Think Al Ferof could be a player in Paddy Power. Needs at least 2.5 now. Wonder if he is thinking of not running Poquelin?
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Paul Nicholls Stable Tour
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Old Vic
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Big Bucks
Big Buck’s looks likely to make his seasonal bow at Newbury rather than Haydock after undergoing a live racecourse gallop at Exeter today.
Andy Stewart’s nine-year-old, who is unbeaten in 17 hurdles races since January 2009, worked with Cedre Bleu half an hour before the opening race at the Devon track, broadcast live on Racing UK.
Paul Nicholls has been mulling over whether to change the programme of his stable star from the Long Distance hurdle at Newbury, which Big Buck’s has won for the past three seasons, or to chase an increased purse at Haydock in the Betfair Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle.
The Long Distance Hurdle takes place on December 1 during Newbury’s three-day winter festival, while the Fixed Brush is staged a week earlier.
“I’m meeting Andy at Cheltenham on Friday to make a plan and it might be that the extra week will do him good,” Nicholls told Racing UK. “We’ll see what happens with him over the next few days.”
Big Buck’s would carry 11st 12lbs if he were to go to Haydock after the weights for the Grade 3 contest were released today. Lovcen, the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle winner, is the next horse in the weights at 10st 2lbs.
“It is a very valuable race and the brush hurdles will not hurt him. It is an obvious race to have an entry in,” Nicholls added.
Big Buck’s worked alongside Cedre Bleu over around two miles.
Ruby Walsh was on the reigning Ladbrokes World Hurdle champion, while Daryl Jacob was in the saddle aboard Cedre Bleu.
“It was a nice day out, and would have done him the world of good. It is what we did last year. It will help him lose a few kilos and tighten him up,” Nicholls said.
“ It is an ongoing challenge with older horses like him to keep them going and keep them winning. Watching him go around there I would say he is as good as ever. When he was younger he used to get worried but he is a lot more chilled now.”
Big Buck’s looks likely to make his seasonal bow at Newbury rather than Haydock after undergoing a live racecourse gallop at Exeter today.
Andy Stewart’s nine-year-old, who is unbeaten in 17 hurdles races since January 2009, worked with Cedre Bleu half an hour before the opening race at the Devon track, broadcast live on Racing UK.
Paul Nicholls has been mulling over whether to change the programme of his stable star from the Long Distance hurdle at Newbury, which Big Buck’s has won for the past three seasons, or to chase an increased purse at Haydock in the Betfair Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle.
The Long Distance Hurdle takes place on December 1 during Newbury’s three-day winter festival, while the Fixed Brush is staged a week earlier.
“I’m meeting Andy at Cheltenham on Friday to make a plan and it might be that the extra week will do him good,” Nicholls told Racing UK. “We’ll see what happens with him over the next few days.”
Big Buck’s would carry 11st 12lbs if he were to go to Haydock after the weights for the Grade 3 contest were released today. Lovcen, the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle winner, is the next horse in the weights at 10st 2lbs.
“It is a very valuable race and the brush hurdles will not hurt him. It is an obvious race to have an entry in,” Nicholls added.
Big Buck’s worked alongside Cedre Bleu over around two miles.
Ruby Walsh was on the reigning Ladbrokes World Hurdle champion, while Daryl Jacob was in the saddle aboard Cedre Bleu.
“It was a nice day out, and would have done him the world of good. It is what we did last year. It will help him lose a few kilos and tighten him up,” Nicholls said.
“ It is an ongoing challenge with older horses like him to keep them going and keep them winning. Watching him go around there I would say he is as good as ever. When he was younger he used to get worried but he is a lot more chilled now.”
Betfair Ambassador Paul Nicholls has a strong hand on day two of Cheltenham's Open Meeting; read the Ditcheat trainer's exclusive thoughts here...
12:45 Cheltenham - Far West
You don't need me to tell you that this looks a hot race but he looks to be one of our better early-season juveniles, so I have to be hopeful. We liked what we saw of him at home before his debut. But you never really know what to expect with these French acquisitions until you get them on the track, so I was very impressed, and perhaps a little surprised, by the manner of his 12 length win. And the fact that the runner-up came out and beat a fair sort of mine next time up is obviously very encouraging as well. He looks to have come on a lot, in all respects, in the last month since that opening effort and I think it will take a good one to beat him here.
13:20 Cheltenham - Sire Collonges
I think I heard RUK's Jonathan Neesom say that Sire Collonges was the early one to beat in the Sun Alliance after winning at Cheltenham last time. And while I did turn around and say to the Tincknells that they had a "Saturday horse" on their hands after that victory, we must remember that was only in October and there is a long way to go before any talk of the Festival really enters my head. But we have every reason to believe that we have a very smart staying novice after that win, as that was a decent level of form and he has all the attributes you look for in a Sun Alliance horse. Not only does he stay and find, but he also travels and has speed, too. Anyway, let's hope that he can confirm the form with the 2-length runner-up Sea Of Thunder on 3lb worse terms for starters, and then we can start worrying about the rest of the opposition. But this horse looks to have put his problems behind him and is undoubtedly exciting. Has come on a lot for the Cheltenham run, too.
13:55 Cheltenham - Harry The Viking
Forget his run in the Scottish National, he was clearly feeling the effects of his excellent Cheltenham run. And on his second to Teaforthree in the National Hunt Chase then he is a reasonably handicapped horse off 142. You have to think that he could be a National horse this year as an improving 7yo, and he comes here in good form at home, is a horse that goes well when fresh, and one suited by conditions. If he ran well here then he could be a possible for the Hennessy - and I am very hopeful of a big run here.
14:35 Cheltenham - Poquelin
Runner-up in this race in 2009 and was a top class chaser at his best. Clearly isn't at that level any more but I was delighted with his reappearance effort at Ascot, where he didn't stay the 3m but certainly showed a lot of the old ability was still there. Has been dropped 3lb since then - the same mark off which he won a valuable handicap here in December 2010 - and this is his track and his trip. I see he is a big-priced outsider for this, and that is understandable, but I reckon he could outrun those odds and have place chances. But it is clearly a big ask as a 9yo against unexposed and potentially well handicapped horses such as Grands Crus. Wouldn't want too much rain either.
Al Ferof
His form rather fell apart towards the end of last season, but a mistake put paid to his chance in the Arkle and he just didn't fire at Aintree. He is best when fresh, though, and I think he can be competitive off a mark of 159 here, having schooled really well of late and satisfied me in a racecourse gallop last Sunday. Winner of the Supreme last year, he took really well to fences in the first half of last season and the form of his neck defeat of For Non Stop in the Henry VIII looks pretty smart form now. But it is probably his five length third to Somersby and Finian's Rainbow at Ascot in January that makes him of interest here on the formbook.
Hopefully, as a 6yo, he will have progressed too for a summer's break and track, trip and ground won't be any issue. Has to be running well here off this mark if he is as good as we think he is. And his work on Thursday morning was the best that I have seen him do here. But, being honest, in an ideal world I would have preferred this race to be in two or three weeks time. He had a setback in the summer which meant he only started cantering in September - the others started in mid-July - but hopefully he can overcome that.
Aerial
Did well after finishing fourth in this race last year, but that means that he takes in this race off an 11lb higher mark this time around and it is not hard to see that there are more unexposed and better handicapped rivals in here. But he clearly is a very smart horse on his day, has blossomed in the last fortnight, and these are the races for him.
15:05 Cheltenham - Themilanhorse
Improved throughout last season, winning four times, but running his best race when second at Aintree in May, where he probably found the 2m4f too sharp. The step back up in trip should be in his favour here and I think he has a workable handicap on 140. If he runs well - and he is certainly straight enough - then we could keep him hurdling. But chasing this season is pretty much the plan unless he excels over hurdles. Wouldn't want too much rain, but is ready to run for his life.
15:40 Cheltenham - Roger Beantown
I don't think that he is the best handicapped horse in here off 125 on what he has shown, but I think there is improvement in this horse. It could be that he will show that progression over fences, but we take our chances here first. He had no chance against The New One on his reappearance but ran well all the same, and then he only just failed to get up at Chepstow last week, where he probably should have won. That run told me that this race could just bring out the best in him. He is a fragile horse though, so hopefully the quick turnaround won't be an issue.
12:45 Cheltenham - Far West
You don't need me to tell you that this looks a hot race but he looks to be one of our better early-season juveniles, so I have to be hopeful. We liked what we saw of him at home before his debut. But you never really know what to expect with these French acquisitions until you get them on the track, so I was very impressed, and perhaps a little surprised, by the manner of his 12 length win. And the fact that the runner-up came out and beat a fair sort of mine next time up is obviously very encouraging as well. He looks to have come on a lot, in all respects, in the last month since that opening effort and I think it will take a good one to beat him here.
