Tag: Paul Nicholls

Racing Preview Saturday 18th January

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Ascot and Haydock provide the pick of the action this weekend. I have already previewed the Clarence House Chase and the Peter Marsh Chase but there are plenty of other tempting races to bet on.

A three-mile hurdle is going to take some getting tomorrow and I’m siding with Carole’s Spirit in the 1.50 at Ascot after seeing her battle back at Haydock. She looked beaten two out but just refused to give in and fought back to win well. She absolutely bolted up at Plumpton in similar ground and can upset the favourite Mickie.

I was very impressed with Ptit Zig’s effort when he carried 11st 12lb into second place in the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot. The form hasn’t really been put to the test yet but he should be too good for Melodic Rendezvous in the Haydock Champion Hurdle Trial on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls is eager to send him over a fence so he would have to win comfortably to be allowed to run in the Champion. Soft ground is also a pre-requisite and that is not guaranteed in March, even if it does sometimes feel like the rain is never going to stop! I think the 50-1 will be cut in half if he wins well tomorrow so I’ll risk a small each-way bet.

Over at Ascot, I’m going to take a chance on Citizenship in the handicap hurdle for Venetia Williams. The stable continues in fine form and this horse was a very smart hurdler a couple of years ago for the Harrington stable in Ireland. He picked up a £50,000 prize and then ran in the County Hurdle but was never sighted in a muddling race.

He lost his way subsequently but looked in rude health when winning at Exeter and has been diverted here from the Lanzarote Hurdle. I’m slightly concerned that the heavy ground was the reason for his withdrawal but he has a couple of furlongs less to travel here and is worth a bet at 9-1.

Williams and Treadwell could land a big race double as Renard has decent claims in the next. He won well at Chepstow in similar ground and will handle it better than most of these.

Ptit Zig 2.40 Haydock at Evens William Hill

Ptit Zig (Champion Hurdle) at 50-1 each-way Stan James

Carole’s Spirit 1.50 Ascot at 4-1 Bet365

Citizenship 2.25 Ascot at 9-1 Coral

Renard 3.00 Ascot at 5-1 Stan James

*Sire De Grugy 3.35 Ascot 6-4

*Merry King 3.15 Haydock 11-2

*Chance Du Roy 3.15 Haydock 10-1 (each-way)

*Ante-post

Kempton Thursday Preview

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The Boxing Day racing centres around the King George meeting at Kempton. The card also features an intriguing clash between leading Champion Hurdle hopes My Tent Or Yours and The New One. Both horses are better held up, particularly the latter who has displayed a tendency to pull up in front on a couple of occasions.

With a small field, this could become a game of cat-and-mouse with both horses being asked to quicken up between the last two flights. A couple of seasons ago Rock On Ruby lost out in an almost identical duel against Binocular but reversed the placings at Cheltenham. It is probably best to sit this one out as it is really the toss of a coin, as the betting suggests.

Punters could get off to a good start with Dubai Prince in the opener at 12.50. This horse was a Group 3 winner on the flat for Godolphin when taking York’s Strensall Stakes from Side Glance. The runner-up went on to lift a big prize in Australia and he looked to have carried that class over to the jumps when bolting up at Leicester.

Admittedly the opposition did not amount to much and they crawled early on, but he jumped better the faster they went and did not need to be asked a question. He is more likely to start close to even money than the 15-8 on offer early.

My second selection is Urbain De Sivola for Paul Nicholls and Daryl Jacob. He is running in a handicap chase following a fine seasonal debut in a competitive hurdle at Sandown. He was second to Deep Trouble who almost unseated his rider at the last.

Usually I would be hesitant about backing hurdles form over fences but this is a French-bred and they seem to be able to jump a fence from the age of three! It seems safe to assume that he has been well schooled and could be on a winning mark.

It looks like a poor turnout for the Feltham Novices’ Chase (now named after Kauto Star). Nicholls and Jacob could strike again with Just A Par but he is likely to be odds-on and was not entirely convincing when winning at Newbury. He needed a reminder or two on the first circuit and his rivals contributed to their own downfall with some erratic jumping.

