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NICHOLLS NEEDS PARRAIN PROGRESSION
Paul Nicholls believes Mon Parrain has to improve to break the champion trainer's Paddy Power Gold Cup hoodoo.
The five-year-old French import is 8-1 favourite with the sponsors for the big handicap chase at Cheltenham on Saturday despite having had just two runs over fences in this country.
Nicholls had been concerned about the horse's fitness ahead of such a challenging race and was delighted with Mon Parrain's work alongside Kauto Star and Big Buck's at Exeter last Tuesday.
"He worked great at Exeter - I had been struggling to get him as fit as I would have liked, so that's why we took him there and he worked nicely," Nicholls told the Racing UK Podcast.
"He's going to have to improve to win off a mark of 152. He's been a bit of a hype horse.
"He won so well when he was thrown in at the weights at Sandown and then he did run well at Aintree (second in the Topham Chase), although he has gone up a few pounds for getting beat.
"I've not won the race before as generally mine are not well handicapped. It's going to be a hard race to win, but he doesn't know he's favourite."
Nicholls has two other possibles - fellow five-year-old Aerial and top-weight Poquelin, who was fifth 12 months ago.
All the leading fancies were among the 32 five-day acceptors, including the Philip Hobbs-trained Wishfull Thinking, Ferdy Murphy's Divers, David Pipe's Great Endeavour, David Bridgwater's The Giant Bolster and Nicky Richards' Noble Alan.
Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has won the race twice in the last three years with Imperial Commander (2008) and Little Josh (2010), is double-handed with Swincombe Rock and Billie Magern.
There are four Irish possibles in Paul Nolan's Noble Prince, Henry de Bromhead's Loosen My Load, Tom Taaffe's Finger On the Pulse and Eoin Griffin's Norther Bay.
Nolan has warned punters Noble Prince, an easy winner at Naas on his reappearance, is not yet a definite runner.
The County Wexford handler said: "We have left him in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and a decision on whether he runs will be made later in the week. We wanted to have the chance to make that decision so decided to confirm him.
"I'm very pleased with him and the horse seems to be in very good shape. It was a nice introduction to the season for him considering that he fell on his last run over fences.
"I couldn't have been happier with his jumping, although it was just a school around."
Malcolm Jefferson is praying for decent conditions to persuade him to run Cape Tribulation.
"We would love to run Cape Tribulation, but he would need proper good jumping ground to take his chance," said the North Yorkshire trainer.
"He is in great form but he is just a better horse with some give underneath.
"He didn't really have a season last year because he got injured at Carlisle on his second start.
"I thought he ran two great races at Wetherby and Market Rasen and then he couldn't run again because the ground dried up.
"He was entered at Cheltenham, Aintree and Ayr but the going was too fast and it curtailed his season.
"He is a good horse and he has run well on good ground, but they always seem to be going a stride too quick for him on a faster surface.
"He is at the right end of the handicap and looks tremendous at the moment but we are just hoping that the ground comes right for him."
Evan Williams fears Buck Mulligan might not make the cut as the maximum field allowed is 20 and his horse needs several above him in the handicap to come out.
Buck Mulligan had been on the go throughout the summer and was second to Billie Magern on this course last month.
"The way things are looking at the moment we'd struggle to get a run," said the Llancarfan trainer.
"He didn't jump well early last time. He made a few mistakes which didn't help him, but he did run well.
"If he did get in the race on Saturday with a feather weight in the handicap, he'd definitely run."
