Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls heads into the final week of the National Hunt season as the new 4/7 favourite to seal back-to-back Titles after Vicente ran out a sensational winner of Saturday’s £100,000 Scottish National at Ayr. The win sees the Ditcheat handler go almost £30,000 clear in prize-money of Irish Champion Trainer who is an 11/8 chance with BetVictor to seal a maiden NH Trainers’ Championship on English soil and the first Irish-based trainer to so since Vincent O’Brien in the 1950s.
Both look set to be well-represented at both Perth midweek and at Sandown on Saturday for the final day of the jumps’ season and BetVictor make Un De Sceaux, a beaten favourite in last month’s Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the 11/10 favourite alongside Sprinter Sacre for the feature G1 Celebration Chase.
NH Trainers’ Championship 2015/2016
Paul Nicholls 4/7
Willie Mullins 11/8
Mullins has no entries this afternoon but Paul Nicholls does and can extend his lead even further with his flat recruit Amanto (1.50) found an excellent opportunity to shed the maiden tag over timber at Newton Abbot. The selection has yet to get his head in front under rules but was an excellent second at Taunton earlier in the campaign and looks to have been well placed to score under Sam Twiston-Davies.
Nicholls saddles Dormello Mo in the feature 2m Novices’ Chase and will be a likely warm favourite under Sam Twiston-Davies. The 6-y-o arrives in good form after a trio of runner-up efforts but had a hard race last week at Cheltenham and preference lies instead with Aso (3.20) under Aidan Coleman. Venetia Williams’ gelding returns to calmer waters after finishing down the field in G1s at both Cheltenham and Aintree and is a confident selection to bounce back to score for the second time over fences.
Evan Williams’ Capilla should appreciate the drop back in trip and is respected for the 2m Handicap Chase under Paul Moloney, however preference lies instead with Richard Hobson’s Val D’Arc (2.20) under Alan Cawley. The selection returns from a break after two excellent runner-up finishes earlier in the campaign and looks to have been given a chance by the handicapper to make it 13th time lucky under rules.
Warren Greatrex’s The Missus (2.50) made all to score last month at Chepstow and looks well-treated from an opening mark of 108 to follow-up now sent handicapping in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles. Robert Waley-Cohen’s home-bred relished front-running tactics last time out and can make all with Sam Waley-Cohen claiming an excellent three pounds in the plate.
Greatrex’s Vinciaettis looked a massive prospect for the yard when winning despite failing to settle last time out at Chepstow and must go close in the Huntingdon opener under Gavin Sheehan. The 5-y-o is bred to appreciate the step up to two and a half miles but, with worries persisting about his keenness, he is overlooked instead for Alan King’s Board of Trade (5.05) under Wayne Hutchinson. The selection was an impressive winner over course and distance when returning from a short break and can hopefully follow-up under a penalty.
Charlie Longsdon’s Ready Token (6.40) has returned to his last winning mark and must go close under regular pilot Aidan Coleman in the 3m Handicap Chase. The selection has been dropped 3lb by the handicapper for finishing fourth last time out at Warwick and should prove even better on this evening’s sounder surface.
Lucinda Russell’s Mumgos Debut (2.30) belatedly got his head in front over fences time out at Newcastle, benefitting for the drop back in trip when scoring at the tenth time of asking, and should go close in his bid to follow-up at Hexham. The selection has been raised 7lb by the handicapper but remains in good form and should give another bold show under Peter Buchanan.
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