13:20 Cheltenham - Sire Collonges
I think I heard RUK's Jonathan Neesom say that Sire Collonges was the early one to beat in the Sun Alliance after winning at Cheltenham last time. And while I did turn around and say to the Tincknells that they had a "Saturday horse" on their hands after that victory, we must remember that was only in October and there is a long way to go before any talk of the Festival really enters my head. But we have every reason to believe that we have a very smart staying novice after that win, as that was a decent level of form and he has all the attributes you look for in a Sun Alliance horse. Not only does he stay and find, but he also travels and has speed, too. Anyway, let's hope that he can confirm the form with the 2-length runner-up Sea Of Thunder on 3lb worse terms for starters, and then we can start worrying about the rest of the opposition. But this horse looks to have put his problems behind him and is undoubtedly exciting. Has come on a lot for the Cheltenham run, too.
13:55 Cheltenham - Harry The Viking
Forget his run in the Scottish National, he was clearly feeling the effects of his excellent Cheltenham run. And on his second to Teaforthree in the National Hunt Chase then he is a reasonably handicapped horse off 142. You have to think that he could be a National horse this year as an improving 7yo, and he comes here in good form at home, is a horse that goes well when fresh, and one suited by conditions. If he ran well here then he could be a possible for the Hennessy - and I am very hopeful of a big run here.
14:35 Cheltenham - Poquelin
Runner-up in this race in 2009 and was a top class chaser at his best. Clearly isn't at that level any more but I was delighted with his reappearance effort at Ascot, where he didn't stay the 3m but certainly showed a lot of the old ability was still there. Has been dropped 3lb since then - the same mark off which he won a valuable handicap here in December 2010 - and this is his track and his trip. I see he is a big-priced outsider for this, and that is understandable, but I reckon he could outrun those odds and have place chances. But it is clearly a big ask as a 9yo against unexposed and potentially well handicapped horses such as Grands Crus. Wouldn't want too much rain either.
Al Ferof
His form rather fell apart towards the end of last season, but a mistake put paid to his chance in the Arkle and he just didn't fire at Aintree. He is best when fresh, though, and I think he can be competitive off a mark of 159 here, having schooled really well of late and satisfied me in a racecourse gallop last Sunday. Winner of the Supreme last year, he took really well to fences in the first half of last season and the form of his neck defeat of For Non Stop in the Henry VIII looks pretty smart form now. But it is probably his five length third to Somersby and Finian's Rainbow at Ascot in January that makes him of interest here on the formbook.
Hopefully, as a 6yo, he will have progressed too for a summer's break and track, trip and ground won't be any issue. Has to be running well here off this mark if he is as good as we think he is. And his work on Thursday morning was the best that I have seen him do here. But, being honest, in an ideal world I would have preferred this race to be in two or three weeks time. He had a setback in the summer which meant he only started cantering in September - the others started in mid-July - but hopefully he can overcome that.
Aerial
Did well after finishing fourth in this race last year, but that means that he takes in this race off an 11lb higher mark this time around and it is not hard to see that there are more unexposed and better handicapped rivals in here. But he clearly is a very smart horse on his day, has blossomed in the last fortnight, and these are the races for him.
15:05 Cheltenham - Themilanhorse
Improved throughout last season, winning four times, but running his best race when second at Aintree in May, where he probably found the 2m4f too sharp. The step back up in trip should be in his favour here and I think he has a workable handicap on 140. If he runs well - and he is certainly straight enough - then we could keep him hurdling. But chasing this season is pretty much the plan unless he excels over hurdles. Wouldn't want too much rain, but is ready to run for his life.
15:40 Cheltenham - Roger Beantown
I don't think that he is the best handicapped horse in here off 125 on what he has shown, but I think there is improvement in this horse. It could be that he will show that progression over fences, but we take our chances here first. He had no chance against The New One on his reappearance but ran well all the same, and then he only just failed to get up at Chepstow last week, where he probably should have won. That run told me that this race could just bring out the best in him. He is a fragile horse though, so hopefully the quick turnaround won't be an issue.
13:10 Cheltenham - Rebel Rebellion
Clearly, he is up against it here against the likes of Sire De Grugy and Captain Conan, especially as he has to give them 4lb. But we have always had a high opinion of him. A tendon injury curtailed last season and I thought he would need the run at Exeter on his reappearance, so he delighted me in winning there. Don't get me wrong, the form of that win doesn't measure up against most of these - and the Exeter runner-up Bold Henry was well beaten on Wednesday - and he has to improve best part of a stone to even get competitive. But we like him, so let's see where we stand.
13:45 Cheltenham - Ruben Cotter
Winning pointer who proved somewhat in-and-out over hurdles last season, but he put in his best effort to date when winning well over 2m7f110yd at Exeter in May. Travelled really well throughout the race that day and could still be fairly treated off an 8lb higher mark here. But this is a more competitive race, and his chances will be improved by any rain. However, he has been going well at home and I think he will go well here too.
14:20 Cheltenham - Doeslessthanme
If Sprinter Sacre stands up, then we are obviously playing for second at best. But having had the likes of Denman unseated at odds of 1-6, then I know all too well that nothing is certain in this game. And in Doeslessthanme we have an improving horse, who won an Ayr handicap by six lengths off a mark of 144 last time. Warmed up for this with a racecourse gallop last Sunday.
14:50 Cheltenham - Prospect Wells
I got a bit of criticism on here last weekend after Prospect Wells failed by a neck to beat Zarkandar at Wincanton on Saturday, even though he may well have won had he met the last flight correctly. The reason? Because I said here last week that I thought Zarkandar would need the run - to be precise I said that "his fitness is pretty hard to gauge, but I'd be pretty sure he will need this and be all the better for the outing, win, lose or draw" - and Prospect Wells was the one I favoured of my three on that occasion. And Ruby did, too. Well, when I got home, I responded. I am afraid Zarkandar did surprise me in that he was able to give Prospect Wells 17lb first time up. But I was not in the least bit disappointed with Prospect Wells, who ran a blinder against the now second favourite for the Champion Hurdle.
Darlan has been all the rage for this and could be a much-improved horse, but the fact is Prospect Wells was only a length behind him in the Supreme and is 5lb better off here. This may come a bit too soon after Wincanton, but he clearly has chances if running to a similar level today. In fact, he is officially 4lb well-in after Saturday's run and Harry takes 7lb off, so he looks very nicely weighted. And this more competitive race, and stronger pace, will suit him better than Wincanton, too.
Ted Spread
This horse has proved a bit frustrating since bolting up at Taunton last January, but at least he is tip-toeing down the handicap as a result. Had a breathing operation in the summer, but found the ground too testing at Ascot last time after travelling powerfully as per usual. We will see the best of this horse when he gets good or better ground, and if that is still the case come the off on Sunday, then don't rule him out. Classy Flat horse who hopefully has races in him off this mark, given suitable conditions. I just hope it doesn't rain for him.
Dark Lover
Had been off a long time with a leg injury before reappearing here last month, but had certainly been pleasing us in his work. And, while we thought he was potentially well treated on his homework, you have to see it on the track with comeback horses like him. And he delivered in pretty impressive fashion. This is a much more competitive and classier handicap, and he has gone up 11lb, but he takes in this before probably going chasing.
15:25 Cheltenham - Fox Run
Impressive winner of his maiden point in Ireland and, although he went off a short-priced favourite for his hurdling debut at Worcester last month, in truth I didn't know what to expect there. But when Ruby gave him a slap he took off and was very impressive in a 14-length win. This is a whole new, harder, ball game but that win last month told me he deserved a shot in this class next time. And Ruby tells me that he will run very well here, too.
16:00 Cheltenham - Fascino Rustico
Has taken a while to get the hang of schooling at home, jumping being a largely new experience for him. So we are happy to keep him to bumper company for time being. Won a Carlisle bumper in April, after which we bought him at the Cheltenham Sales. Had clearly being showing a lot at home before his debut, being sent off as favourite, and the form of that race has worked out really well with the second and third winning. Is up against four or five decent-looking prospects here but let's see what we have got. And the early signs are promising. In fact, he is a lovely horse who goes very, very well at home. Let's hope he shows that ability on the track as owner John Hales spent some of - well, most of! - his Grand National winning prize money on him!!
Clearly, he is up against it here against the likes of Sire De Grugy and Captain Conan, especially as he has to give them 4lb. But we have always had a high opinion of him. A tendon injury curtailed last season and I thought he would need the run at Exeter on his reappearance, so he delighted me in winning there. Don't get me wrong, the form of that win doesn't measure up against most of these - and the Exeter runner-up Bold Henry was well beaten on Wednesday - and he has to improve best part of a stone to even get competitive. But we like him, so let's see where we stand.