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| ALL SET FOR AUSTRALIA'S DAY AGAIN TUESDAY'S SELECTIONS: HUNTINGDON: 1.20 Doyenne Dream, 1.50 Rossbrin, 2.20 Dineur, 2.50 Australia Day, 3.20 Right Stuff, 3.50 Ron. LINGFIELD: 1.10 Zennor, 1.40 Run To Fly, 2.10 Mister Dillon, 2.40 River Rhapsody, 3.10 Zorro De La Vega, 3.40 Jezza, 4.10 Rich Maid. SEDGEFIELD: 1.00 Simply Ned, 1.30 Glasson Lad, 2.00 FLINTY BAY (NAP), 2.30 Jim Tango, 3.00 Mister Pete, 3.30 Authentic Act, 4.00 Claude Carter. DOUBLE: Flinty Bay and Australia Day. Australia Day can squeeze in another win before proper winter ground becomes the norm as he turns out again at Huntingdon on Tuesday. The eight-year-old will be having his third start in just over a month but trainer Paul Webber is keen to get some jumping experience into his charge while going remains good. Australia Day does need a sound surface to show his best so much was expected when he made his fencing bow at this track at the beginning of October. However, a false start fired him up to such a degree that jockey Denis O'Regan had little chance of getting a good hold on him in the race proper and he folded tamely in second. That experience taught Australia Day plenty of valuable lessons though, and while he was still keen at Kempton next time, he did not blaze away in quite the same style. Australia Day still impressed in triumphing by 51 lengths and his exuberant jumping makes him one of the most exciting horses around at the moment. The Tom Jones Memorial HTJ Centre Ltd Novices' Chase looks another good opportunity while quicker ground still prevails. Right Stuff can prove aptly-named for his followers in the Ingrebourne Valley Handicap Hurdle. The Dansili gelding had been a while in getting off the mark over timber, but the vibes were good at Kempton last week and he scored with a deal of authority in a conditionals race under trainer Gary Moore's son, Joshua. The eight-year-old escapes a penalty and Moore junior can take off 5lb in this extended two-mile event. Flinty Bay made a costly mistake at Aintree last time but compensation awaits in the John Smith's C & IU 150th Anniversary Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Sedgefield. A dual hurdles winner, he did not enjoy the rub of the green on his chasing bow when badly hampered and unseating his rider. He then went on to Aintree where he was still travelling nicely before crashing through the eighth fence and losing valuable momentum. To his credit, Flinty Bay recovered and kept on to be third and Nicky Richards is sure to have put in plenty of practice on the schooling ground ahead of this race. The handicapper has finally given Zorro De La Vega a little respite and he looks on a more realistic mark in the Bob Champion Cancer Trust Handicap Chase at Lingfield. A winner off 113, Zorro De La Vega was then hiked 13lb in the ratings and was clearly struggling when only fourth at Stratford last time. Zorro De La Vega is still some 6lb above his last winning mark, but he is in great heart and will give you a good run for your money. |
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| LEICESTER CALL OFF CHASES |
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| SARANDO ENTERS HENNESSY FRAME Paul Webber is eyeing a crack at the Hennessy Gold Cup for Sarando after he turned in a fine round of jumping to land the Betfair Graduation Chase at Carlisle. The six-year-old had shown some high-class form during his novice campaign, most notably running last weekend's Down Royal winner Quito De La Roque close in a Grade Two event at Aintree in the spring. Sarando headed north to Cumbria following a pipe-opener on the Flat at Newbury just over a fortnight ago and produced some prodigious leaps under Will Kennedy. The high-class Aikman did his best to make a race of it, but 7-2 chance Sarando was getting the better of the argument from some way out and overcame a small error at the second last to register an 11-length success. Stan James make the gelding 14-1 from 25-1 for the Hennessy at Newbury on November 26, but Victor Chandler still offer 25s having trimmed his odds from 33-1. Webber said: "We're absolutely thrilled with him as we thought he might just need it a little bit. "He had the spin on the Flat the other week but he normally takes a few runs just to get into the swing of things, but he was very good today. "He jumped great apart from the mistake at the second last and it's good if you can make a little error like that and still go and win nicely. "We'll certainly have to look at the Hennessy now. I think he'll get into that with a 4lb penalty and I'd like to think there's still a bit of improvement in him." Kudu Country made a fine start to his career over fences with a ready victory in the Join Now At rewards4racing.com Novices' Chase. The 6-1 shot had showed some fair form over hurdles and although he looked to have plenty to do against 4-9 market leader and Grade Two winner Bold Sir Brian, Tom Tate's charge easily put the favourite in his place by eight lengths under Graham Lee. "That topped expectations really," Tate told Racing UK. "He always runs well on a light preparation and he just took charge. He'll have a bit more to do next time. He does need it soft (ground)." Bold Sir Brian's trainer Lucinda Russell soon gained compensation as Tap Night easily defied top-weight in the Exhibitions At Carlisle Racecourse Novices' Handicap Hurdle. Peter Buchanan cut a confident figure rounding the turn for home on the 5-1 chance and barely had to move a muscle in the straight as his mount bounded clear for a 15-length win over Inga Bird. "He came over from America last winter and we ran him through the summer. He ran OK, but he