Dubai Prince at 15-8 Coral

Urbain De Sivola at 7-2 William Hill

Ascot Friday Preview

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There are some very promising novices on show at Ascot on Friday on the opening day of the Ladbroke meeting. 21 runners have stood their ground for the big race on Saturday with our midweek selections of Dell Arca (10-1) and Flaxen Flare (16-1) among them.

The pick of tomorrow’s action is the Grade 2 Kennel Gate Hurdle and I believe Irving is over-priced at 11-4 in the early betting. It is true that Nicky Henderson has his usual endless supply of promising young hurdlers and Volnay De Thaix is the hot favourite here.

Whilst he could hardly have been impressive when winning at Newbury last time, it could justifiably be called an “egg and spoon” race and he hasn’t faced anything as smart as Irving. He may well prove too good for the Nicholls horse but the disparity in the odds making it a simple choice.

Irving was just as impressive at Ascot, cruising clear of A Hare Breath. That horse was only fourth subsequently but never seriously threatened to get near to Irving. Nick Scholfield is making the most of the glorious opportunity given to him at the Ditcheat yard and he rates the horse very highly.

My second selection is Raya Star in the novice chase. I must admit I am slightly worried by reports of a “mystery malaise” affecting some of Alan King’s runners but I’ve long been a supporter of this horse. He was a very good hurdler, winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr and the Ladbroke Hurdle over this course.

I am not convinced that Cheltenham suits him because he ran poorly there in the County Hurdle and he was well held when beaten by Dodging Bullets in November. King’s novice chasers have been slightly disappointing of late but this fellow should run well providing the going doesn’t deteriorate too much.

His best form has been on a sound surface but he handles soft ok. Fox Appeal may have been flattered by his second to Wonderful Charm and Mr Mole was not the most reliable performer over hurdles. He is one of several promising rides for Tony McCoy including Carningli who should return to winning ways in the last.

Irving 11-4 William Hill

Raya Star 7-2 Coral

Cheltenham Friday Preview

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Channel 4 is screening four races live from Cheltenham on Friday with plenty of competitive racing. Possibly the most informative race regarding the Cheltenham festival takes place before Channel 4 come on air with Oscar Whisky and Wonderful Charm meeting in the opening novice chase.

Oscar Whisky has his detractors but there is no denying that he was a seriously good hurdler. Things did not work out well for him over fences here last time when forced to make his own running. There was no pace whatsoever in the early stages and Oscar Whisky was all over the place with his jumping until Geraghty gave up the ghost and kicked on.

He was eventually run out of it by Taquin Du Seuil but that was no disgrace and he should strip fitter on Friday. I am a great fan of Wonderful Charm and I can see him going for the RSA Chase in March. I just wonder whether he will be able to concede 8lbs to such a smart horse as Oscar Whisky on good ground over this trip.

The Hennessy Gold Cup did this column a huge favour when Triolo D’Alene gave us a 25-1 winning tip and the form comes under the microscope tomorrow. The third home was Colin Tizzard’s Theatre Guide, a promising six-year-old with decent novice form last season. He didn’t run well at all here previously but connections believe that he is a different proposition this season so he’s worth supporting.

There are some familiar names in the field including Welsh National winner Monbeg Dude and formerly smart Burton Port. I fancied the latter for the Grand National a couple of years ago but he missed the race and has not recaptured the form that saw him finish fourth in a Gold Cup. Monbeg Dude has not had his favoured soft ground yet but has been running well and Aintree is his long-term objective.

Nicky Henderson saddles Fourth Estate and Livius in the handicap hurdle and everything seems to point to Fourth Estate. He finished second to Ranjaan at Kempton and will be better suited by this track.

Paul Nicholls could hardly believe his eyes when Southfield Theatre and Salubrious were both overhauled by Return Spring at the last meeting here and goes in search of revenge. His horses are running much better now and I take Southfield Theatre to come out on top with a small pull in the weights.

Finally, keep an eye on Garde Le Victoire in the last. His hurdling needs some work but that could be down to the fact that he has outclassed the opposition in his last couple of races. He looks Cheltenham novice material and can remain unbeaten.

