Thru' the card Saturday 9th (views

del roy

12:05 Tinnahalla 2nd 11/2 He ran a good first race over hurdles at Newbury so hopefully he will be suited by the experience. He was a bit keen the last day but if he settles in the early stages of the race, I’m sure he can go well. Aidan Coleman


12.17pm Tiquer 2nd 17/2 Fingers crossed, this re-scheduled meeting survives, as the three good chances I had on December 27th all are set to run again. And what I said back then stands true here. Tiquer was very good when winning this race for me last season and I think he remains fairly treated off a 5lb higher mark in his repeat bid. I don’t know why he hasn’t been since but he has won off a long break before, but I see he has had a wind op and he certainly has his conditions, and a light racing weight. Paddy Brennan


(12.25) Leylak 3rd 13/8 will be our representative in the maiden hurdle and I think he has a big chance. He has stepped forward from his run at Newbury. As he is four he gets the weight-for-age allowance in this race as well.I have been very happy with him. He looks fantastic and he has done plenty of jumping since. Dan Skelton


12.35pm Slipway 3rd 20/1 It’s nice to pick up a ride for Ben Pauling and although I haven’t ridden this horse before he ran a decent race at Aintree on his first start over hurdles. That said, this looks quite a hot novice hurdle and he’d certainly have to improve again to trouble the leading fancies. Richard Johnston


12.50 – Boyhood 6th 80/1 I start my day on Boyhood for trainer Tom George. I’ve not ridden him before but he’s got some useful form in the book, although not on his most recent run, so he will need to improve for that. On the plus side he’s a winner on heavy so conditions will hold no fears. T. Scu


1.10pm Smarty Wild 1st 5/2 Two and a half miles on a right-handed track like Kempton should be ideal for Smarty Wild. He ran a good race at Ascot last time where he jumped really well. He’s still a novice over fences and is very unexposed. We think he’s still improving and even though it’s an open race he should go there with a strong each-way chance. Richard Johnston



13.25 – Adagio 1st 5/2 I ride Adagio in the Grade 1 Coral Finale, and he’s a horse I rate very highly. We were beaten only by Gordon Elliott’s Duffle Coat at Cheltenham in November, and then went back to that course and won nicely last month. You can question what he beat but the manner of his victory was very pleasing. Obviously the shape of the race changed when Gordon’s pair [Duffle Coat and Quilixios] were unable to travel from Ireland, that left Gary Moore’s Nassalam as clear favourite, and while he’s won his two starts at Fontwell convincingly, we only have 4 pounds to find with him. This is where we’ll find out if Adagio is Grade 1 class. My only slight concern is that really heavy ground won’t suit him as much as the better ground he’s been running on, but he is a horse I really like. Tom Scudamore


13:45 Almazhar Garde Non runner He finished a good fifth at this course in March off a 3lb lower mark. He won well at Kelso and maybe the Newbury run came a bit too soon, but he’s given a chance to freshen up. If he gives his best account, he can go well off a low weight but it’s a competitive contest Aidan Coleman


1.58pm Good And Hardy He won here last season and shaped well on his return at this track last month. I think he is still on a fair mark and he is another who will revel in the mud. He has a lot to recommend him. Paddy Brennan



(14.05) Protektorat runs in the Dipper Novices’ Chase, rearranged from Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. He will take a lot of beating in this.
He has jumped well at home, looks great. Obviously we wanted to run him on New Year’s Day but that didn’t happen. This looks like a stepping stone to something bigger. He is in good form and I would like to think he can win this, given the opposition. Obviously I respect the claims of second favourite Messires Des Obeaux but he hasn’t achieved over fences yet what Protektorat has. I think he is the rightful favourite. Trainer Dan Skelton


14:20 Thomas Darby He’s a very consistent horse and has never been outside the top three in his eleven starts. He travelled well a long way at Aintree before getting a bit tired but hopefully with that run under his belt, we will now see the best of him. It’s another competitive race but he looks well in at the weights given his mark of 155. A. Coleman