was always a bit weak and backward," said Russell. "He's got fair enough form but he's really improved for a break and has done it nicely today. "He's carrying a lot of condition so hopefully if he can improve, he can go on a bit further." Russell and Buchanan struck again with Do It For Dalkey (9-2), who annihilated his rivals by 10 lengths and more in the Watch Racing UK On Sky432 Handicap Chase. Sue Smith has enjoyed a fine start to the season and also added to her tally with a double on the card. You Know Yourself (11-4 favourite) recorded his second victory at the Cumbrian track with a determined display under Shane Byrne in the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Handicap Chase. Byrne said: "I won three on him last season and when he did his first bit of work after he came back, I said he'd improved. "I think there is more to come from home, but it just depends what the handicapper does. "He loves getting into a battle and did it well." Smith and Byrne completed the brace as well supported 3-1 shot Vintage Star came from a long way back to land the Christmas Parties At Carlisle Racecourse Novices' Hurdle. "I had to look after him a bit coming down the hill as he's such a big horse but I knew once we turned for home he'd keep finding," Byrne added. "He's done it very well and stiff tracks like this suit him. He looks like a real chaser in the making." Sydney Paget (11-4 joint-favourite) made a fine debut under rules in the closing Conferences At Carlisle Racecourse Standard Open NH Flat Race. |
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| McCOY ENJOYS SOUTHWELL LARK Tony McCoy enjoyed the first walk-over of his long and illustrious career on Larks Lad in the Automate Your Strategy With Bet Angel Beginners' Chase at Southwell. The Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old was left to collect all the prize money for owner Trevor Hemmings after his sole rival Fred Kennet was withdrawn earlier in the day after suffering a slight injury. "It's hard to believe I'd had all those winners without any walk-overs. Hopefully, there will be a few more to come!" McCoy told At The Races. "I've ridden in a couple of match races, but this is the first walk-over which is nice. "I wouldn't get into the trouble I got into on Sunday if there were walk-overs!" The 16-times champion jump jockey also reflected on the five-day ban he incurred for breaching the new whip rules at Ffos Las on Sunday. He was found to have used his whip once more than the permitted eight times on Jonjo O'Neill's Caddie Master, runner-up in a three-mile handicap hurdle. "It's become a bit repetitive. You just worry that sometimes the best horse is not winning," he went on. "We've got to keep everybody happy and we're just worried the best horse sometimes isn't winning. "You've got punters who are not happy and owners not happy and jockeys not happy. We are the ones doing our best and we get punished the most, obviously. "Every governing body has rules and we've got to try to abide by them." |
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| QUANTITATIVEEASING TRIBULATIONS Whether the race resides in your memory as the Mackeson, the Massey Ferguson, the Thomas Pink or the Paddy Power depending upon your vintage there's no escaping the growing anticipation for the season ahead that greets this most competitive of handicaps. Gay Trip, Fifty Dollars More, Very Promising, Bradbury Star, Cyfor Malta, Fondmort, Exotic Dancer, Imperial Commander - just a few of those on the roll of honour which does not feature the name of Long Run, beaten into third behind Little Josh from a mark of 158 when sent off the 2-1 favourite. Those that backed him, although not collecting on the day, were ultimately proved right in their judgement as the precocious French import went on to right a new chapter in the history books at, first, Kempton and then back at Prestbury Park. There seems little chance of Mon Parrain being sent off at a similarly short price but there remains plenty of confidence in the five year old, not least from his handler, Paul Nicholls, who insists that he could just as easily have run him in the upcoming Betfair Chase at Haydock against Long Run. The son of Trempolino is rated 152 and this superb jumper will be regarded in many quarters as a handicap snip but this is a race that has always eluded Nicholls. That omission in his CV will surely be rectified at some stage and it's a race in which market leaders have fared well with very few surprise victors in recent years. That has been down, in part, to a number of public gambles on horses from the Pond House Stables of formerly Martin Pipe and now David. The latter has yet to win a race which his father farmed at the start of the last decade and Great Endeavour has a little work to do if he's to improve on last season's sixth when beaten 25 lengths. One winner returned at double figure odds was Exotic Dancer who disappointed in the same Carlisle race as Divers ran badly in last month and it would be folly to rule Ferdy Murphy's grey out on the basis of that performance. He had a couple of lengths in hand of Quantitativeeasing and Tullamore Dew when winning the Centenary Chase at the Festival and all three have to be on the long-list. Quantitativeeasing looks well worth an interest at a top price of 20-1 for his return to action with Nicky Henderson's string showing signs of coming to hand. The six year old hasn't really lived up to expectations but he gradually got things together in a campaign that brought him some valuable experience at a couple of the smaller tracks before his sights were raised. He didn't get home in the Irish National but his stamina will be a huge asset