13:45 Cheltenham - Ruben Cotter
Winning pointer who proved somewhat in-and-out over hurdles last season, but he put in his best effort to date when winning well over 2m7f110yd at Exeter in May. Travelled really well throughout the race that day and could still be fairly treated off an 8lb higher mark here. But this is a more competitive race, and his chances will be improved by any rain. However, he has been going well at home and I think he will go well here too.
14:20 Cheltenham - Doeslessthanme
If Sprinter Sacre stands up, then we are obviously playing for second at best. But having had the likes of Denman unseated at odds of 1-6, then I know all too well that nothing is certain in this game. And in Doeslessthanme we have an improving horse, who won an Ayr handicap by six lengths off a mark of 144 last time. Warmed up for this with a racecourse gallop last Sunday.
14:50 Cheltenham - Prospect Wells
I got a bit of criticism on here last weekend after Prospect Wells failed by a neck to beat Zarkandar at Wincanton on Saturday, even though he may well have won had he met the last flight correctly. The reason? Because I said here last week that I thought Zarkandar would need the run - to be precise I said that "his fitness is pretty hard to gauge, but I'd be pretty sure he will need this and be all the better for the outing, win, lose or draw" - and Prospect Wells was the one I favoured of my three on that occasion. And Ruby did, too. Well, when I got home, I responded. I am afraid Zarkandar did surprise me in that he was able to give Prospect Wells 17lb first time up. But I was not in the least bit disappointed with Prospect Wells, who ran a blinder against the now second favourite for the Champion Hurdle.
Darlan has been all the rage for this and could be a much-improved horse, but the fact is Prospect Wells was only a length behind him in the Supreme and is 5lb better off here. This may come a bit too soon after Wincanton, but he clearly has chances if running to a similar level today. In fact, he is officially 4lb well-in after Saturday's run and Harry takes 7lb off, so he looks very nicely weighted. And this more competitive race, and stronger pace, will suit him better than Wincanton, too.
Ted Spread
This horse has proved a bit frustrating since bolting up at Taunton last January, but at least he is tip-toeing down the handicap as a result. Had a breathing operation in the summer, but found the ground too testing at Ascot last time after travelling powerfully as per usual. We will see the best of this horse when he gets good or better ground, and if that is still the case come the off on Sunday, then don't rule him out. Classy Flat horse who hopefully has races in him off this mark, given suitable conditions. I just hope it doesn't rain for him.
Dark Lover
Had been off a long time with a leg injury before reappearing here last month, but had certainly been pleasing us in his work. And, while we thought he was potentially well treated on his homework, you have to see it on the track with comeback horses like him. And he delivered in pretty impressive fashion. This is a much more competitive and classier handicap, and he has gone up 11lb, but he takes in this before probably going chasing.
15:25 Cheltenham - Fox Run
Impressive winner of his maiden point in Ireland and, although he went off a short-priced favourite for his hurdling debut at Worcester last month, in truth I didn't know what to expect there. But when Ruby gave him a slap he took off and was very impressive in a 14-length win. This is a whole new, harder, ball game but that win last month told me he deserved a shot in this class next time. And Ruby tells me that he will run very well here, too.
16:00 Cheltenham - Fascino Rustico
Has taken a while to get the hang of schooling at home, jumping being a largely new experience for him. So we are happy to keep him to bumper company for time being. Won a Carlisle bumper in April, after which we bought him at the Cheltenham Sales. Had clearly being showing a lot at home before his debut, being sent off as favourite, and the form of that race has worked out really well with the second and third winning. Is up against four or five decent-looking prospects here but let's see what we have got. And the early signs are promising. In fact, he is a lovely horse who goes very, very well at home. Let's hope he shows that ability on the track as owner John Hales spent some of - well, most of! - his Grand National winning prize money on him!!
Rhinestone Cowboy
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Nicholls said: "He came in late because he cut himself in the field, but he had a gallop at Wincanton last weekend and went really well.
"The second-season chasers of ours like him are improving, I don't think the horses were right last year.
"We'll have to think about Kempton (King George) I suppose, he stayed well there and I think we'll have to look at it.
Walsh said: "You need a bit of class in this race, which is why we were keen to take chance. In fairness to him we were forcing him at two (miles). Stepping up in trip is probably what we should be doing."
"The second-season chasers of ours like him are improving, I don't think the horses were right last year.
"We'll have to think about Kempton (King George) I suppose, he stayed well there and I think we'll have to look at it.
Walsh said: "You need a bit of class in this race, which is why we were keen to take chance. In fairness to him we were forcing him at two (miles). Stepping up in trip is probably what we should be doing."
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Old Vic
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If they weren't right could have plenty of well handicapped ones. Not sure that his stable isn't firing awhole lot different than last year at this time though. He had a good open meeting last year too. Brampour Al Ferof etc.
Another one here to keep an eye on:
Ruby's column in the Irish Examiner gives a good insight into pecking order at Nicholls. Few snippets here
Before Charlie Hall
Before Paddy Power
On Wonderful Charm
Before Charlie Hall
Before Paddy Power
On Wonderful Charm
Betfair Ambassador Paul Nicholls has one runner at Ascot and five at Haydock today, and here he speaks exclusively to Betfair about the chances of each...
12:55 Ascot - McIlhatton
This looks a pretty hot novice, with some interesting bumper horses making their hurdling debuts and horses like Barney Cool who have already shown a decent level of form. So McIllhatton faces a stiff task. But he ran well in his Chepstow bumper last month and this trip will suit him on his hurdling bow. He is very much a chaser for the future, but this winning Irish pointer jumps and goes nicely at home and hopefully he will give a good account of himself.
13:20 Haydock - Domtaline
This is probably not his ideal ground but at least this is over 2m, not 2m4f, so stamina won't be an issue in the testing conditions. And this doesn't look the strongest of races. Whatever he does today we will probably put him away for a spring campaign immediately afterwards. But he has shown a level of form on his last two starts that puts him in with every chance of signing off with a win. The ground is undoubtedly a big question mark but he is very fit and fresh at the moment, which is the key to him.
13:55 Haydock - Poungach
Was a high-class hurdler last season, when we always thought of him as a chaser in waiting. But he has not proved a natural over fences so far this season, falling at the first at Chepstow and then looking green and inexperienced in the Rising Stars at Wincanton last time, But he stayed on well at Wincanton, warming to his task, and he schooled well in cheekpieces on Thursday morning in preparation for this. Like Domtaline, this will be the softest ground he has encountered, so that's an unknown, but he is a horse of some quality and potential and hopefully one that will improve with experience. This looks a decent race but hopefully he can go one better today.
14:30 Haydock - Landscape
Donald looks to have an exciting horse on his hands in Clondaw Kaempfer, who impressed me when beating one of mine pretty easily at Aintree last month. He obviously is worthy of the utmost respect, but I think Landscape has a big chance on the ground. A decent middle distance horse on the Flat in France, he needed the experience on his hurdling debut at Cheltenham. But he showed the benefit of that run when winning easily at Exeter last time. The ground was soft enough at Exeter, so conditions here shouldn't be a problem. In fact, if it rides very testing then that is probably in his favour as he wants further than 2m already, especially around here. But this isn't a two-runner race and I wouldn't dismiss Lienosus, a good third to my Wonderful Charm at Chepstow last time.
15:05 Haydock - Wilton Milan
Horses can flatter to deceive when winning easily in minor company, as Wilton Milan did at Worcester last time, but we clearly deserve to be dipping our toes into a higher grade with him here. A winning pointer, he was very green and babyish at Worcester but he took off when Ruby gave him a slap there and the nine length runner-up, Dunlough Bay, gave the form a boost when winning well at Lingfield next time. So that level of form already gives him fair claims here and I would hope there is improvement in him, too, given his obvious inexperience last time. But, again, this looks competitive and Grands Crus' brother Gevrey Chambertin, Sixty Something and Fourjacks have shown a comparable level of form and are equally unexposed. So this will tell us a lot more about him.
15:40 Haydock - Varom
Is a great, big, strong horse - though still a bit backward - who joined us after winning a 1m4f all-weather bumper in the French provinces in July. Is related to chase winners and is very much a chaser of the future himself, too. But he goes nicely and hopefully he won't find conditions too testing here. With so many of these unraced, he could well prove good enough. But Donald's horse looks decent, we carry a penalty and Varom is a horse who I expect will improve enormously for the experience.
12:55 Ascot - McIlhatton
This looks a pretty hot novice, with some interesting bumper horses making their hurdling debuts and horses like Barney Cool who have already shown a decent level of form. So McIllhatton faces a stiff task. But he ran well in his Chepstow bumper last month and this trip will suit him on his hurdling bow. He is very much a chaser for the future, but this winning Irish pointer jumps and goes nicely at home and hopefully he will give a good account of himself.
