Paul Nicholls Stable Tour

Form profile

155 rated chaser. Finished third, beaten 10 lengths, to Djelo in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury (2m 7 1/2f) this month.

Trainer says

I always thought the Grand National would be a race for him and he has dropped to a sensible mark now. He was 167 and is now 155. He ran very well around Haydock in the Betfair Chase, and you could argue that since his second to Galopin Des Champs he has probably dropped off a little bit. If he takes to Aintree and jumps well, he has a touch of class. He ran well the other day in the Denman Chase. He jumped well and he enjoyed it, and he is an interesting contender in the National. I think he is horse that has overperformed and has never been a Denman or a Kauto Star but is a tough genuine horse who has done well for the level he is at. He has won a King George and finished second in a King George and had hard races . I wouldn’t mind a few more horses like him.

Form profile

147 rated chaser. Made a winning debut for the stable when beating Hombre De Guerra five lengths in a novices’ chase at Carlisle (2m) in December. Placed in both his starts since finishing third, beaten 13 lengths, to Jango Baie in novices’ chase at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) in December and runner-up, beaten four lengths, to Gidleigh Park in a Grade 2 Novices’ Chase at Windsor (2m) in January.

Trainer says

I know we haven’t seen the best of him yet and I don’t know what trip he wants. Mr Hales was adamant he wants two miles as all his family wanted two miles. I am not convinced as he was flat out at Windsor. He is rated 147 which I think is too high and he will run in the novices’ handicap over two and a half miles unless the ground was absolutely bottomless. Last spring he had problems with his feet, and we are on top of that now. The more it rains for him the better.

Form profile

149 rated chaser. Best effort this season when third, beaten 13 ½ lengths, to Djelo in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon (2m 4f) in December.

Trainer says

He had a good season last year winning three at Cheltenham and ran very well in the Turners Novices’ Chase and he ran second in the Grade 1 at Aintree. He had two hard races and took a little time to get over that. He has run ok but not as well as we hoped he would in three runs this season but takes a lot of time to get fit. I think we have him fit now and he has dropped a bit in the handicap and is down to 149. We are going to run him in the Plate Handicap on the Thursday and hope he comes back to form. He tends to like Cheltenham and likes the New Course. He is still in the Ryanair but now he’s dropped down a bit we won’t run him in that. I think he is paying the price of some hard races last season, but we are very happy where he is now, and he will head to the handicap on the Thursday.

Form profile

134 rated hurdler. Scored by 18 lengths from Up For Parol in a handicap hurdle at Sandown (2m 7 1/2f) in December off a mark of 125 and subsequently runner-up, beaten eight lengths, to Red Dirt Road in a Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle over the same course and distance this month off a mark of 133.

Trainer says

He will run in the Pertemps Final as long as there is plenty of cut in the ground. He won in November at Sandown very nicely and finished second in a £100,000 race at Sandown after going up 8lb in the weights. He stays forever and is a similar type to Monmiral but he will jump fences next year.

Form profile

156 rated chaser. Has finished runner-up in his three starts this season. Finished a length and three quarters behind Minella Drama in the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase at Aintree (2m 4f) in October, four and a half lengths behind Terresita in a handicap at Ascot (2m 5f) in January off a mark of 156 and three and a half length behind Djelo in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury (2m 7 1/2f) this month.

Trainer says

He is another who, like Bravemansgame, always overperforms above his ability. He was second in the Old Roan, second at Ascot under 12st at Ascot and then second in the Denman Chase. He is a great horse who give his owners a load of fun but hasn’t quite got his head in front. He is going to run in the National and I think Freddie Gingell will ride him. If he takes to it, then he could love it. He will travel and jump for fun but stamina could be an issue, but you don’t know until you try. He has been staying quite well and did stay well in the Denman Chase. He is still in the Ryanair and if he did run there he wouldn’t go for the National.

Form profile

145 rated chaser. Added to his score when beating Ga Law four and a half lengths in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham (2m 4f) in November off a mark of 141.

Trainer says

He won the Paddy Power Gold Cup for us, and he is going to run in the Plate Handicap on the Thursday. The key to this horse is that he needs good ground. He had decent ground and a light weight in the Paddy Power, and he has run ok since. He is getting closer to the mark he was, and he loves Cheltenham and just wants good ground. Freddie will probably ride him and take a few pounds off him.

Form profile

128 rated hurdler. Progressing nicely over hurdles and won a listed mares’ listed novices’ hurdle at Taunton (2m 1/2f) in December by three and a half lengths from Hollygrove Cha Cha (subsequent listed winner) and followed up with a length and three quarter success from Bluey (winner at Market Rasen last week) in a novices’ hurdle at Windsor (2m) in January.

