Paul Nicholls cancels Cheltenham Media Day amid fitness concerns over horses! For the last so many years he has done this, so is something really not right in his yard and will this have any effect on his biggest 4 days in the horse racing calender the Festival?
1 winner for the Champion Trainer throughout February isn't the kind of form We've come accustomed to with Paul Nicholls and his yard. Some of his horses really haven't fired alately so something as clearly been wrong. I think its a good idea that he's cancelled because like he says the horses welfare and owners concerns come before any camera's and media staff... Just hope he can get all his horses to Cheltenham in top form, I follow Nicholls horses quite avidly and I've never known him have a Saturday like that for years!
If Nicholls yard actually does have the cough is it not very irresponsible still taking the horses racing? Surely thats how these infections spread.
http://betting.betfair.com/horse-ra...coughs-go-as-quickly-as-they-come-200212.html From what I can make out alot came back from the track with dirty noses and a cough...
Got to be giving Zarkandar some credit here. Nicholls' only winner in 31 runners, only horse to win the race without a prep in 40 years, unsuitably slow pace, rough run round and still got up to win with a bit in hand. He might not have been impressive but given the mitigating factors I suspect the fact that he could win at all is a credit to the horse's ability. I'm really looking forward to seeing him in the Champion. He might not be flashy but there is something very likeable about him. Of course, it could be that I backed him for the Triumph last year, and at Aintree, and in the Betfair. He's done me a few good turns and am happy with my little interest at 8/1 EW. Not saying he can trouble The Hurricane but will surely give a good account of himself with conditions sure to suit him well.
I agree Zen, I am interested to see him in with the best regardless of how he gets on. As I've said, it is never a bad thing to be going away from your rivals at the line and Cheltenham will suit him down to the ground. His biggest problem i that he is up against a phenomenal horse in Hurricane Fly.
Spot on about Zarkandar, Zenyatta. I agree with stick that it is a bit of a mystery why Nicholls has been running so many horses over the last few days if something was wrong. These days they can detect these things before the horses run.
I do agree with Zenyatta's point, that Zarkandar being the only winner Nicholls has had in Febuary, is a massive positive. There might be alot more to come from Zarkandar when Nicholl's comes back into form
I'd like to say great minds think alike but i dont think im in the same league as you Zen, but i totally agree... I was just watching the race again and thinking that if this is PN's only winner this month then surely we are looking a horse with a lot of potential for Cheltneham... But as we all know you have to get past the machine that is Hurricane Fly... by no means a easy task but i would look at Zarkandar with a bit more hope than i did before this news of PN's yard and stats... Another reason in the 'I cant wait for Cheltenham to start' column...
