France. His first run over there, he was tenderly ridden, you could say, in a race that his stablemate happened to win. Then next time he bolted in by seven lengths at Enghien. He’s an embryo chaser, so we’ll look after him as we did with Saphir Du Rheu, his half-brother. He probably won’t take in the Triumph Hurdle.
Onwiththeparty

A grand, big, chasing type that won a Sligo bumper for Charlie Swan last October and then ran twice more the same month. When he joined us, he was light and lean, so we decided to leave him as a novice for this season and he’s turned himself inside out physically [meaning he has matured well]. I’d say he wants good ground and he’ll be ready to run in October.
More Buck’s

His dam is a half-sister to Big Buck’s. Ran in a bumper at Exeter and was very green but managed to win by a neck. He jumps well at home but will probably have one more run in a bumper before going over hurdles. He’s got his whole future in front of him.
Earthmoves

A half-brother to Ptit Zig. He was very green but won nicely on his debut in a Wincanton bumper in March and then ran well to be third at Taunton the next month. He jumps hurdles well. He’ll be in National Hunt novice hurdles from the end of October and will be ready to run at Wincanton. He looks to have strengthened up over the summer.
Celestino

Joined us from France, where he showed plenty of ability behind the unbeaten Top Notch in a couple of three-year-old hurdles in the spring. The form of those races now looks strong. He looks well, he jumps well and he’ll be ready to run in juvenile hurdles from early November.
Alcala

A big, strong, scopey horse, he won a bumper in France despite having got loose before the race. He was then just beaten at Auteuil. He ran a tidy race to be fourth in the Adonis. We decided to keep him as a novice for this season and he’s definitely a horse to follow. We like him a lot.
Le Mercurey

He showed some smart form as a three-year-old in France last November and got a juvenile rating of 149, which was one of the highest anywhere last year. We’ll send him back to Auteuil for the very valuable four-year-old race we won with Ptiz Zig in November last year. After that, I doubt whether he’ll go chasing this year but what a prospect he’ll be for chasing next year. It’s not the easiest season for four-year-old staying hurdlers.
Easter Day

He was a bit green on his chasing debut at Chepstow in October but he won his next two and beat the RSA Chase winner at Ascot in December. Then he had a bad bout of colic that needed surgery and ended his season. He’s ready to go to war with now. He could start in a graduation chase. He’ll definitely get a Hennessy entry.
Amanto

He was running on the Flat in Germany before we got him and he ran for us at Newbury last month, when he was just beaten a neck under Megan [Nicholls, daughter]. I think the trainer wanted shooting that day because I might have given Megan the wrong instructions and we were in front too soon. The more he strengthens up, the more he’ll improve. He’ll be a 2m 4f hurdler and he’ll want some time.
Dormello Mo

Made his hurdles debut for us at Exeter in February and wasn’t the best jumper you’ve ever seen. So we did plenty of work on his jumping and then he absolutely hosed in the next month at Sandown. He was over the top when he ran the next time at Newbury. I suspect he’ll be ready to run at Chepstow on 11 October in the four-year-old handicap hurdle.
As De Mee

A gorgeous, big horse who jumps nicely. He’ll be running in National Hunt novice hurdles and is definitely capable of winning some races. He’ll make a lovely chaser one day. He was only fourth in a Kempton bumper when he made his British debut in February but he’s benefited hugely for a summer break.
Howlongisafoot

When he won his point in Ireland last year, one of the horses he beat was Shaneshill, who went on to win the Grade One bumper at Punchestown in April. He took a while to acclimatise last season but he came good in the spring and won at Newton Abbot when he last ran. He can still run in novice hurdles until November, so I suspect he’ll have one more run in those and then go chasing. He’s strengthened up.
Katgary

We fancied him for the Fred Winter but unfortunately the horse that fell and injured Bryan Cooper probably cost him the race, falling right in front of him. So he was unlucky but he’s still got a decent handicap mark. He was possibly a little over the top when he ran in April. He could start in a four-year-old race at Chepstow or Cheltenham. He’s got a future and he’ll make a nice chaser one day.
Anatol

A big, chasing four-year-old. He won twice over hurdles in France, most recently at Toulouse in March, when Geluroni was 16 lengths back in third. That one has won four at Auteuil since then, including a Listed and a Grade Three. I haven’t decided yet whether he’ll go hurdling or chasing. He’s got quite a nice mark and he’s got chaser written all over him.
All Yours