Trainer says

She is going to run in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and Cobby will ride her. She has great form in the book and won her first bumper last year and then was second at Aintree. We gave her a lot of time and she was a bit unlucky in the Mares’ Listed hurdle at Newbury and made a couple of mistakes and just failed to win. She went to Taunton for another listed race and won that very well and the form of that looks very good. She went to a novice at Windsor and that form has also worked out very good. I don’t think she was a her best that day and the race may have come a bit soon after winning at Christmas at Taunton. She is a smart filly and can’t have done any more than keep winning like she has. I think both her and Just A Rose have good chances.

Form profile

Made a winning debut for the stable when scoring by 26 lengths from Five Quarters in a maiden hurdle at Taunton (2m 3f) in January.

Trainer says

“She is an interesting filly who will run in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on the Thursday. We bought her at the Cheltenham Sale last year and she wasn’t cheap as a winner of her point-to-point. We gave her plenty of time and we went to Taunton six weeks ago for a maiden hurdle and she absolutely bolted in. She won 26 lengths, and she ran all the way to the line and Freddie couldn’t pull her up. I was hoping to run her at Sandown last week, but I didn’t want to run her on very deep ground. She is going to go to Cheltenham lacking a bit of experience, but she has won a point-to-point. I don’t actually think there is a lot between her and Jubilee Alpha. Freddie will ride her, and Cobby will ride Jubilee Alpha. We like her and she couldn’t do more than she did in a race won in a fast time. It would be nice to see her do it again and she will run in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Form profile

139 rated hurdler. Scored by four and three quarter lengths from King William Rufus in a handicap hurdle at Kempton (2m) in November off a mark of 123 and runner-up in two competitive events since. Beaten a short head by Fiercely Proud in a Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Ascot (1m 7 1/2f) in December off a mark of 139 and then followed home Secret Squirrel in a similar event at Windsor (2m) in January off his current mark.

Trainer says

He is a nice young horse who is going to run in the County Hurdle. He has done really well since we had him and won his only start last season at Huntingdon. He had a little problem since so we left him off and he won at Kempton in his reappearance and then got beaten a short head at Ascot at Christmas. He was a bit unlucky as he made a mistake at the second last when he didn’t want to and then was second in the big race at Windsor. He hated Windsor as the ground was very testing and tacky. I wish I hadn’t run him and saved him for Newbury on better ground, but he still ran well, and hindsight is a wonderful thing. He doesn’t want it too soft and on the New Course it can often be decent ground. The options for him this season are the County Hurdle, the two-miler at Aintree and the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

Form profile

152 rated chaser. Off the mark over fences with a three quarter length success from Tedley in a novices’ handicap chase at Newbury (2m 1/2f) in November off a mark of 135 and followed up with a nine and a half length victory from Vincenzo in a similar event at Cheltenham (2m 1/2f) on New Year’s Day off a mark of 141. Finished fourth, beaten 19 lengths, to Handstands in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown (2m 4f) this month.

Trainer says

Kalif Du Berlais is a smart horse, and I shouldn’t have run him the other day over two and a half on testing ground. It was one of those situations - John (Hales) had just died and I couldn’t run him against L’Eau du Sud against the same connections. He is more a two-miler and has loads of jumping ability as you saw at Cheltenham in January and earlier in the season. He has a couple of entries at Cheltenham, he is still in the Arkle, and I would say he won’t run in the Arkle if L’Eau du Sud runs, and he is in the Grand Annual. He has gone up to 152 which will make life more difficult, but I am minded to keep him fresh and go for the Grade 1 two-miler at Aintree which would suit him really well He is only five-years-old and you haven’t seen the best of him yet. I can see him in the Haldon Gold Cup next season.

Form profile

152 rated chaser. Made a winning reappearance in the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury (3m 2f) in November when scoring by a length and three quarters from Broadway Boy off a mark of 145.

Trainer says

I would like to think he would have our best chance in the National but who knows with those five nice horses. Harry will ride him and that says it all. He is a Coral Gold Cup winner and ran around Aintree in the Topham and jumped fantastically well. He wasn’t beaten too far. With another half a furlong he would probably have won, and I said to Harry last year. There are two targets, the Coral Gold Cup and the Grand National. We have done one already first time out and it’s off to Aintree now. He is a big strong horse who jumps well and has plenty of stamina. I don’t think we have seen the best of him, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran in a Gold Cup one day as he has quietly climbed the ranks. He is entered at Newbury on Saturday over two and half and I will probably let him run now the ground is soft just to sharpen him up. He needs a racecourse gallop before the National so he may as well go on Saturday. It is five weeks before the race and he looks great.

Form profile

149 rated hurdler. Provided the stable with a Cheltenham Festival success when beating Kyntara a length and a quarter in the Pertemps Final (3m) last March off a mark of 138. Has been placed in his three starts this season and runner-up, beaten two and a quarter lengths, to Gowel Road in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) on his most recent start in January.

