Good man Nassau taking my advice. Nice to see you around on the forum
PAUL NICHOLLS RUNNERS TODAY (FROM BETFAIR)
12:35 Wincanton - Mr Mole
Always showed us a lot at home and won his bumper in good style at Hereford. Was sold to Mr McManus afterwards, the first horse he has had with me, so I was obviously very pleased to see him win on his hurdling debut at Exeter last month. The runner-up had finished second in a Grade 1 bumper in Ireland on his previous start, so hopefully that form is decent. Carries a 6lb penalty here but is a really nice prospect.
13:20 Sandown - Polisky
Everyone is running for second place if Overturn takes to fences, but there are only four runners and we take our chance. The worsening ground wouldn't have been in his favour at Kempton last time but he ran well enough, and can hopefully improve on that, particularly if there is no more rain as he is best on good or fast ground. But, then again, if the ground really does worsen then Overturn may not run!
14:15 Wincanton - Poungach
Was obviously a very talented hurdler last season, not that far off the top level, but chasing has always been the plan for this horse. So it was very disappointing to see him to come to grief at the first at Chepstow last time, overjumping, slipping and falling. But he remains a horse of some potential and Ruby schooled him on Wednesday and he looks none the worse for the experience. This looks a decent Grade 2 contest, though.
14:50 Wincanton - Zarkandar
A word of warning. He is not the sort to do a lot at home, so 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. Not least because I am training him with a view to the International at Cheltenham next month, and not this race. And I always like to see my horses get back into the swing of things on the track after a heavy fall, and his fall at Aintree was certainly a nasty one. But his record tells us he goes well when fresh, so he may surprise, I suppose. I trained him to win the Betfair Hurdle on his reappearance and his class was there for all to see when he stayed on strongly to finish 5th in the Champion Hurdle.
Prospect Wells
This is probably the one I would prefer of my three on this occasion, especially if there is plenty of cut in the ground and it rains overnight. His mark looks plenty high enough but it is probably justified on his fifth in the Supreme. Hopefully, there is more to come from him this season and I have him pretty straight for this.
Escort'men
He won first time out at Chepstow off this mark two seasons ago, so he is capable. But the main aim here is to restore his confidence after a fall chasing last time. Horses coming back to the smaller obstacles can sometimes run above themselves, but I would be surprised were he good enough to win this, in truth.
15:25 Wincanton - Michel Le Bon
He has had his problems down the years but he is a horse I still believe in. Perhaps not to the extent that I think he will be winning Grade 1 races, but he has a workable mark off 140 and I have trained him for this race ever since he came in. He disappointed on his first two starts last season, including when too fresh and free when we fancied him in the Hennessy, but he came good in a handicap hurdle on his final start. Ruby schooled him on Wednesday. Any rain would be a bonus for him.
No Loose Change
Was impressive when winning at Newbury but that was an uncompetitive race and he paid for the wide-margin win with a steep rise up the weights. Ran poorly when pulled up at Fakenham last time, where I think the track was too sharp. Has at least been dropped 3lb since then, but he probably is still up against it here.
16:00 Wincanton - Foggy's Wall
Has been placed in both his bumpers at Taunton and Bangor, and that level of form puts him in with chances here. He is related to lots of winners, and will hopefully continue to progress with his racing.
16:05 Sandown - The Mobb
By Westerner, and the first foal of quite a well-related mare. As ever, I don't expect too much from by bumper runners first time up. And this looks a pretty hot race. But he goes well enough at home and hopefully can give us something to build on here.