This is a half-brother to Lac Fontana. He’s had one run on the Flat in France, when he was fourth at Chantilly in April. He’s been gelded since he joined us, has just started schooling and should be ready to run in some nice juvenile hurdles from November. If he’s half as good as Lac Fontana, we’ll be happy.
All Set To Go

Had some smart form on the Flat in Ireland. We bought him, gelded him, he’s had a nice summer here and we’re really pleased with him. We just need plenty of rain so we can get him schooling on grass.
. I’m hoping we can help him to finish off his races a bit better and he should be one to follow in two-mile novice chases.
 
Silviniaco Conti

He’s the highest-rated chaser in training, having won the King George and the Betfred Bowl at Aintree, though the Gold Cup was a bit disappointing, when he led over the last but got overhauled on the run-in. He needed the run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last autumn, so we’re going to give him a run first in the Charlie Hall this time, a race that he won two years ago.

After the King George, he’ll have a break before the Gold Cup. I still don’t think I had him at his best last year. Even though he won at Aintree, he didn’t finish off his race, to my eyes. If we can just improve him a few pounds this time, maybe he can win the Gold Cup.
Rebel Rebellion

Won the Grand Sefton for us in December and that will be the aim again this season. He’ll then go back to Aintree for the Topham in April, although he might possibly have a Grand National entry as well. He’s a good, tough horse.
Dodging Bullets

We always thought of him as a chaser and he won his first three starts over fences, including the Wayward Lad at Kempton’s Christmas meeting. He’s tough and genuine but his form can tail off a bit in the spring. We might start him off in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter or the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham’s Paddy Power meeting.
Sire Collonges

Found his niche last season when he won a handicap over Cheltenham’s cross-country course in December, having run well in a conditions race there the month before. He might turn out in a three-mile chase at the first Cheltenham meeting in October and go back there for the cross-country race at the November meeting. Then we’ll take a view whether to go back again in December or to go to Aintree that month. We’ll train him for the Grand National in the spring.
Caid Du Berlais

Had a go at the Galway Plate in the summer but didn’t quite see out the trip and will now drop back to 2m 4f. His last season was filled with solid form, starting with a second to Jezki in Down Royal, and he ran two cracking races in handicap hurdles at Cheltenham and Aintree in the spring. He’ll probably go back over fences and there’s a graduation chase for him at Kempton on the first Monday in November.
Arpege D’Alene

Comes from a real good chasing family [he’s a Dom Alco half-brother to Triolo D’Alene]. He ran third in a bumper on his only start in France and the form of that race looks good. He wants a trip over hurdles and he’ll be out some time in November.
Virak

He’s a good, consistent horse who got better and better all season, winning two handicap hurdles at Taunton and running another solid race at the Cheltenham Festival. He jumps very nicely, should make a good novice chaser and will be running in early November.
Valco De Touzaine

Won twice in novice chases in November and was very consistent but his handicap mark was high enough and he struggled a bit when the ground was soft. He’s only five and entitled to improve as he matures physically. He should be a good two-mile chaser and he’ll probably run at Cheltenham in November.
Ptit Zig

This horse was a sensation for us last season. He started by winning a Grade One at Auteuil in November and then he went to Ascot for the Ladbroke Hurdle and was a really game second to Willow’s Saviour, giving him 21lb. Then he was second to Melodic Rendezvous, sixth in the Champion Hurdle and fourth in a Grade One at Aintree, so he’s run some really solid races. We’ll run him in a beginner’s chase somewhere when we can find him some decent ground. He’s got chaser written all over him.
Black Thunder

This is a horse we really like. He won three times over fences at the start of last season. He’ll have an entry in the Hennessy but we really like going to Down Royal early in the season and he’ll probably run in the three-mile Grade One there. He goes really well fresh.
Lac Fontana

One of the great success stories of last season, he won four times, including the County Hurdle and a Grade One at Aintree. I’ve got a bit of dilemma just now about whether to go chasing with him. He has the size and scope to make into a smart chaser in time but I think there’s a bit more to come over hurdles from him, so we’ll start in the 2m 4f race at Ascot in November and then make a plan.
Celestial Halo

