Jumps Stable Tours PAUL NICHOLLS 2021–2022
All dancer
4g No Risk At All – Maia Dancer
Kate & Andrew Brooks
P2613-
RPR 107h OR –
A novice hurdle winner in France last season. He came in a little bit later than the others but has done a lot of work. He’ll go novice chasing now and we’ll find a handicap for him to start in. He’ll run soon and is a nice, big chasing type of horse I really like.
Amour De Nuit
9g Azamour – Umthoulah
Andrew Williams
24590-3
RPR 147c OR 137c
We let him bowl along and he ran very well to finish third in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow the other day. He ran right up to his mark and we’ll probably look to run him in a chase now. He might go for a two-and-a-half-mile handicap at the Ladbrokes Trophy meeting at Newbury. His handicap mark is on its limit really but he’s an admirable horse.
Ask For Glory
7g Fame And Glory – Ask Helen
Colm Donlon & Mrs P K Barber
119/41/5-
RPR 139h OR 138h
He had a tendon problem last year but he’s just been given the all-clear to start training again with a view to going novice chasing in the spring. He’s very fragile but if we can get him right, he’ll win races.
Atholl Street
6g Jeremy – Allthewhile
Exors Of The Late Trevor Hemmings
6/11P-2
RPR 134c OR 132c
He came in a little bit later than the others but ran well at Fakenham the other day on his chase debut. He’ll improve massively for the run but I wanted to get the freshness out of him because he’s a bit of a tank. He probably wants a more galloping track but Harry Cobden really liked him and he could go to the Ladbrokes Trophy meeting next and Newbury would be ideal for him.
Barbados Buck’s
6g Getaway – Buck’s Blue
The Stewart Family
21110-3
RPR 123c OR 140c
He’s a frustrating horse. He needed his first run last year and then improved and won three races. The ground may have been a bit quick the other day at Wetherby for his chase debut but he was flat out, jumped slow and was just lazy. He’ll definitely have headgear on next time just to wake him up a bit. He wants a trip and will win races over fences.
Birds Of Prey
7g Sir Prancealot – Cute
Mrs Kathy Stuart
116/731/
RPR 131h OR 132h
A winner over hurdles and on the Flat, he’s been off for over a year with a small injury but his owners have given him plenty of time to recover and he’ll be back to run in handicap hurdles after Christmas. He’s rated 98 on the Flat, so hopefully he can progress over hurdles.
Bob And Co
10g Dom Alco – Outre Mer
David Maxwell Racing Limited
1/1U1-12
RPR 155c OR 144c
He was brilliant last season, winning the Champion Hunters Chase at Punchestown, and is a great horse for his owner David Maxwell to ride. He’ll have a run or two before running in the St. James’s Place at Cheltenham in March, which David will be able to ride in this season, and then go back to Punchestown to defend his crown.
Star quality
Bravemansgame
6g Brave Mansonnien – Genifique
John Dance and Bryan Drew
11132-1
RPR 149c OR 149c
He was awesome first time over fences at Newton Abbot and we learned he doesn’t need too much work and is nearly better off fresh. He had a great campaign last season, winning three novice hurdles including the Grade 1 Challow, but had a hard race at Cheltenham against Bob Olinger and that perhaps took the edge off him going to Aintree. He would have run at Wincanton at the weekend but the ground was too quick and his two options now are a graduation chase at Haydock on Betfair Chase day or Newbury the week after for one of the novice chases. After that, the idea in my mind is to go for the Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day. He’s a very exciting horse and I get a load of stick for comparing him to Denman but at this stage of his career he’s achieved every bit as much as Denman has. He’s one you could see next year developing into a King George horse.
Brave Kingdom
5g Brave Mansonnien – New Foundation
Graeme Moore, Kate & Andrew Brooks
3/1-1
RPR 129h OR –
He beat Le Chiffre D’Or when he won a bumper for Harry Whittington last season and was awesome on his debut for us last week. He was very keen when he started and we’ve just been trying to get him to relax a little, which he did beautifully in front the other day. He can just brush his jumping up a bit but is obviously a high-class horse. One more run and then he’s definitely capable of running in good races. He’ll be a hugely exciting chaser in a year’s time.
Broken Halo
6g Kayf Tara – Miss Invincible
Giraffa Racing – Bh
1/P13-P
RPR 122h OR 128h
He always needs his first run and will sharpen up for the run at Sandown on Sunday. He made a bad mistake two out but seems to be fine and will go novice chasing now, where he’ll be seen to best effect.
Cap Du Mathan
6g Kapgarde – Nounjya Du Mathan
The Stewart Family
42/6331-
RPR 128h OR 126h
He missed all last year with a tiny fracture in his hock but that’s all okay now and that time on the sidelines won’t be lost on him. He’s a very exciting horse with lots of ability and won really well at Plumpton on his final start over hurdles. He’s doing plenty of work at home and has plenty of talent to go with it. He’ll go novice chasing now and I like him.
Cat Tiger
7g Diamond Boy – Miss Canon
David Maxwell Racing Limited
1P/13-25
RPR 147c OR 134c
He jumped fantastically around Aintree to finish third in the Foxhunters’ under David Maxwell last season. He found the ground a bit softer on Saturday in the Grand Sefton and made a few mistakes. He still ran a nice race and will be going hunter chasing in the spring.
Chavez
5g Yeats – Rock The Baby
Malcolm C Denmark
19-
RPR 110b OR –
He’s a lovely, big National Hunt horse who knuckled down well to win his bumper at Chepstow last season. He’s ready to go in a maiden hurdle now and should make into a nice, staying novice this season.
Christopher Wood
6g Fast Company – Surf The Web
Ms Sharon Kinsella
2182-34
RPR 150h OR 147h
He won the Scottish Champion Hurdle last season and is a good fun horse for his owners. He always takes a couple of runs to come to hand but he’s a solid hurdler and his run in the Elite Hurdle on Saturday suggested he’ll win his races, though we might have to take 7lb off his back.