13:20 Haydock - Domtaline
This is probably not his ideal ground but at least this is over 2m, not 2m4f, so stamina won't be an issue in the testing conditions. And this doesn't look the strongest of races. Whatever he does today we will probably put him away for a spring campaign immediately afterwards. But he has shown a level of form on his last two starts that puts him in with every chance of signing off with a win. The ground is undoubtedly a big question mark but he is very fit and fresh at the moment, which is the key to him.
13:55 Haydock - Poungach
Was a high-class hurdler last season, when we always thought of him as a chaser in waiting. But he has not proved a natural over fences so far this season, falling at the first at Chepstow and then looking green and inexperienced in the Rising Stars at Wincanton last time, But he stayed on well at Wincanton, warming to his task, and he schooled well in cheekpieces on Thursday morning in preparation for this. Like Domtaline, this will be the softest ground he has encountered, so that's an unknown, but he is a horse of some quality and potential and hopefully one that will improve with experience. This looks a decent race but hopefully he can go one better today.
14:30 Haydock - Landscape
Donald looks to have an exciting horse on his hands in Clondaw Kaempfer, who impressed me when beating one of mine pretty easily at Aintree last month. He obviously is worthy of the utmost respect, but I think Landscape has a big chance on the ground. A decent middle distance horse on the Flat in France, he needed the experience on his hurdling debut at Cheltenham. But he showed the benefit of that run when winning easily at Exeter last time. The ground was soft enough at Exeter, so conditions here shouldn't be a problem. In fact, if it rides very testing then that is probably in his favour as he wants further than 2m already, especially around here. But this isn't a two-runner race and I wouldn't dismiss Lienosus, a good third to my Wonderful Charm at Chepstow last time.
15:05 Haydock - Wilton Milan
Horses can flatter to deceive when winning easily in minor company, as Wilton Milan did at Worcester last time, but we clearly deserve to be dipping our toes into a higher grade with him here. A winning pointer, he was very green and babyish at Worcester but he took off when Ruby gave him a slap there and the nine length runner-up, Dunlough Bay, gave the form a boost when winning well at Lingfield next time. So that level of form already gives him fair claims here and I would hope there is improvement in him, too, given his obvious inexperience last time. But, again, this looks competitive and Grands Crus' brother Gevrey Chambertin, Sixty Something and Fourjacks have shown a comparable level of form and are equally unexposed. So this will tell us a lot more about him.
15:40 Haydock - Varom
Is a great, big, strong horse - though still a bit backward - who joined us after winning a 1m4f all-weather bumper in the French provinces in July. Is related to chase winners and is very much a chaser of the future himself, too. But he goes nicely and hopefully he won't find conditions too testing here. With so many of these unraced, he could well prove good enough. But Donald's horse looks decent, we carry a penalty and Varom is a horse who I expect will improve enormously for the experience.
Rhinestone Cowboy
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14:10 Ascot - Ghizao
He looked set for the big stage when twice beating Captain Chris in the first half of the 2010-11 season, when he also finished an excellent second to Finian's Rainbow at Aintree. But he has had more than a few niggles and issues since, and last season was a bit of a write-off. So it was great to see him back to winning form at Kempton on his reappearance, travelling and jumping well and enjoying himself. Of course, the form of that three-runner race was nothing to shout home about with his market rival falling early on. But it gave us something to build on.
Of course, I don't realistically expect to be winning this against the likes of Finian's Rainbow and For Non Stop after just that one win, but he has been pleasing me and he has place claims. Hasn't raced on ground this testing for a while, though it was far worse than the official good to soft when he beat Captain Chris at Newbury, but has won on soft anyway.
14:45 Ascot - Brampour
Was obviously a very progressive horse last season, winning here over 2m on his reappearance and rounding off the season with a creditable seventh in the Champion Hurdle, and he has been crying out for this trip for a while. So he is certainly not without a chance here, even though he is likely to be the outsider of the four. He has a few miles on the clock, but don't forget he is only a 5yo. I was happy enough with his second to Get Me Out Of Here at Kempton on his reappearance, we have a 4lb pull with that horse today and this greater test of stamina will suit us. Probably ran his worse race of last season on soft here, which is a slight worry, but he seemed to handle it ok on the Flat in France.
15:05 Haydock - Silviniaco Conti
As you will have probably seen if you follow me on Twitter, we have had a few issues with flooding here at Ditcheat this week! But none have missed any work - I also had Tidal Bay in here but I have given him another week and he goes for the Hennessy - and Silviniaco Conti went well in his final piece of work on Thursday morning.
Okay, he may not have beaten proper Grade 1 horses on his reappearance at Wetherby - Time For Rupert clearly running below form - but he put them in their place in convincing style, and he is a Grade 1 horse, make no mistake. I think the second-season novices, such as the likes of Al Ferof and Cue Card, could be a top class bunch and this will tell us much more about him specifically.
Obviously, Long Run deserves to be favourite and is 16lb clear of him on Timeform figures, but I don't think you can overestimate the advantage of having a run under your belt in these testing conditions. That's a big plus in our favour, as is the fact that Wetherby is bound to have sharpened him up and brought him on. I said before that win that he is a horse that I expect to improve throughout the season.
Whenever ground is as testing as it is likely to be here, it is unwise to be too confident - horses can easily disappoint in this ground, as many did at Cheltenham on Sunday, and heavy ground is a great leveller - but he did win the Persian War on soft at Chepstow, so I am hoping that won't be an issue. I have had this race in mind for him for a while, as I don't think he will be lining up in the King George, however he fares today.
If Long Run turns up in the form that he was in two seasons ago, then he will be very hard to beat. But I think he wasn't the same force last season and, if he runs to that level today, then I think he is beatable. He is the best horse in this race on all known form, but he has been beaten on his reappearance in the last two campaigns and he meets a horse on the up in Silviniaco Conti.
Bridgey reports Gold Cup runner-up The Giant Bolster in good form and merits obvious respect, but I think Weird Al could be a big danger to everyone. He was only two lengths behind Long Run when third in this race last year, and that was after having won the Charlie Hall. He looks to be best when fresh, so I can see him running a big race if he is back on his A-game after being pulled up in the Gold Cup and falling in the National. He has issues but is clearly a very talented horse on his day.
15:20 Ascot - Toubab
Knocked his joint when ready for a run three weeks ago, but is fine now, fit and well and raring to go. Goes well when fresh and I think he could have races in him off a mark of 143. I fancied him to run a big race when he was brought down in the Grand Annual and he obviously did as well as could have been expected behind Sprinter Sacre at Aintree. I think he will go well, even though he probably ideally wants better ground.
He looked set for the big stage when twice beating Captain Chris in the first half of the 2010-11 season, when he also finished an excellent second to Finian's Rainbow at Aintree. But he has had more than a few niggles and issues since, and last season was a bit of a write-off. So it was great to see him back to winning form at Kempton on his reappearance, travelling and jumping well and enjoying himself. Of course, the form of that three-runner race was nothing to shout home about with his market rival falling early on. But it gave us something to build on.
Of course, I don't realistically expect to be winning this against the likes of Finian's Rainbow and For Non Stop after just that one win, but he has been pleasing me and he has place claims. Hasn't raced on ground this testing for a while, though it was far worse than the official good to soft when he beat Captain Chris at Newbury, but has won on soft anyway.
14:45 Ascot - Brampour
Was obviously a very progressive horse last season, winning here over 2m on his reappearance and rounding off the season with a creditable seventh in the Champion Hurdle, and he has been crying out for this trip for a while. So he is certainly not without a chance here, even though he is likely to be the outsider of the four. He has a few miles on the clock, but don't forget he is only a 5yo. I was happy enough with his second to Get Me Out Of Here at Kempton on his reappearance, we have a 4lb pull with that horse today and this greater test of stamina will suit us. Probably ran his worse race of last season on soft here, which is a slight worry, but he seemed to handle it ok on the Flat in France.
15:05 Haydock - Silviniaco Conti
As you will have probably seen if you follow me on Twitter, we have had a few issues with flooding here at Ditcheat this week! But none have missed any work - I also had Tidal Bay in here but I have given him another week and he goes for the Hennessy - and Silviniaco Conti went well in his final piece of work on Thursday morning.
Okay, he may not have beaten proper Grade 1 horses on his reappearance at Wetherby - Time For Rupert clearly running below form - but he put them in their place in convincing style, and he is a Grade 1 horse, make no mistake. I think the second-season novices, such as the likes of Al Ferof and Cue Card, could be a top class bunch and this will tell us much more about him specifically.
Obviously, Long Run deserves to be favourite and is 16lb clear of him on Timeform figures, but I don't think you can overestimate the advantage of having a run under your belt in these testing conditions. That's a big plus in our favour, as is the fact that Wetherby is bound to have sharpened him up and brought him on. I said before that win that he is a horse that I expect to improve throughout the season.