14.30 – Neon Moon Neon Moon ran well on his first start for the yard, in what was probably a decent bumper for the grade, and we’re not wasting any time in getting him over hurdles. Of the others who have already run over hurdles, Easy As That sets the standard, although he was beaten at Bangor. If my fellow takes to it, which I think he will, David [Pipe] could have found a nice opportunity for him and we can be hopeful of a big run. Tom Scudamore


3.05 Albion Hill

Ambion Hill is a big sort, a chaser in the making, who just needs things to click for him over hurdles, and we think they will.
He’s dropping down the weights to a workable mark so could be competitive here, but it really is all about the future for him. He’s still growing so we’ll get this season behind him and look forward to going chasing. Joe Tizzard.


3.10 Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m6½f (3m6f130y) (Run In Memory Of Kim Gingell) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)

Ramses De Teillee……In the big race, I once again had to make the choice between Ramses De Teillee, and Vieux Lion Rouge. Obviously I picked the wrong one at Aintree last month, where Ramses just didn’t jump well enough, and Vieux did what he does so well over the National fences, and he is four pounds well in here, but I’ve kept the faith with the younger stablemate. He loves Chepstow, and was second in the Coral Welsh National in 2018. Although we’re slightly worse off with Yala Enki from our Cheltenham victory over him, these testing conditions will suit my horse, and the extra couple of weeks break since Aintree should also help him.
I’m happy to put a line through that Becher Chase run and I do think he’s more consistent than Vieux. Whatever happens, I think it’s lovely that the race is being run in memory of Kim Gingell, and if I can’t win it, I hope Christmas In April can for the Tizzards, and I’m sure that’s a sentiment shared by most of the runners. Tom Scudamore


Christmas In April

The Coral Welsh National is a race we target every season, and we’ve been fortunate to win it twice, with Native River and Elegant Escape. It would be extra special to win it this season, as it’s being run in honour of Kim, and in Christmas In April we hope we’ve got the right horse to give it a go.
Unlike our two previous winners, he gets in down the bottom of the weights, and he’s not been affected by the delay to the running of this race, he’s remained in good form at home.
He’s won a Devon and a Sussex National so we know he handles these marathon trips and testing conditions, and he ran a lovely prep to be second in Fontwell’s Southern National in November.
He does need to step up here, he’ll need to produce a career best, but he’s in off a lovely racing weight, and there’s nothing to say he can’t improve. Joe Tizzard






15:30 Ladbrokes Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (Listed)

Hunters Call………..He’s got plenty of experience in big handicap fields and has had some very good runs this season. The form from his Aintree run is looking strong so hopefully, the step up in trip can help his chances and he can give another good account. Aidan Coleman






Wincanton 15.45 – Molineaux

Molineaux loves it around Wincanton, he saves his best runs for here, and in a small field, Jonjo [O’Neill] can ride him positively, hopefully get the others at it, and give himself a great chance.
Joe

Coneygree

Nassalam, McFabulous, Imperial Aura treble.

Springfield Fox for the National

Pogue eile

Coneygree wrote: »

Nassalam, McFabulous, Imperial Aura treble.

Springfield Fox for the National

That treble is 15/2 on PP Price boosts

supremenovice

Im gonna go for Solo as my bet of the day in the 1530. He won the Adonis juvenile hurdle at the same track 11months ago although looks like it was a poor renewal. 18/1 is a big price though if he shows anything like that form.

Pogue eile

supremenovice wrote: »

Im gonna go for Solo as my bet of the day in the 1530. He won the Adonis juvenile hurdle at the same track 11months ago although looks like it was a poor renewal. 18/1 is a big price though if he shows anything like that form.

Had a close look myself, but I have a feeling that March is the target with this one, big chance if putting his best foot forward though

The Mig

Shang Tang for me in the Lanzarote

The Mig

https://twitter.com/itsrossbrierley/status/1347863304375451650?s=21

Coneygree

Zanahiyr-Quilixios-Duffle Coat reverse tricast is the nap of the festival :pac:

Castlecomer

Mcfabulous max bet for me.