Won the Prix La Barka at Auteuil in May and also won Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle after his summer break. He wasn’t the easiest to train after that but he looks as well as he ever does now and, touch wood, all his problems have gone away. If he keeps sound, he’s capable of competing in the top stayers’ hurdles. He’s been an absolute legend for us and whatever happens, we’ll look after him.
Polisky

He’s really consistent at his level and I can’t believe we haven’t won a novice chase with him. A summer out should have served him well. He’s done plenty of work and may run at the end of this month before going to Ascot in November.
The Eaglehaslanded

A half-brother to Pepe Simo, he was an impressive point to point winner at Stafford Cross despite greenness. We’ll find a nice bumper for him some time in November.
Marracudja

Had his first run at Auteuil in April and was second. The third, Bonito Du Berlais, has won twice since and is probably the best juvenile hurdler in France. Marracudja then ran moderately a couple of times but we’ve sorted out a few issues with him and he looks really nice now. He’ll probably go to one of the better meetings in November.
Wilton Milan

Should have won on his chasing debut at Chepstow in December but he made a mistake and all but fell. He lost his confidence after that but we got him jumping good by the end of the season. He’s capable of winning a novice handicap chase from his present mark and he’ll be ready to run by the end of the month.
Buck’s Bond

Won a decent chase at Wincanton in December. He’s big and strong and he stays well but he doesn’t want the ground too soft. There’s a race for him on the last Sunday in October at Wincanton. He’s capable of winning a good handicap chase over a trip from his current mark.
Southfield Vic

A half-brother to Southfield Theatre, he ran some good races in bumpers last season and made a very encouraging start over hurdles at Wincanton in March. He was quite big and backward and we minded him after that to save his novice status for this season. He jumps nicely.
There’s No Panic

Won what they call the London National at Sandown in December but was never travelling in the Kim Muir at the Festival and unseated at Fontwell in May. He stays well but he’s probably handicapped to the hilt now. He might start at Chepstow or Cheltenham in October. He’s a good, fun horse who always pays his way.
Mcllhatton

He won a novice hurdle at Huntingdon on the first day of last season but then picked up an injury at Newton Abbot and we didn’t have him quite right until the new year. Since then, he’s been first or second in all five starts and he’s been first past the post in both chases [though he was disqualified for interference at Stratford]. After he won at Newton Abbot in June, we decided not to risk him again on summer ground and he might run at the first Cheltenham meeting in October. He loves good ground.
Rainy City

Is not the sort to reveal his potential in bumpers but we gave him a couple of runs for experience in the spring. He travelled really well in his second race at Newbury. He’s done well in the summer, he looks a different horse now and he might have one more bumper run before going over hurdles.
Vibrato Valtat

Won novice hurdles at Exeter and Ayr and was third in the Imperial Cup and the Swinton, though he went up 7lb for that last run. He always looks a bit disappointing. He travels but finds nothing off the bridle
 
Nicholls confirms Irving will run in the Christmas Hurdle. Saphir Du Rheu in the Feltham, Vibrato Valtat in the Wayward Lad. #KingGeorge

Nicholls adds Noel Fehily takes the ride on Silviniaco Conti and Sam Twiston-Davies will partner Al Ferof
 
Still looking over his shoulder ?


A ripple of fear went through those who had organised the event when Paul Nicholls appeared to offer quite a serious warning over Silviniaco Conti's participation in the feature race. "He's still in the Lexus and if you had a dry three weeks and the ground was good or faster, you'd be seriously concerned about it," was his assessment. But no sooner had the warning been issued and reporters were grabbing for their sponsors' biros to scribble something down, Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford rode to the rescue. "I can't imagine it is possibly going to be any drier than good to soft," he said, minutes later. "It's good to soft, soft in places and there's 5-10mm of rain forecast this week that will put this into the realm of proper soft ground." Panic over.
2) Nicholls' number one

The incredibly talented Sam Twiston-Davies has proved an instant hit at Ditcheat as the new stable jockey this season, but as Daryl Jacob found out last term, it isn't a job without its peaks and troughs and Nicholls appeared to be harking back to a previous arrangement when asked who would partner Al Ferof in the King George. "Sam's going to ride him," he said. "I supppose if Ruby was free you'd have to ask Ruby if he wanted to ride Al Ferof... but he'll be riding another grey in the race so that won't be happening. Sam's obviously going to ride him, he's schooled him, he knows him, it won't be a problem at all." A vote of confidence then. Sort of.
 