Star quality
Clan Des Obeaux
9g Kapgarde – Nausicaa Des Obeaux
Mr & Mrs P K Barber, G Mason & Sir A Ferguson
8/2321-1
RPR 178c OR 172c
My idea this season is that he’s going to go to Kempton for the King George, Newbury for the Denman Chase, Aintree for the Bowl and Punchestown for their Gold Cup. He doesn’t need to do any more than that and is great fresh. I think we may have left the King George behind in the Betfair Chase last year, where the ground had gone from good to bottomless and we even discussed pulling him out on the day. I don’t think he was at his best in the King George after that and he just raced a bit sleepy. That won’t happen this time and the cheekpieces have sharpened him up. They made a huge difference to him at the end of last season and in Frodon he has a great pacemaker in the King George. He can get a lead and then we’ll see what happens up the straight. He probably looks as good as he’s ever looked.
Complete Unknown
5g C K Ong & I Warwick
Dylan Thomas – Silver Stream
U/1-3
RPR 114b OR –
My daughter Megan and Tom Malone bought him after he won his bumper at Thurles. Bryony Frost rides him a lot at home and really likes him, and it was a lovely first run over hurdles at Warwick on Friday. He needs to brush up on his jumping and will be better when he gets a lead for longer.
Confirmation Bias
6g Presenting – Bonnie Parker
Colm Donlon
202012-
RPR 117h OR 117h
He has his quirks but is getting his act together. He won his maiden hurdle well at Wincanton in the spring and is set to go novice chasing.
Cyrname
9g Nickname – Narquille
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
2F/1PP-P
RPR 181c OR 162c
I thought we had him right at Wetherby but he just travelled free enough for my liking. Maybe he’s panicking a little bit because he knows he’s going to struggle with his breathing. They know how to beat him too – sit on his tail and put him under pressure. As soon as you’re not filling his lungs up he starts choking on you and the petrol runs out. We don’t want to ask him to do anything he shouldn’t but if we did run him again perhaps the Peterborough Chase on a flat track, where he can get a lead, might suit him. We might have one more throw of the dice if he’s all right but his welfare comes first and, whatever happens, we’ll never forget the day he beat Altior.
Danny Kirwan
8g Scorpion – Sainte Baronne
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
31671-2
RPR 136c OR 133c
He ran okay at Cheltenham on his chase debut last month but after watching that I think he needs to go right-handed. He jumps great at home but his jumping was a bit hit and miss and he did well to finish second. He’s a typical Scorpion and probably a little bit soft but he’ll win novice chases.
Dargiannini
6g Fame And Glory – You Take Care
Dominic Burke & Kate & Andrew Brooks
1211-P
RPR 125h OR 123h
He’s a great work horse at home and going into the Silver Trophy at Chepstow we thought he’d run tidy. He travelled well but made one very bad mistake and Gavin Sheehan pulled him up. He wasn’t quite right for a few days after that but he’s back in full work now. Sooner rather than later he’ll go novice chasing but we need to get to know him and work out how to get the best out of him.
Diego Du Charmil
9g Ballingarry – Daramour
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
33518-9
RPR 164c OR 154c
He had a wind op over the summer and ran the other day over hurdles at Ffos Las just to sharpen him up. He’ll go for the Hurst Park Handicap Chase at Ascot’s next meeting, a race he finished second in back in 2019, but there’s no room for improvement off his current mark.
Ecco
6g Maxios – Enjoy The Life
Colm Donlon
312125-
RPR 138h OR 135h
He had a little setback when he first came in this season after a wind operation but he’s nearly ready and will be going handicap hurdling. He’s Flat-bred but has a bit of size so could always go chasing at some point.
Enrilo
7g Buck’s Boum – Rock Treasure
Martin Broughton & Friends 4
3/21P13-
RPR 151c OR 147c
A lovely horse. He ran ordinary in the Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day but when he came back we found that he had a fracture in a tooth and it was infected. He effectively had some fillings to put it right and once we sorted that he came back and won at Newbury. He then knocked himself and had a tiny splint problem before the bet365 Gold Cup, but still ran a blinding race when I didn’t have him at his very best, losing the race only in the stewards’ room. He goes straight for the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury now. He’s rated 147 and it’s silly winning a race before and giving him an even harder task. We’ll give him a racecourse gallop before and I think that race will suit him well. That race will dictate where we go in the future but he could well be a National horse one day.
Eritage
7g Martaline – Sauves La Reine
Mrs Angela Tincknell
12P31-4
RPR 145c OR 142c
He took to chasing well last season, winning twice and is starting to look like two and a half miles and beyond is where he’ll be most effective. He goes well fresh and decent ground brings the best out in him. He’s a good, fun handicap chaser who is ready to run any day now.
Fidelio Vallis
6g Saint Des Saints – Quora Vallis
J Hales
11-1124
RPR 150c OR 147c
Put a line through his last run at Cheltenham. We ran him too quickly after a hard race at Chepstow and it just didn’t happen. He’s having a mini-break but off 147 life is not going to be easy outside novice company. Better ground in the spring will suit him.
Flash Collonges
6g Saddler Maker – Prouesse Collonges
The Gi Gi Syndicate
1F211-
RPR 147h OR 145h
He amazed me winning at Exeter on his debut last year having shown us nothing at home and he ended up winning three last season. He’s a lovely, big, scopey horse to go novice chasing with now and will be ready in about three weeks’ time. He’ll get three miles and should do nicely.
Flemenstide
6g Flemensfirth – Keep Face
P K Barber and P J Vogt
219-
RPR 122b OR –
Second on his debut at Sandown, he then won his bumper at Exeter last season. He ran ordinary at Ayr on his final start but that was the case with all my horses at that meeting after a torrid journey getting up there. We’ve had to be patient with him but he’s ready to go novice hurdling soon and has plenty of potential.