Whenever ground is as testing as it is likely to be here, it is unwise to be too confident - horses can easily disappoint in this ground, as many did at Cheltenham on Sunday, and heavy ground is a great leveller - but he did win the Persian War on soft at Chepstow, so I am hoping that won't be an issue. I have had this race in mind for him for a while, as I don't think he will be lining up in the King George, however he fares today.
If Long Run turns up in the form that he was in two seasons ago, then he will be very hard to beat. But I think he wasn't the same force last season and, if he runs to that level today, then I think he is beatable. He is the best horse in this race on all known form, but he has been beaten on his reappearance in the last two campaigns and he meets a horse on the up in Silviniaco Conti.
Bridgey reports Gold Cup runner-up The Giant Bolster in good form and merits obvious respect, but I think Weird Al could be a big danger to everyone. He was only two lengths behind Long Run when third in this race last year, and that was after having won the Charlie Hall. He looks to be best when fresh, so I can see him running a big race if he is back on his A-game after being pulled up in the Gold Cup and falling in the National. He has issues but is clearly a very talented horse on his day.
15:20 Ascot - Toubab
Knocked his joint when ready for a run three weeks ago, but is fine now, fit and well and raring to go. Goes well when fresh and I think he could have races in him off a mark of 143. I fancied him to run a big race when he was brought down in the Grand Annual and he obviously did as well as could have been expected behind Sprinter Sacre at Aintree. I think he will go well, even though he probably ideally wants better ground.
Rhinestone Cowboy
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Donn adds Saint Roque to his to follow list
The two-mile-five-furlong conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle run on the Friday of Cheltenham’s Open meeting is always fiendishly competitive and it normally takes a very well-handicapped horse to win it. The winner of this year’s race, Buck Magic, is undoubtedly progressive, he probably won the race with a bit left in the tank, but it is one or two of the horses in behind who are of more interest with regards the future, particularly Saint Roque who was travelling like a winner when he was brought down at the second last by the fatal fall of Ambrose Princess right in front of him.
Well backed into favouritism, Harry Derham settled Saint Roque in the middle of the field, and he jumped accurately in amongst horses. He crept closer over the flight at the top of the hill, and was travelling strongly as they set off down the hill, just caught up on the inside for a fraction behind the eventual winner who was just being niggled along at that stage. Derham switched him towards the outside coming down the hill and he cruised into contention. He had closed right up onto the heels of the leaders, still on the bridle, when he just couldn’t avoid the stricken Ambrose Princess who had taken a horrible fall in front of him over the third last. He had actually nodded on landing over the flight himself which meant that by the time he got his head up he had no chance to avoid the mare. Obviously it was too far out to be confident about where he would have finished, but he was going at least as well as anything at the time.
An easy winner of a point-to-point at Dromahane in March 2011, he didn’t appear to be finishing off his races last season in three runs in novice company, but he had a breathing operation in the summer. He departed before his breathing was really called into question here, but he was moving strongly at the time and if the operation has worked then a rating of 118 would look very lenient based on how well he was travelling here. As long as his confidence has not been affected by this fall (he also fell once last season) then he is a horse to keep on side for now.
16th November 2012
The two-mile-five-furlong conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle run on the Friday of Cheltenham’s Open meeting is always fiendishly competitive and it normally takes a very well-handicapped horse to win it. The winner of this year’s race, Buck Magic, is undoubtedly progressive, he probably won the race with a bit left in the tank, but it is one or two of the horses in behind who are of more interest with regards the future, particularly Saint Roque who was travelling like a winner when he was brought down at the second last by the fatal fall of Ambrose Princess right in front of him.
Well backed into favouritism, Harry Derham settled Saint Roque in the middle of the field, and he jumped accurately in amongst horses. He crept closer over the flight at the top of the hill, and was travelling strongly as they set off down the hill, just caught up on the inside for a fraction behind the eventual winner who was just being niggled along at that stage. Derham switched him towards the outside coming down the hill and he cruised into contention. He had closed right up onto the heels of the leaders, still on the bridle, when he just couldn’t avoid the stricken Ambrose Princess who had taken a horrible fall in front of him over the third last. He had actually nodded on landing over the flight himself which meant that by the time he got his head up he had no chance to avoid the mare. Obviously it was too far out to be confident about where he would have finished, but he was going at least as well as anything at the time.
An easy winner of a point-to-point at Dromahane in March 2011, he didn’t appear to be finishing off his races last season in three runs in novice company, but he had a breathing operation in the summer. He departed before his breathing was really called into question here, but he was moving strongly at the time and if the operation has worked then a rating of 118 would look very lenient based on how well he was travelling here. As long as his confidence has not been affected by this fall (he also fell once last season) then he is a horse to keep on side for now.
16th November 2012
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Paul Nicholls: The views of my runners at Newbury today
Betfair Ambassador Paul Nicholls saddles no less than seven runners at Newbury today. Here he talks exclusively about each one...
12:30 Newbury - Saphir Du Rheu
Is owned by The Stewart Family and apparently was bred by a certain Claude Duval; Andy knows the Sun's racing correspondent very well, but I didn't think that he had a French breeding sideline. But they probably have a lot of time on their hands, these hacks. Anyway, more seriously, we bought this horse after he finished third at Autueil in September, so we obviously haven't had him too long and are still getting to know him. The form of that race is not working out too well - the first two home have beaten well beaten since, though the fourth home has won since - but we like what we see of him so far.
It is too early to tell where he sits in the juvenile pecking order here but I must stress though that he is not a Triumph horse in the mould of a Samtegal or a Far West; he is a lovely, big, scopey, gorgeous horse who is a chaser in the making. But we think a bit of him and this may not be the strongest of Newbury juvenile contests, though there are a couple of decent sorts in here from the Flat. We will know more after today, though.
14:05 Newbury - There's No Panic
Won well at Fontwell and Fakenham after a lengthy lay-off, and I thought he was weighted to go well in a handicap at Cheltenham last time. And he was going ok before he landed on top of the last ditch, and was pulled up afterwards. The step down in trip on soft ground should be fine for him here, but he clearly has a mountain to climb off levels against the likes of Dynaste.
14:40 Newbury - American Trilogy
We know what we have with American Trilogy, namely a horse who is handicapped up to his best, but is capable of a decent show when things fall his way. He ran ok on his reappearance, and has been dropped 1lb for that. He should be sharper for the run and his fourth at Haydock in May showed us he can handle soft ground. But the ground drying out will probably be in his favour over this trip. Has place prospects with Harry claiming off him, but probably nothing more.
Curtain Razer
Is a half-brother to Irish Grand National winner Hear The Echo, won both his points in 2011 and made a highly encouraging hurdling debut when second to Gullinbursti over 2m6f at Exeter. On that form, he would look fairly weighted off 122 here. But it is obvious that he didn't really progress from that run and has had his problems, though he did run well here back in March. Clearly has ability if we can get him right, and hopefully a breathing operation in the summer will have helped in that regard.
15:15 Newbury - Tataniano
Has fragile legs, and has had plenty of problems in the past couple of years, so is clearly not going to make up into the top class chaser that he once promised to be. And we clearly expected a lot more from him at Chepstow on his reappearance. But I wasn't totally downhearted by that run, as I said here before that race that I suspected that he probably needed 2m4f these days. The positives are that he gets that chance here, is back on the same mark as when winning at Chepstow last season and goes well enough on the ground. But clearly we can't be confident after his reappearance run.
The Knoxs
This is a horse with a lot of ability, and 2m4f on soft ground on a left-handed track are probably his ideal conditions. And a breathing operation in the summer is hopefully another big positive as to his chance today. He took time to get the hang of jumping when he first came to us but he showed us his fencing potential chasing when winning a handicap, on good ground, at Ayr in April. Is 6lb higher today, but he goes well fresh and hopefully there is more to come from him.
15:45 Newbury - Sound Investment
Looked set to win on his point to point debut at Punchestown in February, before falling at the last. We bought him at the Newbury sales the following month, and we thought he would need the experience, both physically and mentally, in an Aintree bumper last month. And he did, travelling really well into the race before getting a bit tired. Has schooled well at home in preparation for this, but he will much better over further than this in future starts.
Paul Nicholls: The views of my runners at Newbury today
Betfair Ambassador Paul Nicholls saddles no less than seven runners at Newbury today. Here he talks exclusively about each one...
12:30 Newbury - Saphir Du Rheu
Is owned by The Stewart Family and apparently was bred by a certain Claude Duval; Andy knows the Sun's racing correspondent very well, but I didn't think that he had a French breeding sideline. But they probably have a lot of time on their hands, these hacks. Anyway, more seriously, we bought this horse after he finished third at Autueil in September, so we obviously haven't had him too long and are still getting to know him. The form of that race is not working out too well - the first two home have beaten well beaten since, though the fourth home has won since - but we like what we see of him so far.