Black Thunder added to Donn McCleans list


Black Thunder

Black Thunder put up a really accomplished performance to win the three-mile intermediate chase at Sandown on Friday.

Settled third of the four runners in the very early stages of the race, Paul Nicholls’ horse’s jumping was so good that it took him up alongside early leader Corrin Wood before they got to the end of the back straight first time. From there, he travelled well, and his jumping was really accurate, with the exception of a slight error at the first of the Railway Fences final time. That allowed Corrin Wood steal a little bit of a march as they started around the home turn, but Black Thunder quickly had him covered and, as Corrin Wood tired from the third last fence – he was actually caught for second place by Rocky Bender – Black Thunder just got stronger from the home turn before he idled on the run-in. It was a good, no-fuss performance.

This is often a good race, it has been won by Lacdoudal and Star De Mohaison in recent times, and Black Thunder should be able to progress from this. He was a progressive novice chaser last season. He ran in the RSA Chase, in which he fell when still travelling well, but it may be that the National Hunt Chase over four miles would have been a better option for him. He is all stamina, and he should progress for a greater test than Saturday’s. He is still in the Welsh National, and he would be interesting if he took his chance in that. He won a novices’ hurdle at Chepstow on one of just two visits there. However, the Argento Chase at Cheltenham in January has emerged as an option, and he would be of interest in that if the ground happened to come up soft, as it often does at Cheltenham’s January meeting.
 
Before Betfair Ambassador Paul Nicholls jetted off for sunnier climes on his well-deserved holiday, he spoke exclusively about how the season has gone so far and what the early plans are for some of his stable stars...


January is traditionally a very quiet month for us - the horses have their flu vaccines, the ground tends to be at its worst, and this is the time of year when trainers give their Cheltenham and Aintree horses a mid-season break - and this weekend underlines that.

Indeed, Hawkes Point at Warwick is our only runner, and I can't ever recall sending out just the one weekend runner before, in the heart of the season at least.

So it is a good time to reflect on the 2014-15 campaign so far - and I have been very pleasantly surprised by how well it has gone.

I said back in October that I was up against it in trying to retain the trainers' title in such a transitional year for Ditcheat.

So for us to have already won over £1.5m in prize money - and that is without factoring in Zarkandar's Grade 1 win in France and the fact that three of our four runners in good races in Ireland were placed - is great news for Team Ditcheat.

But bigger challenges lie ahead, so there is no hint of complacency here.

The star of the season so far has obviously been Betfair Chase and King George winner Silviniaco Conti and he will now, almost certainly, go straight to the Gold Cup, where he will hopefully banish memories of his head-scratching run in the race last season.

He was superb at Kempton, the cheekpieces have really made a difference, and he is now just beginning to get the credit his performances deserve.

But behind him there has been an impressive support team, with Dodging Bullets taking a Tingle Creek, Caid Du Berlais winning a Paddy Power, Irving a Fighting Fifth and a 100th Grade 1 success for Ditcheat before pus in a foot saw him disappoint at Kempton, Unioniste putting himself in the Grand National picture when winning at Sandown last week - or maybe ruling himself out of it after going up 11lb! - Sam Winner confirming himself a live Gold Cup outsider with his Lexus run, and King George third Al Ferof giving us a nice headache as to what Cheltenham race to go for.

And while Zarkandar just lost out at Ascot last time, he had earlier won a very valuable Grade 1 in France and it is all systems go to the World Hurdle with him.

And that is without mentioning Wonderful Charm, Rocky Creek, Bury Parade, Rolling Aces and Black Thunder, who are all chasers rated in the 150s and very smart on their day.

I was particularly chuffed with the recent win of Mon Parrain, who is probably one of our better adverts for first-time headgear - along with Conti - after his Cheltenham wins in cheekpieces, and then blinkers.

But what pleases me more than anything are the youngsters - the future - that are coming through, and of course the two reformed characters in Mr Mole and Vibrato Valtat!

I joke when I say reformed characters. I know many have labelled them as ungenuine in the past, and they are not straightforward, but I think people are too quick to dismiss these types of horses.