Flic Ou Voyou
7g Kapgarde – Hillflower
Colm Donlon
2532-53
RPR 142h OR 135h
I thought he’d go really well at Uttoxeter at the end of last month but he was never jumping with any fluency. Over fences I think he might want two and a half miles and he just needs to man up a bit. We’ll look to build his confidence because he’s got the size and scope to do well over fences.
Friend Or Foe
6g Walk In The Park – Mandchou
Gordon & Su Hall
2124-13
RPR 146c OR 146c
He won well on his chase debut at Uttoxeter but knocked himself and sustained a little injury at Warwick. He’s back in full work and we’ll find a little novice chase in a couple of weeks. He’s below a Grade 1 horse but will win plenty of races.
Star quality
Frodon
9g Nickname- Miss Country
P J Vogt
14151-1
RPR 177c OR 167c
An astonishing horse. Without a doubt it was a career best at Down Royal – he beat the Gold Cup winner and Galvin, who they think is very smart. That was always his target from the minute he came back in July and it all went to plan. It was nice to do it on Irish soil and just shows you can do it if you’ve got the right horse in the right race. Three miles is perfect for him and he’ll go back to Kempton to defend his King George crown now. I’ll definitely be making an entry for the Dublin Racing Festival in the spring. Three miles at Leopardstown could also be a nice race for him and I think he’ll be great around there. He loves the game and is an absolute pleasure to train.
Gala de Corton
5g Secret Singer – Pour Le Meilleur
Gordon & Su Hall
306-42
RPR 108h OR –
A half-brother to Black Corton. He’s been a little bit disappointing to now but was suffering with a breathing issue last season, which we’ve sorted, and I was pleased with his second to Knappers Hill at Wincanton on Saturday. Black Corton took a while to come together and I’m sure this horse will keep on improving as he matures. We might look at a National Hunt maiden hurdle at Taunton in three weeks’ time.
Gelino Bello
5g Saint Des Saints – Parade
Mr And Mrs J D Cotton
13-1
RPR 138h OR –
Another lovely novice hurdler. He made a striking debut over hurdles at Aintree and he’ll probably have another run under a penalty next. I’m not going to rush any of them but I would certainly like to run one of these smart novices in either the Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown or the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December. He’s got a lot of potential and will make a lovely chaser in time.
Getaway Trump
8g Getaway – Acinorev
Owners Group 023
321F-5P
RPR 153c OR 143c
I nearly didn’t run him at Ascot at the end of last month because the ground was soft. He needs good, fast ground and is as high in the handicap as he wants to be. His enthusiasm didn’t look great at Ascot but he’s going to struggle in those types of races off his mark on soft ground. Last season he was running well in the Red Rum Chase at Aintree when he fell at the last and he’d won at Doncaster in the spring before that, so we could look at something similar later in the season.
Glajou
5g Network – Toscane
Middleham Park Racing & Peter Lamb
2413F3-
RPR 131c OR 130c
He won over fences last year but is still qualified for novice hurdles and will go that route. He was slightly frustrating last season and didn’t always find that much off the bridle but he’s still only five and I hope he will finish his races better now he’s another year stronger.
Grace A Vous Enki
5g Dream Well – Cadiane
Mrs J Hitchings
3163-25
RPR 129c OR 126h
A half-brother to Yala Enki and twice a winner over fences at Auteuil. After two runs in novice hurdles for us he’s got a mark of 126 and he’ll win a three-mile novice hurdle in the mud, or a handicap, before he goes in some better chases.
Grand Sancy
7g Diamond Boy – La Courtille
Martin Broughton Racing Partners
13934-5
RPR 152c OR 139c
He had a wind operation in July and just needed the run at Chepstow last month. He definitely wants a trip now and will go for the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase over two miles six furlongs at Newbury’s Ladbrokes Trophy meeting now. He’s not got a gift of a mark but I think he’ll win a handicap.
Grange Road
6g Oscar – Niamh’s Away
Deva Racing Grange Road
563/12
RPR 126h OR –
He surprised me a bit when finishing second under a penalty at Exeter last week. He looked a bit green from the back of the last and was a bit unlucky not to win. He really wants three miles and we’ll try to find a novice hurdle over that trip at the end of the month. He’s going to make a nice chaser.
Greaneteen
g Great Pretender – Manson Teene
Chris Giles
12341-4
RPR 171c OR 168c
I’ve trained him for the Tingle Creek and I’ve always felt the Haldon Gold Cup is a great prep. He ran how I thought he would at Exeter and will improve tons for the run. That will take the freshness off him and put him right for Sandown. He’s improving but just needs to relax – that’s what beat him in the Game Spirit last season. He gets on great with Bryony and all being well the Champion Chase will be his target in the spring. He would get two miles five furlongs but to win two-mile races you need to be a strong stayer.
Halo Des Obeaux
4g Al Namix – Almeria Des Obeaux
P J Vogt
8231-3F
RPR 133h OR 129h
He gave 10lb to I Like To Move It when third at Worcester in a novice hurdle on his first run for us and that form looks good. He fell at Newton Abbot two weeks later but I don’t think he was right. I may have run him back too quickly and he’ll go novice chasing now, starting over two miles. He’s got a decent rating already and is a nice horse who appreciates soft ground.
Henri The Second
4g Saddler Maker – Rock Treasure
Martin Broughton & Friends 7
1
RPR 110b OR –
It was the first time he’d been away from home for his debut at Chepstow and he was green as grass but won nicely. It will be the same as the other bumper horses, with two more runs this season and then novice hurdling next year. There’s a lot of potential there.
Highland Hunter
8g Subtle Power – Loughine Sparkle
Thomas Barr
23F125-
RPR 149c OR 145c
He stays forever and will have a run or two and then go for the Welsh National. The interesting race for him this season might be the Scottish National. It’s run on April 2 next year so there’s a fair chance it might be soft ground. A soft-ground Scottish National would suit him well and they’re his two targets. The softer the better for him.