It is too early to tell where he sits in the juvenile pecking order here but I must stress though that he is not a Triumph horse in the mould of a Samtegal or a Far West; he is a lovely, big, scopey, gorgeous horse who is a chaser in the making. But we think a bit of him and this may not be the strongest of Newbury juvenile contests, though there are a couple of decent sorts in here from the Flat. We will know more after today, though.
14:05 Newbury - There's No Panic
Won well at Fontwell and Fakenham after a lengthy lay-off, and I thought he was weighted to go well in a handicap at Cheltenham last time. And he was going ok before he landed on top of the last ditch, and was pulled up afterwards. The step down in trip on soft ground should be fine for him here, but he clearly has a mountain to climb off levels against the likes of Dynaste.
14:40 Newbury - American Trilogy
We know what we have with American Trilogy, namely a horse who is handicapped up to his best, but is capable of a decent show when things fall his way. He ran ok on his reappearance, and has been dropped 1lb for that. He should be sharper for the run and his fourth at Haydock in May showed us he can handle soft ground. But the ground drying out will probably be in his favour over this trip. Has place prospects with Harry claiming off him, but probably nothing more.
Curtain Razer
Is a half-brother to Irish Grand National winner Hear The Echo, won both his points in 2011 and made a highly encouraging hurdling debut when second to Gullinbursti over 2m6f at Exeter. On that form, he would look fairly weighted off 122 here. But it is obvious that he didn't really progress from that run and has had his problems, though he did run well here back in March. Clearly has ability if we can get him right, and hopefully a breathing operation in the summer will have helped in that regard.
15:15 Newbury - Tataniano
Has fragile legs, and has had plenty of problems in the past couple of years, so is clearly not going to make up into the top class chaser that he once promised to be. And we clearly expected a lot more from him at Chepstow on his reappearance. But I wasn't totally downhearted by that run, as I said here before that race that I suspected that he probably needed 2m4f these days. The positives are that he gets that chance here, is back on the same mark as when winning at Chepstow last season and goes well enough on the ground. But clearly we can't be confident after his reappearance run.
The Knoxs
This is a horse with a lot of ability, and 2m4f on soft ground on a left-handed track are probably his ideal conditions. And a breathing operation in the summer is hopefully another big positive as to his chance today. He took time to get the hang of jumping when he first came to us but he showed us his fencing potential chasing when winning a handicap, on good ground, at Ayr in April. Is 6lb higher today, but he goes well fresh and hopefully there is more to come from him.
15:45 Newbury - Sound Investment
Looked set to win on his point to point debut at Punchestown in February, before falling at the last. We bought him at the Newbury sales the following month, and we thought he would need the experience, both physically and mentally, in an Aintree bumper last month. And he did, travelling really well into the race before getting a bit tired. Has schooled well at home in preparation for this, but he will much better over further than this in future starts.
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Steve Hughes likes the Knoxs
Newbury 3.15: THE KNOXS (3-1, Coral)
Formerly a very dodgy jumper, The Knoxs seemed a reformed character over fences last season on joining Paul Nicholls. That means he could still remain feasibly handicapped with just 6lbs extra for his win at Ayr on his last start of last season.
Still lightly raced for a 9yo, he has a fine record first time out with two wins out of three (would have won on the third occasion but for falling). Because of his poor reputation, he started out last term for Nicholls over hurdles, bolting up at Exeter. He lost his way after that albeit at a high level, although he ran and jumped well enough over fences at Sandown in February before folding up late on over 3m. However he finished the year on a high when dropped back to 2m4f on good ground at Ayr, winning with something in hand.
He is well capable of handling this somewhat slower ground, and if he can jump again with his new found fluency, his first time out record and a fine racing weight of 10-9 surely makes him a major player here.
Newbury 3.15: THE KNOXS (3-1, Coral)
Formerly a very dodgy jumper, The Knoxs seemed a reformed character over fences last season on joining Paul Nicholls. That means he could still remain feasibly handicapped with just 6lbs extra for his win at Ayr on his last start of last season.
Still lightly raced for a 9yo, he has a fine record first time out with two wins out of three (would have won on the third occasion but for falling). Because of his poor reputation, he started out last term for Nicholls over hurdles, bolting up at Exeter. He lost his way after that albeit at a high level, although he ran and jumped well enough over fences at Sandown in February before folding up late on over 3m. However he finished the year on a high when dropped back to 2m4f on good ground at Ayr, winning with something in hand.
He is well capable of handling this somewhat slower ground, and if he can jump again with his new found fluency, his first time out record and a fine racing weight of 10-9 surely makes him a major player here.
Old Vic
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Ruby on his Saturday rides ...from Irish examiner
Champagne Fever looks a particularly good vintage
By Ruby Walsh
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2012
I expect to be fit to ride at Newbury today, despite being stood down after a fall there yesterday.
I took a tumble aboard Curtain Razer in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle after which the racecourse doctor ruled me out of my two remaining rides on the card.
I sprained a thumb and will have to be checked over by the doctor this morning, but I expect to get the all clear.'
The Hennessy is the big one today, but much of my focus will be centred on the great Big Buck’s in the Grade 2 hurdle over an extended three miles.
Big Buck’s is simply Big Buck’s and, without a doubt, one of the greatest stayers of all time over flights.
He is now unbeaten in 17 races and that record speaks for itself. It is virtually impossible to beat him and I’ll be stunned should he fail to deliver one more time.
Big Buck’s only has to face three rivals and, in his younger days, that might have presented a problem. But, as he’s got older, has become much easier to ride and just lives on a different planet to this opposition. There is no such thing as a certainty in racing, but he is as close to one as we’re going to get.
I’m on top weight Tidal Bay in the Hennessy and there is no doubt have had better rides in what is a smashing handicap.
Having ridden at the track yesterday, the ground was nowhere near as soft as we had been led to believe and that is a minus for the veteran.
Tidal Bay is in good form, as he showed when winning a Grade 2 hurdle at Wetherby on his seasonal debut.
What he needs is a swinging gallop and then to try and come through late. That would be much easier in testing conditions and I’ve a feeling this will probably prove a bridge too far.
I’m on record as saying that the second season novices are well handicapped and won’t be surprised should the winner emerge from either Bobs Worth or First Lieutenant.
They were first and second respectively in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March and there isn’t a huge amount between them on that running.
My day begins on Rolling Aces in a competitive handicap chase. He was third at Ascot last time and, you can can argue, has it all to do off 11-12. But this is weaker and he has a life.
Likewise, I’m expecting Salubrious to go close in a handicap hurdle. I rode him to finish fourth at Chepstow and he just got tired before the last. I’d imagine Salubrious will have come on plenty for that.
I finish in yet another handicap, this time over fences, on Ulck Du Lin. Paul Nicholls likes this horse, but he was a rather remote third at Stratford and I think has to improve.
Champagne Fever looks a particularly good vintage
By Ruby Walsh
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2012
I expect to be fit to ride at Newbury today, despite being stood down after a fall there yesterday.
I took a tumble aboard Curtain Razer in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle after which the racecourse doctor ruled me out of my two remaining rides on the card.
I sprained a thumb and will have to be checked over by the doctor this morning, but I expect to get the all clear.'
The Hennessy is the big one today, but much of my focus will be centred on the great Big Buck’s in the Grade 2 hurdle over an extended three miles.
Big Buck’s is simply Big Buck’s and, without a doubt, one of the greatest stayers of all time over flights.
He is now unbeaten in 17 races and that record speaks for itself. It is virtually impossible to beat him and I’ll be stunned should he fail to deliver one more time.
Big Buck’s only has to face three rivals and, in his younger days, that might have presented a problem. But, as he’s got older, has become much easier to ride and just lives on a different planet to this opposition. There is no such thing as a certainty in racing, but he is as close to one as we’re going to get.
I’m on top weight Tidal Bay in the Hennessy and there is no doubt have had better rides in what is a smashing handicap.
Having ridden at the track yesterday, the ground was nowhere near as soft as we had been led to believe and that is a minus for the veteran.
Tidal Bay is in good form, as he showed when winning a Grade 2 hurdle at Wetherby on his seasonal debut.
What he needs is a swinging gallop and then to try and come through late. That would be much easier in testing conditions and I’ve a feeling this will probably prove a bridge too far.
I’m on record as saying that the second season novices are well handicapped and won’t be surprised should the winner emerge from either Bobs Worth or First Lieutenant.
They were first and second respectively in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March and there isn’t a huge amount between them on that running.
My day begins on Rolling Aces in a competitive handicap chase. He was third at Ascot last time and, you can can argue, has it all to do off 11-12. But this is weaker and he has a life.