As with Tidal Bay, there is very often a physical reason why horses don't seem to be putting it all in and I like to think that we have found the key to Mr Mole - one of our four horses entered in the Champion Chase at the recent entry stage along with Al Ferof, Hinterland and Dodging Bullets - and Vibrato.

And, touch wood, we look to have a very strong hand in the novice chase department.

Henry VIII winner Vibrato Valtat could have been unbeaten over fences and goes to Warwick next, Irish Saint looked very impressive when stepped up in trip at Ascot, and the likes of Solar Impulse, Virak and Southfield Theatre have shown a pretty high level of form, too.

Arguably the star of the novice chasers so far has been Ptit Zig, and we will sit down and make a plan for him in the coming weeks. The JLT is obviously on the cards but I can see him staying 3m, too.

And don't forget the likes of Far West, Ceasar Milan and Saphir Du Rheu, and plenty more that I have probably forgotten to mention.

Some people have mentioned that the latter may be better off going back over hurdles after his two mishaps over fences, but I reckon that he is a Gold Cup horse of the future, so it is up to me to get his jumping sorted out and him in the top novice races come the end of the season. He looked pretty good when getting it right at Exeter, after all.

But I will add that we are giving some consideration to running him in the Cleeve, though it is no more than that at this stage.

We may be lighter than usual in the novice hurdle and juvenile division so far but we still have some cards to play there - and remember Zarkandar didn't make his debut for us until the end of February before winning the Triumph three weeks later - and I think we have some decent prospects in the shape of the mares Tara Point and Lifeboat Mona, as well as San Benedeto, Arpege D'Alene, Emerging Talent, Ibis Du Rheu and Aux Ptits Soins to name just seven!

And I'm looking forward to seeing Calipto in the Betfair Hurdle, too.

So while there have been some disappointments and near-misses along the way - Benvolio just getting touched off in the Welsh National, a year after Hawkes Point, was hard to take! - I'd give our mid-season report a "B - can do better".

You always can.

Remember, so far we have only had the mock exams, and the proper tests await in March and April.

And that is what January is about. Building, planning, assessing and preparing for the big days down the line.
 
Paul Nicholls is a brillant trainer of chasers :confused


is this right ? According to Mayo

At the festival

2010-2013 Nicholls 0/63 in chases.

2014 - 0/14 in chases - didnt even have one placed last year
 
Hoof said:
Paul Nicholls is a brillant trainer of chasers :confused


is this right ? According to Mayo

At the festival

2010-2013 Nicholls 0/63 in chases.

2014 - 0/14 in chases - didnt even have one placed last year
Click to expand...

Worryingly this is true

Cheltenham Festival Winners
2014
Lac Fontana (Fr) – Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurlde – £45,560 (D Jacob)
2013
Salubrious (Ire) – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle – £31,280 (Harry Derham (3))
2012
Big Buck’s (Fr) – World Hurdle – £148,070 (R Walsh)
Rock On Ruby (Ire) – Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy – £210,715 (N Fehily)
2011
Zarkandar (Ire) – Triumph Hurdle – £57,010 (D Jacob)
Big Buck’s (Fr) – World Hurdle – £148,226 (R Walsh)
Al Ferof (Fr) – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – £57,010 (R Walsh)
2010
Sanctuaire (Fr) – Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle – £42,757 (R Walsh)
Big Buck’s (Fr) – World Hurdle – £148,226 (R Walsh)
2009
Kauto Star (Fr) – Cheltenham Gold Cup – £270,797 (R Walsh)
Big Buck’s (Fr) – World Hurdle – £148,226 (R Walsh)
Master Minded (Fr) – Queen Mother Champion Chase – £182,432 (R Walsh)
Chapoturgeon (Fr) – Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase – £51,309 (T Murphy)
American Trilogy (Ire) – Vincent O’Brien County Handicap – £45,608 (R Walsh)
2008
Denman (Ire) – Cheltenham Gold Cup – £268,279 (S Thomas)
Celestial Halo (Ire) – Triumph Hurdle – £68,424 (R Walsh)
Master Minded (Fr) – Queen Mother Champion Chase, Cheltenham – £176,762 (R Walsh)
2007
Kauto Star (Fr) – Cheltenham Gold Cup – £242,335 (R Walsh)
Denman (Ire) – RSA Chase – £96,934 (R Walsh)
Taranis (Fr) – Ryanair Chase – £99,785 (R Walsh)
Andreas (Fr) – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase – £48,467 (R Thornton)
2006
Star De Mohaison (Fr) – RSA Chase – £79,828 (B Geraghty)
Noland – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – £57,020 (R Walsh)
Desert Quest (Ire) – Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle – £37,063 (R Walsh)
2005
Thisthatandtother (Ire) – Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy Chase – £87,000 (R Walsh)
Sleeping Night (Fr) – Christie’s Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup – £23,200 (Mr C J Sweeney)
2004
Azertyuiop (Fr) – Queen Mother Champion Chase – £145,000 (R Walsh)
Earthmover (Ire) – Christie’s Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup – £23,200 (Miss A Goschen)
St Pirran (Fr) – Grand Annual Chase – £43,400 (R Walsh)
Sporazene (Ire) – Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle - £37,700 (R Walsh)
2003
Azertyuiop – Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase – £81,200 (R Walsh)
1999
See More Business (Ire) – Cheltenham Gold Cup – £149,600 (M Fitzgerald)
Call Equiname – Queen Mother Champion Chase – £97,600 (M Fitzgerald)
Flagship Uberalles – Arkle Challenge Novice Chase – £57,300 (J Tizzard)
 