Hitman
5g Falco – Tercah Girl
Mason, Hogarth, Ferguson & Done
12F13-2
RPR 160c OR 151c
It was a bit frustrating to get beat in the Haldon Gold Cup but at the end of the day he’s still only five and still a bit green in his races. He travelled so well and could have done with getting a lead for longer but he showed a lot of potential. He ran off a mark of 151 and when Kauto Star was five he finished second in the Haldon Gold Cup off 149 and then won the Tingle Creek on his next start, which I thought was interesting and shows how much improvement these horses have to come. I think there’s lots to come from Hitman yet he just needs to learn to knuckle down. It’s possible he’ll turn up in the Tingle Creek next, where he’d get a lead for longer. Cheekpieces can make a huge difference just to make them concentrate and that’s what we might well do.
Huflower
4g Saddex – Send Me Flower
Chris Giles
4211-5
RPR 98h OR –
I bought him after he won two bumpers in France and the horse he beat in the second of those, Guerrier Rose, went on to win the Grade 1 at Longchamp in September, so I’m quite excited about him. He needed the run at Exeter last week and will improve enormously for it. An easier two miles will suit him better but he’s a big, scopey horse and a work in progress.
Hugos New Horse
4g Coastal Path – Pour Le Meilleur
The Stewart Family
1
RPR 106 OR –
A half-brother to Black Corton, he made a winning debut in a bumper at Worcester last month. He might go the same route as Knappers Hill last season, with the Listed bumper over Christmas at Ascot next and then we’ll find a good race for him in the spring. We’ll look after him and he’ll make a lovely novice hurdler next season.
Iceo
3g Coastal Path – Rocroi
Chris Giles
1
RPR – OR –
He’s interesting and won his only start at Dieppe for Guillaume Macaire. What he beat I don’t know but visually it was a taking debut. We’ve not had him all that long but we love what we see so far. He won’t be rushed and should be ready to run in December. He’s a nice juvenile I’d say and reminds me a bit of Hitman, a big, strong, chasing type for the future.
Il Ridoto
4g Kapgarde – L’Exploratrice
Giles, Hogarth, Mason & McGoff
611F2-3
RPR 128c OR 130c
He stopped very quickly on his chase debut for us at Newton Abbot. He looked like he was going to win going to the second-last and it transpired his plate had twisted and gone into his foot. He had to have a couple of weeks off but is back into his work now and I’m sure he’ll win novice chases. He jumps nicely, travels well and he’s by Kapgarde so will improve as he gets older.
Irish Hill
3g Kingston Hill – Irresistable
Martin Broughton & Friends 8
3171 (Flat)
RPR 80f OR –
He won at Longchamp on the Flat for Peter Schiergen. We’ve had him gelded and he goes nicely at home. He’s got a nice pedigree, he’s by Leger winner Kingston Hill, and should stay well. He will be ready to run in juvenile hurdles around Christmas but there’s no rush.
Jeremy Pass
6g Jeremy – Toulon Pass
John Dance
P322-2
RPR 132c OR 128c
He’s always looked like a staying chaser but he wasn’t quite seeing out his races over hurdles last season. He’s had a wind operation, which I’m sure will help him, and he made a respectable start over fences at Chepstow last month. He’s a big horse and should go on improving.
Kandoo Kid
5g Kapgarde – Scarlett Du Mesnil
Michael Geoghegan
431-1
RPR 130h OR –
He’s a great example of a horse we’ve given time to progress by running in bumpers last season and he really pleased me when winning on his hurdles debut at Ascot last month. Lorcan Williams rode him and was mad about him, and I suppose we could go back to Ascot for something like the Grade 2 Kennel Gate just before Christmas. I’m not going to rush him. He’s out of a half-sister to Politologue and will be a proper two-mile chaser next season.
Knappers Hill
5g Valirann – Brogella
P K Barber and P J Vogt
111-11
RPR 121h OR –
He had a fantastic season last term, winning all three of his bumpers including the Grade 2 at Aintree. He still thinks he’s a Flat horse and didn’t jump as well as he should have when winning on his debut over hurdles at Chepstow but did it nicely at Wincanton on Saturday. He needs experience and needs to relax but he’s got a huge engine and we’ll look to step up in grade in something like the Kennel Gate at Ascot next.
Lallygag
4g It’s Gino – Laviola
D G Staddon
5-2
RPR 107b OR –
A brother to Lalor and I was lucky to be sent both horses. He ran very well when second in a bumper on his debut for us. He’s only four but jumps nicely and could go hurdling this season. He’ll definitely win a bumper before that and will keep improving physically.
Lalor
9g It’s Gino – Laviola
D G Staddon
6/433/P-P
RPR 159c OR 149c
It’s been well documented he’s had problems but as soon as he came in we gave him a wind operation and I’m very happy with him. He’s had an away day at Wincanton and I thought we’d get him very fit and go straight to the Paddy Power Gold Cup if it’s not too soft. He’s got good form at Cheltenham and shows enough boot for two and a half miles. He’s had a great prep and I just hope he shows there what he does at home. I’m looking forward to running and he could be well handicapped.
Largy Train
4g Yorgunnabelucky – Snow Train
Million In Mind Partnership
1
RPR 106b OR –
He won a bumper for Stuart Crawford and has since joined the Million In Mind Partnership. He’s just had a wind operation and will be back for novice hurdles after Christmas. He’s got a bit of scope and potential.
Le Chiffre D’Or
5g No Risk At All – Miss Vitoria
Gordon & Su Hall
31-
RPR 105 OR –
Third to Brave Kingdom at Fontwell, he won on his second start in a bumper at Wincanton very easily and is ready to go novice hurdling. He’ll start in a two-mile National Hunt novices’ hurdle at Hereford on Tuesday and wouldn’t want the ground too soft.