Likewise, I’m expecting Salubrious to go close in a handicap hurdle. I rode him to finish fourth at Chepstow and he just got tired before the last. I’d imagine Salubrious will have come on plenty for that.
I finish in yet another handicap, this time over fences, on Ulck Du Lin. Paul Nicholls likes this horse, but he was a rather remote third at Stratford and I think has to improve.
Todays Blog
12:15 - Minella Stars
Although he was only just touched off there last season, I don't think he likes Wincanton and his poor run there last time was his second in a row at the course. I think he is better going left-handed, full stop. But, apart from that, there is no real story to this horse. He is handicapped on what he is, and the trip and ground should be to his liking. He should run his race, and hopefully that will be good enough. But I suspect there are better handicapped horses in here.
13:25 - Rolling Aces
I was very happy with his third over 2m3f at Ascot last time, and I think the form could be ok. The fifth won well next time and the winner was going well when falling here on Thursday. I expect Rolling Aces to improve a good deal for the step up in trip, and I think he is fairly weighted off 130 as well. Should go well.
14:00 - Big Buck's & Five Dream
Well, this looks the stiffest task to date for Big Buck's, doesn't it? I shouldn't joke because no race is a gimme but clearly the fact that Smad Place and Crack Away Jack have sidestepped this race makes this a straightforward task on paper. I suppose Big Buck's is becoming a bit like Frankel in scaring off the opposition. But there is good prize money on offer and I hope Five Dream can follow him home, as he did last year in this race. Big Buck's is fine, worked nicely in his racecourse gallop recently, and this should put him right for the Long Walk at Ascot later this month. Five Dream ran ok off a mark of 147 in a handicap hurdle at Exeter last month and can hopefully win his race against the other two, though there is not much between them on official ratings.
14:35 - Salubrious
Showed decent form when winning over 2m4f at Taunton last season but he ran a bit too fresh and free on his reappearance at Chepstow in October. That was still an encouraging start to his campaign, and he will be much sharper today. This looks a decent race but I think he will run very well.
15:10 - Tidal Bay and Harry The Viking
I have heard a few people say that this isn't the strongest of Hennessy's, and perhaps that it is the case. But try winning it. We have two decent chances with Tidal Bay and Harry The Viking, though. I know Harry The Viking is a 25-1 chance, but I give him a big each way shout at those kind of odds. However, clearly Tidal Bay is my number one hope. He has been called some names in the past and I believe Timeform still have him with a squiggle. Yes, horses can make fools of you and he has his quirks. But he has won his last two, is the class horse of the race, and hopefully we have found the key to him. We don't work him up our hill at home now, just do lots of different things with him instead, and this season he just looks a much better horse, physically. He looks so well. He needs to be an improved horse form-wise as well, as he is 12lb higher than when bolting up at Sandown.
It is clearly a massive ask for a horse pushing 12yo to win a Hennessy off a mark of 166. But, like I said, I think we have a different horse on our hands now, and you will see Ruby give him one of his "creeping" rides today. He really pleased me when winning over hurdles on his reappearance, because I have always been aiming at this race, and I can see him putting up a big performance. I also fancy Harry The Viking, too. He has been pulled up on his last two starts, but I wouldn't read too much into that. He was clearly over the top in the Scottish National and he nearly broke the open ditch at Cheltenham last time. Go back and look at the video, he was travelling well before that mistake. Ruby looked after him after that blunder, pulling him up, and when he came back he just said "Run him in the Hennessy."
We have been schooling him in cheekpieces this week and we leave them on today. I would like to think that he is much better than a 142-rated horse - in fact, I definitely believe he can win off this mark - and I honestly think he has a big each way chance at a big price. I do think that Bob's Worth is a worthy favourite, though, and very much the one to beat. But I've got two decent chances.
15:40 - Ulck Du Lin
This looks a very competitive race, but he has chances back in trip. He put up decent placed efforts at Chepstow and Sandown last season, but he blatantly failed to stay when we tried him over 2m6f at Stratford in October. This trip on soft ground, off 10st 1lb, should see him in the reckoning here.
12:15 - Minella Stars
Although he was only just touched off there last season, I don't think he likes Wincanton and his poor run there last time was his second in a row at the course. I think he is better going left-handed, full stop. But, apart from that, there is no real story to this horse. He is handicapped on what he is, and the trip and ground should be to his liking. He should run his race, and hopefully that will be good enough. But I suspect there are better handicapped horses in here.
13:25 - Rolling Aces
I was very happy with his third over 2m3f at Ascot last time, and I think the form could be ok. The fifth won well next time and the winner was going well when falling here on Thursday. I expect Rolling Aces to improve a good deal for the step up in trip, and I think he is fairly weighted off 130 as well. Should go well.
14:00 - Big Buck's & Five Dream
Well, this looks the stiffest task to date for Big Buck's, doesn't it? I shouldn't joke because no race is a gimme but clearly the fact that Smad Place and Crack Away Jack have sidestepped this race makes this a straightforward task on paper. I suppose Big Buck's is becoming a bit like Frankel in scaring off the opposition. But there is good prize money on offer and I hope Five Dream can follow him home, as he did last year in this race. Big Buck's is fine, worked nicely in his racecourse gallop recently, and this should put him right for the Long Walk at Ascot later this month. Five Dream ran ok off a mark of 147 in a handicap hurdle at Exeter last month and can hopefully win his race against the other two, though there is not much between them on official ratings.
14:35 - Salubrious
Showed decent form when winning over 2m4f at Taunton last season but he ran a bit too fresh and free on his reappearance at Chepstow in October. That was still an encouraging start to his campaign, and he will be much sharper today. This looks a decent race but I think he will run very well.
15:10 - Tidal Bay and Harry The Viking
I have heard a few people say that this isn't the strongest of Hennessy's, and perhaps that it is the case. But try winning it. We have two decent chances with Tidal Bay and Harry The Viking, though. I know Harry The Viking is a 25-1 chance, but I give him a big each way shout at those kind of odds. However, clearly Tidal Bay is my number one hope. He has been called some names in the past and I believe Timeform still have him with a squiggle. Yes, horses can make fools of you and he has his quirks. But he has won his last two, is the class horse of the race, and hopefully we have found the key to him. We don't work him up our hill at home now, just do lots of different things with him instead, and this season he just looks a much better horse, physically. He looks so well. He needs to be an improved horse form-wise as well, as he is 12lb higher than when bolting up at Sandown.
It is clearly a massive ask for a horse pushing 12yo to win a Hennessy off a mark of 166. But, like I said, I think we have a different horse on our hands now, and you will see Ruby give him one of his "creeping" rides today. He really pleased me when winning over hurdles on his reappearance, because I have always been aiming at this race, and I can see him putting up a big performance. I also fancy Harry The Viking, too. He has been pulled up on his last two starts, but I wouldn't read too much into that. He was clearly over the top in the Scottish National and he nearly broke the open ditch at Cheltenham last time. Go back and look at the video, he was travelling well before that mistake. Ruby looked after him after that blunder, pulling him up, and when he came back he just said "Run him in the Hennessy."
We have been schooling him in cheekpieces this week and we leave them on today. I would like to think that he is much better than a 142-rated horse - in fact, I definitely believe he can win off this mark - and I honestly think he has a big each way chance at a big price. I do think that Bob's Worth is a worthy favourite, though, and very much the one to beat. But I've got two decent chances.
15:40 - Ulck Du Lin
This looks a very competitive race, but he has chances back in trip. He put up decent placed efforts at Chepstow and Sandown last season, but he blatantly failed to stay when we tried him over 2m6f at Stratford in October. This trip on soft ground, off 10st 1lb, should see him in the reckoning here.
Rhinestone Cowboy
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Donn likes Toubab
Toubab
The two-mile handicap chase at Ascot on Saturday was set up for a hold-up horse, with Marodima setting a decent pace out in front on the soft ground, as is his wont, and the race was indeed won by a horse ridden patiently in William’s Wishes, who was returning from a 664-day layoff. Evan Williams’s horse was nicely treated and is open to a good deal more improvement, as he was making it four wins from four starts over fences, but he hasn’t been missed by many. By contrast, Toubab’s run to finish third may have gone a little under the radar.
Despite the strong pace, Paul Nicholls’s horse just raced too freely on the testing ground on his first run of the season, and he was always likely to be susceptible to stronger finishers as a result. Marodima was pursued by Champion Court and Mad Max, with a break back to Toubab who headed the other four runners. He probably would have been much better served had he tucked in right towards the rear, as the winner William’s Wishes did. He made quite a bad mistake at the first fence on the second circuit, not getting anywhere near high enough and hitting it quite hard, and he was a little cautious at the next fence. He still hadn’t fully settled at that point, he was still straining the reins as they headed into Swinley Bottom, and he again wasn’t as fluent as he can be at the last two fences on that part of the course. He jumped up well over the second fence up the side of the course, however, to get right onto the heels of the three in front of him, and he was still apparently travelling nicely as they began the turn for home, but his exertions started to tell early in the home straight, and he came under pressure as they prepared to bypass the second last fence. He couldn’t go with the front pair form there, and he was ultimately beaten quite a long way, but he did well to hold off Mad Max for third place, having briefly looked in trouble for that position coming to the last.