Nicholls, likely to aim Ptit Zig at the JLT Novices' Chase at the festival rather than the Arkle, said: "The plan with Vibrato Valtat is to go to Warwick for the Kingmaker a week on Saturday and then go to the Arkle. He will probably be the only runner I will have in the race. Ptit Zig is in everything but it's highly likely he will run in the two and a half. Solar Impulse won't run."
 
But back to Cheltenham and our hurdlers.

Obviously, the hurdlers have provided us with our recent Festival successes.

Irving was a disappointment in the Supreme last season, after which he came back coughing, but Lac Fontana won the County. And Southfield Theatre was an agonising near-miss in the Pertemps, not to mention unlucky runs from Katgary in the Fred Winter and Calipto in the Triumph. The latter in good form ahead of the Betfair Hurdle next week, by the way.

Irving remains on course for the Champion Hurdle after his setback over Christmas, and goes to Wincanton for the Axminster before then. But it would probably have to be some performance from Calipto at Newbury off a mark of 143 for him to join him there, and that horse is more likely to run in a handicap at Cheltenham after Newbury.

We don't have too many big guns to fire in the big novice hurdles this season and, to be honest, this is the weakest bunch of juveniles I have had for years.

I had seen my Wincanton winner Urubu D'Irlande mentioned as a possible for the Supreme in some places but unfortunately he is out for the season. I have four in the race, and we have to decide where to go with Vago Collonges.

He travelled so well before finding less than appeared likely over an extended 2m4f110yd at Cheltenham on Saturday that stepping down in trip in a fast-run race is a definite option. Hopefully, we will find out if that suits in the Dovecote at Kempton next month, but I do think that better ground will be a massive help to him wherever he goes.

Tara Point is a possible for the Mares Hurdle - she is also in the Neptune - but we will see.

On the Wednesday, we have three that we could aim at the Neptune, but I won't be running anything in the bumper.

We have a few possibles for the Coral Cup and the Fred Winter, but obviously we won't be making any firms there before we see the weights.

Similar comments apply to the Pertemps on Thursday - and the County and the boys' race on Friday - but we obviously have two good chances in the World Hurdle with Saphir Du Rheu and Zarkandar.

I think that I was misquoted slightly earlier this week when I said that Zarkandar was 'my number one' hope going into the race.

What I meant to get across was that Zarkandar has been my long-term number one for the race but now we have Saphir Du Rheu firmly alongside him after Saturday.

But promising as Saphir Du Rheu was in winning the Cleeve Hurdle - and I can make him better with a certain target to aim at now - beating Reve De Sivola a neck getting 4lb is inferior form to Zarkandar's.

Zarkandar is a proven Grade 1 horse who is capable on any ground. Go and watch his five-length defeat of France's top staying hurdler Gemix off levels at Auteuil in November if you want to see a proper staying performance.

But I can get Saphir Du Rheu better than he was in the Cleeve, so I have two pretty decent weapons to fire there.

I have a few possibles for the Triumph Hurdle - I have entered seven, including my Newbury winner Old Guard, who runs at Sandown tomorrow and who could be interesting on better ground but is more likely a Fred Winter horse - but plans there will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Like I said earlier, the juveniles that I have run so far have been pretty disappointing on the whole.