Magistrato
3g Kapgarde – Franche Alliance
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
2-1
RPR 119h OR 131h
He’d been second to Porticello, who won the Listed juvenile hurdle at Wetherby, at Auteuil in April and I thought he’d win on his debut for us at Chepstow and he did it very nicely. I’ve not rushed him since then but he could easily go to Cheltenham for the £50,000 juvenile hurdle at the Paddy Power meeting if the ground is on the soft side. In my mind I’m thinking we could probably do Cheltenham and then Chepstow for the Grade 1 Finale at Christmas. He’ll make a lovely chaser one day.
Master Tommytucker
10g Kayf Tara – No Need For Alarm
A G Fear
17126-5
RPR 165c OR 160c
He ran a bit free at Wetherby over hurdles on his comeback. He jumped the second-last in front but was always going to get tired because he’d done too much. He always needs a run and that was just a prep race for either the 1965 Chase at Ascot or the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon and will have put him spot on. Things happened a bit quickly for him at Aintree last season and he probably wants two miles six furlongs. He has to run in those Graded races somewhere down the line and life’s not going to be easy for him.
Matterhorn
3g Martaline – Sacarine
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
3-
RPR – OR –
He made a bad mistake at the last when leading in a Listed contest at Auteuil but still ran nicely to finish third to a good horse. He’s a beautiful, big horse who very much wants a bit of time. In my mind he’s going to go to Exeter on November 21 for the same juvenile hurdle Monmiral made his debut in. If that worked out he could go to Doncaster for the Summit Hurdle but he’s not one to rush. He’s going to make a smashing chaser one day and the more time he has the better. He’s a nice juvenile.
McFabulous
7g Milan – Rossavon
Giraffa Racing
11/13128-
RPR 159h OR 156h
He’s Jack the Lad and ended up getting loose in the yard when he first came in, slipped up and suffered two tiny hairline fractures in the vertebrae in his withers. It just meant I missed a month with him but he’s back in full training now and will make his debut over fences towards the end of the month. I’m sure he was struggling with his wind last season and that’s been done now. If it has the same sort of effect on him as it has on Solo, you’ll see a big difference. Whether he’ll have the jumping ability of Bravemansgame I question a little bit, but he has the potential to reach a high level as a chaser if I can get him jumping and I’ve always been excited about him jumping fences.
Mick Pastor
5g Meshaheer – Mick Oceane
John P McManus
4-11112
RPR 150c OR 147c
He ran well in the Rising Stars on Saturday and just got outstayed from the back of the last. He wants decent ground so we might find another opportunity but at some stage he will have a break. He’s better left handed and in the spring there might be a good novice chase in him.
Miranda
6m Camelot – Great Artist
Owners Group 034
3/1415-2
RPR 145h OR 143h
She ran very well to be second at Wetherby on her comeback under a penalty and will improve for the run. I had hoped to run on the Flat three weeks before that but the ground was too quick. I wouldn’t be afraid to take the winner from Wetherby on again over two miles on a bit slower ground. It’s hard to win handicaps off her mark now unless it was a mares’ race, but she’ll definitely win a nice race somewhere along the line and the Grade 2 she won at Doncaster last season could definitely be an option.
Mon Frere
5g Pour Moi – Sistine
Elite Racing Club
31-31
RPR 121h OR 120h
He won nicely at Wincanton the other day. We ran there before he lost his novice status at the end of October. He’s going to be a good horse to run in handicaps around the West Country and he’ll be a fun horse for the owners. Without aiming too high, he’ll win a nice race or two.
Star quality
Monmiral
4g Saint Des Saints – Achere
Sir A Ferguson, G Mason, J Hales & L Hales
1/1111-
RPR 151h OR 153h
He achieved a lot last season, kept improving and won the Grade 1 juvenile at Aintree. He doesn’t show much at home and does it all at the track, so you wouldn’t know what you’ve got. He’s going to have a racecourse gallop and then go for the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and that will tell us where we’re going. I think he’s too much of a stayer to be a Champion Hurdle horse but he’ll tell us at Newcastle, where the track should suit him well. It could be that the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles in April is the perfect race for him. He’s still a big, weak horse ultimately and we’ll be looking after him a bit this season because this time next year I can’t wait to go novice chasing.
Mont Des Avaloirs
8g Blue Bresil – Abu Dhabi
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
7P/422/F-
RPR 145c OR 142c
He sustained a nasty knee injury when he fell at Chepstow last year and had to sit the rest of the season out, but he’s over that now and I’ve no doubt he has plenty of talent. We’ll target novice chases with him.
Mr Glass
5g Sholokhov – Maryota
John And Jess Dance
311-1
RPR 122h OR –
He won two out of three bumpers last season and made a lovely debut when winning over hurdles at Chepstow. We’ll look for another novice hurdle under a penalty before stepping up and we’re going to have a hard time finding different races for all these smart novices. He’s massive and ultimately a three-mile chaser. He’s one we like.
Next Destination
9g Dubai Destination – Liss Alainn
Malcolm C Denmark
31/2112-
RPR 156c OR 153c
I’ve put him in the Ladbrokes Trophy but Mr Denmark is not that keen on running him there and would love to run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, which is the intention. He was second to Galvin in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in a race that ended up being a bit of a sprint and his form is out of the top drawer. If Haydock was testing ground, three and a quarter miles around there would suit him really well – he’s got enough ability. We’ll do one nice piece of work somewhere before and he’ll be ready. To run in a Gold Cup he’d want a real test of stamina but he jumps, gallops and stays.
Offyoupop
5g Getaway – Crossbar Lady
S White
3-
RPR 101b OR –
I bought him with Tom Malone as a store and he had one run last season when third in a bumper at Wincanton. He’s a nice, big horse by Getaway who I expect to improve tons this season and he’ll definitely win a novice hurdle before progressing to better things.
One Journey
3f Mastercraftsman – Estrela
Ms Sharon Kinsella
1-5561
RPR 100f OR 100f
She’s just joined us from Roger Charton’s yard after winning easily over a mile and a quarter at Newbury last month on soft ground. She ended up rated 100 on the Flat and is obviously a nice prospect to go juvenile hurdling. We’ll get her jumping at home soon and go from there.