This race should have knocked the freshness out of Toubab – he had raced too enthusiastically on his first run last season too and had been caught close to the line in a novice chase at Cheltenham – and there is a race like this in him. He has been dropped 1lb for this to a mark of 142, which is no harm. He does probably need better ground, and having Ruby Walsh back on board would be another positive.
24th November 2012
Toubab
The two-mile handicap chase at Ascot on Saturday was set up for a hold-up horse, with Marodima setting a decent pace out in front on the soft ground, as is his wont, and the race was indeed won by a horse ridden patiently in William’s Wishes, who was returning from a 664-day layoff. Evan Williams’s horse was nicely treated and is open to a good deal more improvement, as he was making it four wins from four starts over fences, but he hasn’t been missed by many. By contrast, Toubab’s run to finish third may have gone a little under the radar.
Despite the strong pace, Paul Nicholls’s horse just raced too freely on the testing ground on his first run of the season, and he was always likely to be susceptible to stronger finishers as a result. Marodima was pursued by Champion Court and Mad Max, with a break back to Toubab who headed the other four runners. He probably would have been much better served had he tucked in right towards the rear, as the winner William’s Wishes did. He made quite a bad mistake at the first fence on the second circuit, not getting anywhere near high enough and hitting it quite hard, and he was a little cautious at the next fence. He still hadn’t fully settled at that point, he was still straining the reins as they headed into Swinley Bottom, and he again wasn’t as fluent as he can be at the last two fences on that part of the course. He jumped up well over the second fence up the side of the course, however, to get right onto the heels of the three in front of him, and he was still apparently travelling nicely as they began the turn for home, but his exertions started to tell early in the home straight, and he came under pressure as they prepared to bypass the second last fence. He couldn’t go with the front pair form there, and he was ultimately beaten quite a long way, but he did well to hold off Mad Max for third place, having briefly looked in trouble for that position coming to the last.
This race should have knocked the freshness out of Toubab – he had raced too enthusiastically on his first run last season too and had been caught close to the line in a novice chase at Cheltenham – and there is a race like this in him. He has been dropped 1lb for this to a mark of 142, which is no harm. He does probably need better ground, and having Ruby Walsh back on board would be another positive.
24th November 2012
Oh Daryl...
Daryl Jacob is set to miss the busy Christmas period and a number of important rides after being landed with a 10-day suspension by the racecourse stewards at Wincanton on Thursday.
Riding the well-backed Ulis De Vassy, Jacob was disputing the lead in the Racing Welfare Fox-Pitt Handicap Hurdle when he appeared to mistake a marker pole 50 yards from the finish for the winning post and momentarily eased his mount down.
Although it seemed unlikely that his mount would have got the better of the battle with 9/2 winner Quaddick Lake, the winning margin was only a neck and the stewards ruled that he had failed to ride out "on a horse that could have been placed first" and banned him for 10 days.
Jacob declined to comment on the stewards' decision, but the ban which covers racedays from December 20 to January 1 includes his ride aboard Kauto Stone in the King George VI Chase and the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on the following day.
Daryl Jacob is set to miss the busy Christmas period and a number of important rides after being landed with a 10-day suspension by the racecourse stewards at Wincanton on Thursday.
Riding the well-backed Ulis De Vassy, Jacob was disputing the lead in the Racing Welfare Fox-Pitt Handicap Hurdle when he appeared to mistake a marker pole 50 yards from the finish for the winning post and momentarily eased his mount down.
Although it seemed unlikely that his mount would have got the better of the battle with 9/2 winner Quaddick Lake, the winning margin was only a neck and the stewards ruled that he had failed to ride out "on a horse that could have been placed first" and banned him for 10 days.
Jacob declined to comment on the stewards' decision, but the ban which covers racedays from December 20 to January 1 includes his ride aboard Kauto Stone in the King George VI Chase and the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on the following day.
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Ruby on today's rides ...
Fasten your seat belts for Sandown spectacular
By Ruby Walsh
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2012
The one certainty about the Tingle Creek at Sandown today is that it is going to be spectacular.
I will be aboard Sanctuaire for Paul Nicholls and we are set to go head-to-head with Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson’s Sprinter Sacre.
This will not be for the faint-hearted, there will be no hiding place, but something has to give at some stage.
Between them these two horses are unbeaten in eight races over fences, five for Sprinter Sacre and three for Sanctuaire. As well as that the handicapper says my lad is only 3lbs behind Barry’s horse.
Sanctuaire has been terrific so far and produced a superb effort in a Grade 2 at Sandown in April, destroying the vastly more experienced Somersby by 17 lengths.
In theory that was a staggering display by a horse having only his third outing over fences. But I’m not getting carried away.
I believe Somserby, and others in that race, weren’t really at their best, at the end of a long campaign. That said, Sanctuaire could do no more than bounce out and, essentially, run them into the ground.
There’s only one way to ride him and that’s to let the horse do his own thing and bowl away in front. I don’t know what will happen in the second half of the race, but will be amazed if we are not running the show for the first half.
Sprinter Sacre is a smashing horse and Barry, who is a great judge, absolutely adores him. Among his five successes was a tremendous performance to land the Arkle at Cheltenham.
He is a serious machine and there is no doubt Sanctuaire has it all to do to beat him. But fasten your seat belts, we will be doing our best.
My afternoon begins on Sam Winner in a handicap hurdle. He has to carry top weight and it’s a big ask.
Sam has been off the track exactly a year, having got injured when falling three out over fences at Cheltenham.
He was travelling beautifully when departing and, prior to that, fell at Exeter, at the last, with a race at his mercy.
Today will be all about trying to give him a confidence-booster, before he returns to tackle fences again.
Hinterland, who ran far too free for his own good when getting beaten at Exeter, is on a retriving mission in a Grade 1 novice chase.
Inevitably he tired then, but on this occasion we will be employing far different tactics. I’ll be dropping him in and if we can beat Captain Conan then we’ll draw.
I end on Tempo de Cotte, a horse I know nothing about, in a handicap chase. The only thing I can say is that Paul never asks me to ride a horse at less than 10-4 and this fellow has 10-2.
Fasten your seat belts for Sandown spectacular
By Ruby Walsh
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2012
The one certainty about the Tingle Creek at Sandown today is that it is going to be spectacular.
I will be aboard Sanctuaire for Paul Nicholls and we are set to go head-to-head with Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson’s Sprinter Sacre.
This will not be for the faint-hearted, there will be no hiding place, but something has to give at some stage.
Between them these two horses are unbeaten in eight races over fences, five for Sprinter Sacre and three for Sanctuaire. As well as that the handicapper says my lad is only 3lbs behind Barry’s horse.
Sanctuaire has been terrific so far and produced a superb effort in a Grade 2 at Sandown in April, destroying the vastly more experienced Somersby by 17 lengths.
In theory that was a staggering display by a horse having only his third outing over fences. But I’m not getting carried away.
I believe Somserby, and others in that race, weren’t really at their best, at the end of a long campaign. That said, Sanctuaire could do no more than bounce out and, essentially, run them into the ground.
There’s only one way to ride him and that’s to let the horse do his own thing and bowl away in front. I don’t know what will happen in the second half of the race, but will be amazed if we are not running the show for the first half.
Sprinter Sacre is a smashing horse and Barry, who is a great judge, absolutely adores him. Among his five successes was a tremendous performance to land the Arkle at Cheltenham.
He is a serious machine and there is no doubt Sanctuaire has it all to do to beat him. But fasten your seat belts, we will be doing our best.
My afternoon begins on Sam Winner in a handicap hurdle. He has to carry top weight and it’s a big ask.
Sam has been off the track exactly a year, having got injured when falling three out over fences at Cheltenham.
He was travelling beautifully when departing and, prior to that, fell at Exeter, at the last, with a race at his mercy.
Today will be all about trying to give him a confidence-booster, before he returns to tackle fences again.
Hinterland, who ran far too free for his own good when getting beaten at Exeter, is on a retriving mission in a Grade 1 novice chase.
Inevitably he tired then, but on this occasion we will be employing far different tactics. I’ll be dropping him in and if we can beat Captain Conan then we’ll draw.
I end on Tempo de Cotte, a horse I know nothing about, in a handicap chase. The only thing I can say is that Paul never asks me to ride a horse at less than 10-4 and this fellow has 10-2.