But it's not too late for any horse, from any stable, to throw their hat into the ring; remember, Zarkandar made his debut for us in the Adonis at Kempton just three weeks before winning the Triumph. One for punters to bear in mind, perhaps.
 
ouch wood, we have a strong hand of novice chasers for the Cheltenham Festival and, with the latest entries being published today, I thought that I would let you know my current thoughts.

As ever though, nothing is set in stone. Well, how can they be when you don't even know what the ground will be in six weeks time, for starters?

I have entered Ptit Zig, Solar Impulse and Vibrato Valtat in the Arkle.

Ptit Zig probably goes to the Pendil at Kempton next, and we are definitely leaning towards the JLT with him at the moment, in which he must have a big chance.

But it made sense to enter him in the Arkle and RSA too. I think he will get 3m ok - stamina won him the day over 2m5f at Cheltenham last time - but he clearly doesn't lack pace, as he showed when a good sixth on ground too fast for him in the Champion Hurdle last season. If it came up testing this year, I want to have the 2m option.

Solar Impulse probably didn't get the credit he deserved when trying to give Josses Hill 2lb at Doncaster last time and he returns to that track for the Lightning on Saturday. He will also be entered in the Grand Annual.

Vibrato Valtat should have silenced all of his doubters by now, and he goes to the Kingmaker at Warwick next. He will run in the Arkle, all being well.

Saphir Du Rheu remains in the JLT and RSA, but obviously goes to the Cleeve Hurdle on Saturday and that will tell us what route we go with him.

Irish Saint is also in both of those races, and he looked very good when stepped up in trip at Ascot last time. He may go to the Scilly Isles at Sandown a week on Saturday.

Southfield Theatre is in both the RSA and the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase, and he will have a handicap entry, too. He could go to Newbury next month. I also have Vivaldi Collonges in the four- miler.

I also have some very smart novices that I have decided to aim at the handicaps, if they are going to Cheltenham at all - the likes of Far West, Keltus and Caesar Milan - but plans are obviously still up in the air for them.
 
Thanks for the update OV. The second bit was before the weekend obviously. Hope ST goes to RSA rather than Holywell route.
 
Old Vic said:
We don't have too many big guns to fire in the big novice hurdles this season and, to be honest, this is the weakest bunch of juveniles I have had for years.

Similar comments apply to the Pertemps on Thursday - and the County and the boys' race on Friday - but we obviously have two good chances in the World Hurdle with Saphir Du Rheu and Zarkandar.

I think that I was misquoted slightly earlier this week when I said that Zarkandar was 'my number one' hope going into the race.

What I meant to get across was that Zarkandar has been my long-term number one for the race but now we have Saphir Du Rheu firmly alongside him after Saturday.

But promising as Saphir Du Rheu was in winning the Cleeve Hurdle - and I can make him better with a certain target to aim at now - beating Reve De Sivola a neck getting 4lb is inferior form to Zarkandar's.

Zarkandar is a proven Grade 1 horse who is capable on any ground. Go and watch his five-length defeat of France's top staying hurdler Gemix off levels at Auteuil in November if you want to see a proper staying performance.

But I can get Saphir Du Rheu better than he was in the Cleeve, so I have two pretty decent weapons to fire there.

I have a few possibles for the Triumph Hurdle - I have entered seven, including my Newbury winner Old Guard, who runs at Sandown tomorrow and who could be interesting on better ground but is more likely a Fred Winter horse - but plans there will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Like I said earlier, the juveniles that I have run so far have been pretty disappointing on the whole.

But it's not too late for any horse, from any stable, to throw their hat into the ring; remember, Zarkandar made his debut for us in the Adonis at Kempton just three weeks before winning the Triumph. One for punters to bear in mind, perhaps.
Click to expand...

Thinly veiled Andy Stewart gave me a bollocking about Zakandar and I have one for the Fred Winter :)
 
Paul Nicholls Top 25 Chasers by Official Rating

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Laughable comments from the Cheltenham Preview at Ascot.

Thinks his horses should be favourite for Champion Chase Gold Cup and World Hurdle......

And main danger in all three races is his other horse in said races.:D:rolleyes:

Five years since he won any class of chase there.
 
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