Onethreefivenotout
5g Milan – Back To Loughadera
The Stewart Family
1
RPR 100b OR –
He was too backward last season to run and had never been anywhere until he went to Worcester the other day. I thought he’d win but we knew he’d be green and it wasn’t until Harry Cobden gave him a slap that he stayed on strong and won nicely. He’s done a lot of schooling and will go over hurdles now. He probably wants two and a half miles to two miles six already, and he’ll make a lovely novice hurdler. Like the rest of them, we’ll find a maiden hurdle and go from there. We like him.
Oscars Moonshine
6g Oscar – Scrapper Jack
Mrs Elizabeth Lane
0/6111-2
RPR 122h OR 122h
He won three on the trot in handicap hurdles last season and then fractured one of the bones in his knee, which ended his season. He ran really well on his comeback at Newton Abbot off top weight, having needed the run, and he will improve a lot for that. I’ve not made a plan but he’s already jumped fences at home and will go novice chasing at some stage, but might just win a handicap hurdle off his mark first. There’s lots to come.
Outlaw Peter
5g Mustameet – My Katie
The Stewart Family, Dench, Ferguson & Mason
2-14
RPR 118h OR –
He ran very free on his debut over hurdles at Exeter last week and we’ll probably drop him back in trip. He just travelled too strongly but will be winning a novice hurdle soon and will make a nice chaser in time.
Paso Doble
4g Dawn Approach – Baila Me
Graeme Brooks
3-16
RPR 126h OR 126h
I hate making mistakes but I think I made a pig’s ear of running in the Persian War at Chepstow – the track didn’t suit him and it just didn’t happen. I wish I’d gone to Kempton for the Listed novice hurdle the week after. I didn’t want to risk him on good ground but Kempton ended up being beautiful ground and I made the wrong decision. He’s a novice over hurdles so I can go anywhere I like with him. I’ll find a novice hurdle to run him in with a penalty and he’s actually got a lot of ability.
Petrossian
5g Sageburg – Innisfree Dawn
Malcolm C Denmark
16-
RPR 115b OR –
He won his bumper first time out last year but ran far too free on his second run in the spring. He looks great now, has done lots of jumping and will be ready to run in a novice hurdle in three weeks’ time. One day he’ll make a lovely two-mile chaser.
Pic D’Orhy
6g Turgeon – Rose Candy
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
2F424-1
RPR 155c OR 152c
He had a few jumping issues last season but I was chuffed with him at Ffos Las the other day, when the flat track suited him and he jumped brilliantly. I still thought it was a bit harsh to put his handicap mark up 5lb considering the second-favourite fell. He’s high enough anyway so why not give him a chance? He’ll go to Newbury now for the two-and-a-half-mile Grade 2 novice chase at the Ladbrokes Trophy meeting, where the galloping track will suit him well. It’s taken a while for things to come together but I like this horse.
Pleasant Man
3g Galileo – Melito
For Sale
514871 (Flat)
RPR 101f OR 95f
I bought him at the sales last month with Tom Malone. He won over a mile and six furlongs for Roger Charlton on the Flat and he’s a typical Galileo – I hope he’s another Celestial Halo. He’ll go hurdling after Christmas and is a lovely prospect for juvenile hurdles who is for sale.
Politologue
10g Poliglote – Scarlet Row
J Hales
251/124-
RPR 173c OR 168c
He had a gallop with Lalor the other day, is in good shape and could run in the Shloer Chase or the Tingle Creek. I’ve just got half a feeling that the Tingle Creek this year could be hot if Shishkin, Greaneteen, Hitman and all the others turn up there and I wouldn’t mind taking on Put The Kettle On in the Shloer. It could be worth going just a bit below the top with him and if we run him at Cheltenham and miss the Tingle Creek, we could then go for the Desert Orchid at Kempton. He’s been an amazing horse and it was just a shame he had a trickle of blood in his nose before the Champion Chase last season and had to miss the race, because I had him ready to run for his life. He’s best fresh but when you’ve done loads of work with him. He still loves what he’s doing and, as long as we’re happy with him, he’ll have a couple more runs.
Rainyday Woman
6m Kayf Tara – Wistow
S White
32/110-2
RPR 111h OR -She had a wind operation in the summer and is a lovely mare. She didn’t jump well enough on her debut over hurdles at Ludlow but will improve tons both fitness-wise and jumping for the run. She may go to Newbury on November 27 for the Listed mares’ novices’ hurdle that we won with Posh Trish a few years ago, but she just needs to sharpen her jumping.
Rubaud
3g Air Chief Marshal – Fulgence
Chris Giles & Brendan McManus
44147 (Flat)
RPR 97f OR –
He looks like another smart juvenile from the Flat in France who has recently been added to the team. He was a winner over a mile and seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud in July and fourth in a Group 3 over the same trip at Longchamp in September. He’s a bloody nice horse.
Real Steel
8g Loup Breton – Kalimina
Mrs Kathy Stuart & Sullivan Bloodstock Ltd
6/3PP-07
RPR 166c OR 145c
He bled on every run last season. His handicap mark has come down to 145 now and he should be competitive in a little handicap somewhere and win a couple in the spring, but he isn’t going to win a Graded race if he started now. We’re going to have to be realistic.
Rouge Vif
7g Sageburg – Rouge Amour
Kate & Andrew Brooks
13/1349-
RPR 167c OR 161c
We’re still learning about him. He’s quite keen at home and just getting his act together now. He’ll have an away day somewhere and then go to Cheltenham for the Shloer Chase on Sunday. After a few runs, I could see him being awesome for the Celebration Chase in the spring but he’s got to get into our system and it doesn’t happen overnight.
Sabrina
6m Yeats – En Vedette
Owners Group 030
218/
RPR 110b OR –
She’s a lovely mare who won a bumper at Ascot. She had a tiny fracture of her pelvis last season and having a year off has done her the world of good. She’s due to run in a mares’ novice hurdle anytime now and she’ll win races for the Owners Group.