The Mig

Backed that Capeland all 3 runs this season and left him today :mad:

Slattsy

Have all the Nicholls horses today in several multiples. I know one of these days he'll have a lot of winners.

Haven't seen any results yet can someone let me know how they're doing. Thanks.

SonOfGoat

4.45 Chelmsford, At Your Service. Horse is around 6/4 or even bits or 13/8 available. I've backed the horse to win. My best bet in the last 5 of 6 months. Should be a LOT shorter in the betting. Should win easy enough.

5.15 Chelmsford, Doonbeg Farmer. Horse is around 6/4. Not liking the horse in this particular race. I can't see it winning. The 2nd fav should go close but just the lay on Doonbeg Farmer for me.

5.45 Chelmsford, Zayriyan. Horse is around 2/1. Ran a good race a few days ago and won't get a much betting chance to win in a dire race. Ive backed the horse to win and in a double with At your service.

Pogue eile

supremenovice wrote: »

Im gonna go for Solo as my bet of the day in the 1530. He won the Adonis juvenile hurdle at the same track 11months ago although looks like it was a poor renewal. 18/1 is a big price though if he shows anything like that form.

Pogue eile wrote: »

Had a close look myself, but I have a feeling that March is the target with this one, big chance if putting his best foot forward though

Most definitely being plotted for something, only question is whether it is the Betfair or the County, he has got him down from 157 to 144 before today, probably take another 3-4lbs off for today, if he was to turn up in a County off 137-140 I would be very interested.

Coneygree

He's a strange horse. The rating he got that day was crazy but to be fair you would have said he looked a Champion Hurdler in the making. Has completely gone to **** since then. He was a juvenile though, and whatever about regular novices, juveniles can be extremely hard to get a grip of. He's clearly not the horse Nicholls thought he was. Will definitely keep an eye on him.

I feel like the handicapper will batter him but I'd love if Master McShee snuck in to the County.

Castlecomer

Sunday Nap: Karl Phillippe Exeter 1:40

NaiveMelodies

Coneygree wrote: »

I feel like the handicapper will batter him but I'd love if Master McShee snuck in to the County.

Just backed him for it NRNB.
The horse has clearly been campaigned honestly and given 11 pounds for his win at Xmas. The English handicapper will do well to justify a significant hike even if Appreciate It wins at the DRF. 2/3 pounds max I'd say.
If this happens I'd say he has a right chance in the CH and if Appreciate It won the supreme he'll go off single digits.

Obviously this might change if he runs well at the big 2m handicap at the DRF.

Pogue eile

Pogue eile wrote: »

Most definitely being plotted for something, only question is whether it is the Betfair or the County, he has got him down from 157 to 144 before today, probably take another 3-4lbs off for today, if he was to turn up in a County off 137-140 I would be very interested.

And he is down to 141, I can nearly see Nicholls trotting out all the excuses for the sudden massive improvement after he wins a big one without breaking sweat.

carq

Is this not a blight on the sport though?
Solo was a clear non trier last day, deliberately started off at the back of the pack, cruising into mid division and then eased off without the jockey thinking of getting to work on him.
Plenty of horse left.

longshotvalue

carq wrote: »

Is this not a blight on the sport though?
Solo was a clear non trier last day, deliberately started off at the back of the pack, cruising into mid division and then eased off without the jockey thinking of getting to work on him.
Plenty of horse left.

Horse was never 157 thought, he was unfairly handicapped as a 4yo.. Literally every non Graded horse spends a lot of their time minding handicaps, and nicholls is one of better trainer for sending out triers.

IAMAMORON

Agreed on Paul Nicholls. He is fairly straight all things considered. He also tends to get a fairly heavy hand from the handicapper as soon as he sends one out, he is the victim of his own success.