12.30 Oscar Whisky Even money BetVictor

1.40 Fourth Estate 9-4 BetVictor non runner

2.10 Theatre Guide 5-1 888Sport

3.15 Southfield Theatre 4-1 Bet365

3.45 Garde Le Victoire 11-4 BetVictor

Racing Preview Saturday 7th December

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It’s a busy weekend for both flat and National Hunt fans with Aintree and Sandown followed by the big meeting in Hong Kong. Our midweek bets on the big races have all stood their ground so let’s hope we can follow up our 20-1 Hennessy Gold Cup success!

There are plenty of interesting supporting races, not least the Listed Chase at Aintree at 2.40. According to the Racing Post, Channel 4 are not televising this race. This is slightly baffling, given the good quality of the field and the fact that the Tingle Creek does not start until 20 minutes later!

I am presuming that the powers-that-be had prepared a stack of musical interludes with slow-mo pictures of Sprinter Sacre. One day they will realise that racing fans want more live action and less waffle!

Returning to the race in question, I am going to side with the five-year-old Unioniste. Paul Nicholls has admitted that a lot of his runners are in need of a run this season and the grey was a typical example at Wetherby. He just didn’t quite get home behind Harry Topper and can reverse the form with the runner-up Wayward Prince.

Katenko fell too early in the Hennessy to say whether he would have been involved at the business end whilst The Giant Bolster seems to reserve his best for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Unioniste is tough and consistent and looks great value at 9-2.

I am a big fan of Nicky Henderson’s dual-purpose performer Lieutenant Miller and I’ll be supporting him in the 1.00 at Aintree tomorrow. He ran his heart out at Royal Ascot, Goodwood and in the Cesarewitch on the flat this year and deserves to pick up a decent hurdling prize. He is still on a very attractive handicap mark over hurdles and he should be able to exploit it.

There seems to be a National named after every part of Britain these days and tomorrow it is the London version. I’m going for Bradley in this one after his fine third at Cheltenham last time out. I thought Godsmejudge ran well too but I can’t support him with 11st 12lb on his back.

Bradley caught my eye last year when just run out of it by the mud-loving Monbeg Dude at Cheltenham. He is yet to land the big prize that he deserves but tomorrow could be his day.

Lieutenant Miller 4-1 Bet365

Unioniste 9-2 William Hill

Bradley 8-1 Bet365

Newbury Friday Preview

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The Hennessy Gold Cup meeting started with a low key meeting on Thursday but Friday’s card is an improvement. Wonderful Charm goes for a quick hat-trick when he lines up for the Grade 2 Novices’ Chase at 2.05.

The Paul Nicholls-trained French import won impressively at Fakenham first time out and then followed up in a much better race at Wincanton. He pulled back three lengths from the last to deny Fox Appeal with Third Intention ten lengths away in third. He ran too freely in the early stages and is still learning his trade but he has plenty of potential.

His main rival tomorrow is David Pipe’s Tanerko Emery who was second to Raya Star over fences before running a respectable seventh behind Dell’ Arca at Cheltenham. That form received an early boost when Ifandbutwhynot (tenth) came out and won the Gerry Feilden Hurdle today.

The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Qualifier at 1.30 has attracted a huge field. The one that catches my eye is the consistent Twelve Roses. It’s a sobering thought that I can remember this one’s grand-dam winning at Cheltenham! That was Rose Ravine who beat stable companion Crimson Embers in controversial circumstances for Fulke Walwyn.

Twelve Roses seems to have inherited her battling qualities if her recent effort is anything to go by. Kim Bailey’s mare forced More Of That to pull out all the stops at Wetherby before going down by just a length. The winner came out and won a much better race at Haydock last weekend and looks like being yet another high-class performer in the JP McManus colours.

Of course there are plenty of dangers including the hat-trick seeking Minella For Steak and David Pipe’s Western Warhorse. Chiberta King is another interesting runner having won at Royal Ascot in the summer. If he can transfer that kind of form to hurdles he is well weighted here.

Looking further ahead, my two selections for the Hennessy have stood their ground with Barry Geraghty electing to ride Triolo D’Alene. This has caused Hadrian’s Approach to drift and his jumping admittedly causes concern in such a big field. There is still no clear favourite and it looks like the most open renewal of the race in recent years.

Wonderful Charm Evens 888Sport

Twelve Roses 6-1 Bet365