Saint Calvados
8g Saint Des Saints – Lamorrese
Kate & Andrew Brooks
1422/4U-
RPR 171c OR 167c
He’s done loads of work, looks good and will go for the 1965 Chase at Ascot in a couple of weeks. We’ve done lots of work on his jumping just to try and get him sharpened up a bit. If he jumps a bit sharper and a bit quicker, that will improve him. After Ascot he’ll have a King George entry. He ran so well in that race last year that it would be wrong not to.
Saint Sonnet
6g Saint Des Saints – Leprechaun Lady
Colm Donlon
FPP03-7
RPR 151c OR 139c
He may have lost his confidence after falling at the last in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last year and we switched back to hurdles for his last two runs. He was a little bit disappointing in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last month but he probably needed the run. On his best form he looks fairly handicapped and I have no doubt he’ll be winning over hurdles.
Samarrive
4g Coastal Path – Sambirane
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
11-7
RPR 129 OR 130
He travelled so well at Cheltenham on his comeback but ran so green and just got lost a bit coming down the hill and then stayed on. I just think he wants some experience. He’s been dropped to 130, which gives him a chance, and we’ll find a handicap hurdle in the next few weeks. He’ll keep improving but does need experience. He’ll make a lovely chaser one day but will definitely win over hurdles.
Secret Scripture
5g Mount Nelson – Kauto Shiny
Old Gold Racing 08
P-1
RPR 87ptp OR –
An Irish point-to-point winner over three miles who will be going novice hurdling this side of Christmas. We’re still learning about him but he should give his owners plenty of fun.
Shearer
5g Flemensfirth – The Crown Jewel
McNeill Family
210-2
RPR 115h OR –
He’s very much in the same mould of horses like Mr Glass and Gelino Bello and there’s very little between them. He ran a bit green on his hurdles debut at Wincanton when narrowly beaten and the ground was probably a bit quicker than ideal. I think there’s huge improvement to come from him. On a bit slower ground and with a bit more experience he will be fine. He’s another nice horse.
Silent Revolution
5g Sholokhov – Watson River
Colm Donlon
213-1
RPR 123h OR –
Another bumper winner from last year, he had a wind operation in the summer and I was very pleased with his performance at Newbury last week. We’ll look to do something similar under a penalty before finding a better race for him.
Silver Forever
7m Jeremy – Silver Prayer
Colm Donlon
2/1131/1
RPR 145c OR 142c
She’s a frustrating mare because she’s so good but has missed the best part of two years. She had a pelvis injury but has been going on the water treadmill twice a week, which has done her good. She jumps great at home and made a very pleasing debut over fences when winning at Newbury. She’s high-class and you could run her in the best mares’ races but wouldn’t be afraid to run her against the geldings with a handy 7lb weight allowance. I’ve not made a plan yet but she could easily end up back at Newbury for the Ladbrokes Trophy meeting in a novice chase. Harry Cobden loved her and ultimately the mares’ chase at Cheltenham in March could be her race.
Simply The Betts
8g Arcadio – Crimson Flower
Kate & Andrew Brooks
11211/6-
RPR 162c OR 154c
He’ll probably make his debut for us in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, which he was sixth in last season. I’ve just got a feeling he might want three miles now, so that race will tell us a lot more. We’re learning about him all the time but the handicapper hasn’t given him much help off 154 for his time off.
Siroco Jo
4g Hurricane Cat – Diana Vertica
P J Vogt
2P10-1
RPR 121h OR 116h
He was a big, weak horse last year and needed the summer. Off a mark of 116 I thought he’d win like he did at Newbury last week and he’ll run again on Tuesday without a penalty in the race for Flat jockeys. We’ll stay over hurdles for now but he will jump fences.
Skatman
6g Mustameet – Maid For Action
Chris Giles
18/1-1
RPR 118b OR122b
He’s been quite backwards but has won a maiden and a novice hurdle. He’s been given a mark of 122, which I think is quite fair and we’ll find a handicap hurdle before going novice chasing. If I can’t find a suitable race, he’ll go novice handicap chasing off the same mark. There are a couple of options over hurdles at the Paddy Power meeting but ultimately he’ll make a lovely chaser.
Solo
5g Kapgarde – Flameche
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
45040-2
RPR 145c OR 139c
At the time his Adonis win in 2020 looked visibly fantastic but he’s by Kapgarde, bred to be a chaser and still hasn’t matured now. He was a bit in no man’s land last season and I’ve no doubt he was struggling with his breathing. He had a wind operation and came in this year a completely different horse and ran how I thought he would on his chase debut. He nearly got back up against Nassalam, who’s a good horse. He’s going to improve and wants dropping back to two miles really. I wouldn’t be afraid to put him in the Henry VIII and he’s definitely capable of running in a race like that. It’s exciting to have him back.
Dark horse
Sonigino
4g It’s Gino – Soniador
Sir A Ferguson, G Mason, J Hales & L Hales
411
RPR 123h OR –
He won his two novice hurdles for David Cottin in France but with two penalties it’s not easy to find a race for him. He could go for the Grade 2 Supreme Trial at the Paddy Power meeting or if that’s looking a bit hot there’s the two-mile Listed Newton Novices’ Hurdle the week after at Haydock. He’s a very nice horse and will make a lovely chaser.
Stage Star
5g Fame And Glory- Sparky May
Owners Group 044
123-1
RPR 133h OR –
He had good bumper form and made a taking debut over hurdles at Chepstow. He was always going to improve this season. He could go to Newbury for the Ladbrokes Trophy meeting and, if he won there, he could then step up for the Challow at Christmas. He’s definitely got enough ability to do that.
Storm Arising
7g Yeats – Ceol Rua
Barry Fulton & Mrs Angela Hart
30/1210-
RPR 141h OR 139h
The ground was probably a bit lively for him in the Pertemps Final but he ran well enough. He likes soft ground but is on quite a high mark so, as soon as the ground is suitable, I need to find a nice beginners’ chase somewhere.