over this trip in a race where you have to stay well in order to be successful. Henderson has only won this race once but he's sent out Barber's Shop and Long Run to make the frame in the last three years and his son of Anshan has the right profile for the race. I am also prepared to take a chance on Cape Tribulation who has his first start since February when chasing home a former stablemate of Quantitativeeasing. Malcolm Jefferson has his string in good form at present and has always thought the world of his son of Hernando who was a decent staying hurdler a couple of seasons ago. His jumping left a little to be desired at times in a truncated novice season but that has meant that there is some wriggle room with regards his handicap mark. Once again, he is proven over further than this trip and he has the class to pick up a valuable handicap this season if his jumping holds up and appeals at a widely available 20-1. Recommendations Paddy Power Gold Cup: Quantitativeeasing Paddy Power Gold Cup: Cape Tribulation each-way |
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| LIGHT UP SUNDAY WITH A ROLL OF THE DICE competitive handicap hurdle like the Greatwood is to look towards the bottom of the weights for an unexposed improver. However, at this time of the season those at the top of the weights are often equally unexposed and capable of improving on their existing marks. Whilst it's never easy to give a significant amount of weight away, four of the last five winners have carried 11-6 or more up the Cheltenham hill to claim Sunday's feature race with Philip Hobbs twice sending out horses (Menorah and Detroit City) to score under the maximum burden. Hobbs' good record - along with a wide-margin Sandown victory - have led to Pateese rocketing to the top of the market ahead of Ascot winner Brampour who had a number of Sunday's possible rivals behind him when winning at the royal venue. He still makes some appeal at around the 6-1 mark as recent years have shown that this prize is not one in which to try to be too clever with only Rigmarole (33-1) being returned at larger than 9-1 and the former Flat racer had hinted that he had the scope for that sort of performance once or twice last season and may now be maturing. The stiff track will play to his strengths but he wouldn't want it to turn into a sprint and may ideally prefer the ground to be riding softer than is likely and there is a ready made alternative in Paul Flynn's Moon Dice. Flynn has always held him in high esteem but, by his own admittance, it has taken him time to discover how to bring out the best in his horse so there's no need to be put off by the Norwich gelding's form figures prior to his two impressive successes this summer. He may be racing from a stone higher mark than when winning the Galway Hurdle and fourth placed The Real Article may not have been seen to his best effect that day but - as could be expected for such a competitive event - a good number of the other horses in behind the four and a half length winner have also done their bit to advertise the form and his revised mark may not reflect the peak of his ability. After all, the gelding has had just 10 career starts and has really blossomed this summer; his jumping was notably slick when winning in July which can only help in a race of this nature as can his experience of competing in a similar handicap. He's best fresh so his absence is of no concern and this test looks to be right down his street and he's expected to run a big race. I am, though, tempted to have a second interest in the race at this stage with the strong travelling A Media Luz despite Nicky Henderson's filly twice having blown out at Cheltenham. There's the suspicion that she's capable of improving greatly on the form that she's shown to date if connections can sort out her quirks and her return at Ascot behind Brampour was a taking performance. She appeared to be travelling all over the field with two flights to jump only to appear to blow up and finish over seven lengths adrift in third. It may be that this free-going sort will always be her own worst enemy but she had settled far better at Ascot than on many occasions last season and her finishing effort could be stronger as a result this term. That run looked as though it would do her the world of good and this juvenile - who was no mug on the Flat having finished just over 10 lengths behind Sarafina in the French Oaks - undoubtedly has the ability to pick up a decent prize this winter if connections can harness her energies in the right direction. |
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| NO DECISION ON NOBLE PRINCE |
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| McCOY ENJOYS SOUTHWELL LARK |
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| GRANDS CRUS SET FOR CHASING DEBUT |
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| QUANTITATIVEEASING TRIBULATIONS |
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| SARANDO ENTERS HENNESSY FRAME |
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| MON PARRAIN AMONG PADDY POWER ENTRIES |
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| CHELTENHAM PLAN FOR CAPE TRIBULATION |
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| FIRST LIEUTENANT PLAN POSER |
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| STONE TEAM TAKE LONG-TERM VIEW |
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| WEBBER MAKING TIME FOR HAYDOCK |
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| LEICESTER CALL OFF CHASES |
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| STATE OF PLAY ON NATIONAL TRAIL |
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| WEBBER PRIMED FOR BIG DAY OUT |