By Sean Trivass
Even an hour of more sat in the car park better known as the M25 this morning didn’t take away from the excitement of a visit to Ditcheat once more, to join the media scrum for a chat with multiple Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls, who was as open and honest as ever.
It never ceases to amaze me to read other versions of the conversations, but with most trying to cover every word and every horse I have an advantage – I am looking and listening for clues and body language for those the trainer seems to think have the best chances, be that one of them – or more!
We may not have a Big Buck’s, or a Kauto Star in the stables at present, but that fails to dampen Paul’s enthusiasm for the Festival and his horses, so I watched and learned – and came up with the following.
No Drama This End
Despite wheeling out about a dozen hoses in total, when the conversation continued afterwards Paul did keep coming back and mentioning the son of Walk on The Park, his only entry in the bumper.
He did acknowledge it is a tough race to win (aren’t they all), but his charge took his point-to-point by 23 lengths at Badbury Rings, and his sole bumper by three and a half lengths at Warwick, readily seeing off Dan Skelton’s well-regarded Keops Des Bordes, who was sent off a short price that day.
Apparently, he hadn’t shown much at home before that race, suggesting he will improve considerably, and at his price there are worse each way options despite being up against the Irish hordes.
Pauls exact words were “This is a nice horse, a grey by Walk In The Park. He goes for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and is going to be a smart horse when he goes novice hurdling next year whatever he does at Cheltenham.
“He won his only point-to-point at Badbury Rings for Will Biddick by half the track. Who knows what that form is worth and we bought him because we liked him.
“He went for a bumper that looked competitive at Warwick and he won really nicely. He quickened up nicely without Harry having to ask too much of him.
“With bumpers who knows what the form is worth but as long at the ground is soft he’ll go for the bumper and looks one of the best UK horses for that race. He is not flashy at home and definitely saves his best for the track. We are looking forward to running him.”
Just A Rose
Even the trainer himself was struggling to pick between the hat-trick seeking Jubilee Alpha and the unbeaten Just A Rose, but I got the feeling he felt there may be more improvement to come from the Saint Des Saints mare.
Paul seemed very happy with her saying “Freddie (Gingell) will ride her. We like her and she could not have done any more by winning by as far as she did in a fast time – it would be nice to see it again.
She has won a point-to-point and plenty of horses have won at Cheltenham off of just one run.”, suggesting she may be overpriced at the very least.
Shearer
Part owned by the trainer himself, he was off the track for a couple of years from June 2023 to February this year, but while he was unable to race, it sounds like connections hatched a long-term plan, with Paul saying “I part-own him now with Max McNeil.
Two years ago, he won his two chases at Ludlow and Aintree but then got a leg and had two years off.
“We then decided to try and get him qualified for the Festival Hunters’ Chase where Olive (daughter) can ride him. He won well at Ffos Las when he hated the ground and then quickly again at Taunton, when he won to qualify for Cheltenham.
“He’s unbeaten in four starts over fences and at his best was rated 139. He is probably still a good 130s horse and I think will give Olive a really good ride, He’ll stay forever and we just need it all to go right. He had two years off and then two quick runs but he seems to have come out of them really well.
“Olive has already been third in this race on Shantou Flyer and hopefully this horse will give her a great ride.”
The Hunter Chase at Cheltenham is the final piece of the puzzle. Wins at Ffos Las and then at Taunton came in quick succession with both in February, but if they haven’t taken too much out of the nine-year-old, the Olive Nicholls looks in for a decent ride.
Kabral Du Mathan
Not a horse I had given too much thought to, but that is why we listen to those who know the horses best.
A winner at Kempton on his return to action and second twice since, Paul told us “He goes for the County Hurdle.
He won on his only start at Huntingdon last season but then had a little problem so we left him. He then won at Kempton on his seasonal debut and got beat a short-head in the big handicap hurdle at Ascot just before Christmas.
He was a bit unlucky that day when he made a small mistake at the second last when he didn’t want to.
He was then second at Windsor when he hated the ground but still ran well. “He doesn’t want it too soft and the aim is the go for the County – on the last two days it’s on the New Course and hopefully you can get decent ground. He’s a real good fun handicapper and it will be chasing for him next season.”
READ MORE: Dan Skelton’s Cheltenham Festival Fancies
Paul Nicholls Each Way Lucky 15
No Drama This End – Champion Bumper Wednesday 12th March 16/1
Just A Rose – Ryanair mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Thursday 13th March 16/1
Shearer – St James’ Place Festival Challenge Friday 14th March 16/1
Kabral Du Mathan – County Hurdle Friday 14th March 20/1