Switch Hitter
6g Scorpion – Country Time
Hills of Ledbury Ltd
5/2181F-
RPR 129h OR 132h
He won a couple of novice hurdles at Kempton last season and makes his debut over fences in a novice handicap chase at Hereford on Tuesday. He’ll make a good, fun, staying novice chaser.
Take Your Time
6g Dubai Destination – Don’t Be Bleu
Owners Group 060
123P2-1
RPR 130h OR 126h
He probably found the ground too quick on his final start last season but won really well on his return at Ffos Las when stepped up to three miles on soft ground. We were going to go novice chasing and that could still be the plan. He’s a strong stayer.
Tamaroc Du Mathan
6g Poliglote – Thisbee Du Mathan
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
7/121U-P
RPR 154c OR 146c
He’s just gone off for another breathing operation and something like the Silviniaco Conti Chase in the spring on a flat track like Kempton might suit him. He’s had issues with his breathing all through his career but, when he’s right, he’s talented.
Threeunderthrufive
6g Shantou – Didinas
McNeill Family
1161-21
RPR 149c OR 141c
He ran a nice race to finish sixth in the Albert Bartlett last season and the experience of his first start over fences at Chepstow wasn’t lost on him when he won at Exeter last week. He’s going to make a lovely staying chaser and I said to the owners the race that will suit him well is the Reynoldstown in February. He’s definitely up to running in the top-level novice chases.
Thyme White
5g Anodin – Jane
The Stewart Family
0/1U907-
RPR 140h OR 135h
He had a wind operation in the summer so is a little bit behind but he’s coming along nicely and will go novice chasing. He’ll probably get two and a half miles now and should improve for fences.
Timeforatune
5g Yorgunnabelucky – Timeforagin
J Hales
11
RPR 118b OR –
John Hales bought him in the spring and he made a winning debut under a penalty for the yard at Chepstow in October. Rather than going hurdling he’ll go for the Listed bumper at the Paddy Power meeting now. He’s not been the most natural over hurdles but once we get Cheltenham out the way we’ll concentrate on getting him jumping and go novice hurdling.
Truckers Lodge
9g Westerner – Galeacord
Gordon & Su Hall
121/U77-
RPR 158c OR 150c
He’s been too high in the handicap ever since he won the Midlands National and has been given no chance since then. He’s still too high but races like the Midlands National and Welsh National on testing ground will be his aim. He needs to be given some slack.
Tulin
4g Gleneagles – Talawat
Elite Racing 001
11-42
RPR 123h OR 125h
He ran okay at Kempton last month but I hadn’t had him back long and he just blew up going to the last. He’ll improve for that and he’s a good, fun handicapper to have around the West Country.
Wild Max
6g Maxios – Wildfahrte
Owners Group 036
411FP-0
RPR 143h OR 142h
He’d had a wind op before his comeback run at Ascot, so he’ll come on for the run, but he’s too high in the handicap and we’ll have to go novice chasing now. We’ll look for a suitable race over two miles around one of the smaller tracks.
Yala Enki
11g Nickname – Cadiane
Hills of Ledbury Ltd
2F314U-
RPR 165c OR 159c
He’s been an absolute legend and ran some serious races last season. He won the Portman Chase at Taunton for a second year running and that race is his Gold Cup. He’ll go for the Grade 3 handicap chase at the Paddy Power meeting, in which he was beaten a short head last season, over three and a half miles and then he’ll be aimed at the Midlands National and those staying races. He’s still as good as ever and gives his owners a lot of fun.
Two for the Tracker
I’ve always liked Flash Collonges and I’m excited about him going novice chasing. Iceo is one to follow over hurdles. We’ve loved what we’ve seen so far from him.
Expert view
The modern approach to training in Britain appears to be to try to give all your top horses as many easy races as is possible before going to Cheltenham and finally cranking it up at the festival. However, that just breeds a lack of competition and, not only is that bad for the sport in Britain, last season’s Irish-dominated Cheltenham suggests the approach doesn’t work either.
So why make this point with regards to Paul Nicholls? The reason to mention it is because Nicholls doesn’t take that approach. He has been champion trainer in Britain 12 times, including last season, and isn’t scared of competition. In fact, he absolutely relishes it.
Whether it be at Cheltenham or away from the festival, Nicholls runs his horses regularly. It’s great for the sport and, given his astounding success, evidently isn’t detrimental to his horses. Not only are Nicholls’ horses hardy enough to take racing, they also have longevity.
There are any number of examples, but Kauto Star winning his last King George when he was rising 12 is probably the best and don’t forget Denman was second in a Gold Cup at 11.
Since the start of 2016, nobody has trained more winners aged ten or older than Nicholls over jumps and his strike-rate with them is 23 per cent (37-164). That is in a different league to his contemporaries. Willie Mullins is just 15 per cent (35-229), Nicky Henderson 11 per cent (12-111), Gordon Elliott nine per cent (35-401) and Henry de Bromhead nine per cent (17-182).
That’s why, when I’m asked the question, who is the best trainer in Britain and Ireland, I always answer Nicholls. Surely, if you own a horse, the most important thing is longevity?
That’s not only true for owners, but it’s also important for punters to remember because backing Nicholls-trained ten-year-olds and upwards has been profitable since 2016. If you had supported every one of those runners blind you would have won £5.47 for £1 at starting price.
There are a lot of young horses mentioned in this tour but, if you’re looking for horses to put in your tracker, I suggest you look at the older runners because that is where the value lies.
Lalor and Next Destination are only nine, but both will be ten next year and could have more to offer. The Paddy Power Gold Cup is Lalor’s first target and I wonder if the Cotswold Chase might be considered for Next Destination in January, provided the ground is testing?
Politologue and Yala Enki are ten and 11, but Politologue goes well fresh and can probably beat Put The Kettle On in the Shloer at Cheltenham next week, while Yala Enki will have another go at the Portman Chase at Taunton and that is his ‘Gold Cup’ according to Nicholls.