Trainer says

He won the Pertemps Final for us last year. He has been running well this season, but he is no man’s land with a rating of 149. I suspect he will have 12st in the Pertemps when the weights come out tomorrow and I have also put him in the Stayers' Hurdle. He ran well at Newbury and at Cheltenham - but the best you could really hope for in the Stayers' would be to get placed. We have to evaluate between now and the Festival and study the weights and whether we run in the Pertemps Final or go in the Stayers'.

Form profile

Scored by three and a half lengths from the well regarded Keops Des Bordes in a bumper at Warwick on New Year’s Eve.

Trainer says

He is a nice grey Walk In The Park. How he runs in the bumper at Cheltenham will determine his future as he is going to make a smart novice hurdler next year. He won his only point-to-point for Will Biddick last year at Badbury Rings who knows how good that form was but he won by half the track. We liked him and he doesn’t show a lot at home, and we took him to Wincanton for a gallop three weeks before his Warwick race and we were very pleasantly surprised how well he went on the track. We went to Warwick and the race looked very competitive. Dan’s horse Keops Des Bordes was well fancied, and he travelled very well and quickened up nicely in the race without Harry having to ask much of him. He couldn’t do more than win very nicely and provided the ground is soft he will run in the bumper. I think he is one of the best UK bumpers on form and is not a flashy horse at home and definitely saves his best for the track. He is going to have an awayday somewhere this week. He is very laid back and he won’t worry about the occasion.

Form profile

162 rated chaser. Winner of both his starts over two miles and five at Ascot this season. Beat Hidden Depths three and a half lengths in the Grade 2 1965 Chase in November and at his imperious best when slamming Corbetts Cross 10 lengths in the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase this month.

Trainer says

He will go for the Melling Chase at Aintree. He won at Ascot last week and it was an awesome performance. A lot of people ask me why you don’t run him in the Ryanair, but we have always thought that Cheltenham might not suit him. Ascot the other day was his Gold Cup, and he did it nicely. We don’t want to run him too soon and Aintree and the Melling over two and a half miles which he has won before is his race. He likes a bit of gap between his runs and when he is on song like he was the other day he is a fantastic horse. He has a great record and has won nearly £1 million.

Form profile

149 rated chaser. Scored for the third time this season when beating Boombawn a length in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton (2m 4 1/2f) on Saturday.

Trainer says

He will run in the Manifesto Chase over two and a half miles at Aintree, the first race on the first day. He won well on Saturday, and I am surprised we won as he pulled a shoe off and he will go for the Manifesto next. He got the trip well and surprised me as I thought the ground was too soft, but he was brilliant.

Form profile

137 rated chaser. Has won both of his Hunter Chases this month scoring by 37 lengths from Angels Breath at Ffos Las (2m 5 1/2f) and following up with a length and a quarter victory from Haven’t Time at Taunton (2m 7f).

Trainer says

I part own him with Max McNeill and two years ago he won his only two chases at Ludlow and Aintree. Unfortunately, he got a leg, so I did a deal with Max and got a half share in him and said to him we’ll get him back in two years’ time and get Olive to ride him. He won very well first time out at Ffos Las on ground that he hated and bolted in. I had to run him back very quickly at Taunton as he had to finish first or second to qualify for the Hunter Chase at Cheltenham and he won again. He now goes for the Hunter Chase at Cheltenham and Olive is looking forward to riding him. He is unbeaten in four runs over fences and at his best was a 139 horse. He is not 139 now and is probably a 130s horse and I think he will give Olive a great ride. He has to go again quite quickly but he seems to have come out of the race well.

Form profile

163 rated chaser. Finished runner-up, beaten three quarters of a length, to L’Homme Presse in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham (3m 1 1/2f) in January.

Trainer says

He is going to run in the Bowl at Aintree. It’s the Grade 1 over three miles on the Friday at Aintree that we havewon with a lot of good horses. He ran a good race the other day, he travelled well, jumped well and Harry was just hanging onto him a bit and was amazed with how strongly he stayed on. He was in a great rhythm and was in his comfort zone and stayed on strongly.

Form profile

150 rated chaser. Pulled up on his reappearance in a handicap hurdle at Wincanton (3m 1/2f) on Boxing Day off a mark of 147.

Trainer says

To say that this horse has been frustrating is to say the least. He won the Albert Bartlett two years ago and then started off well over fences and beat Grey Dawning at Exeter and then went to Sandown and then ran well in the Cotswold Chase. Since then, he hasn’t run one good race, I don’t really know why. In the Brown Advisory last year, he pulled a shoe off and didn’t run well and then went to Ayr and bled and was pulled up. We did his wind and had a run over hurdles at Wincanton. I thought he would run well be he didn’t and turned into the straight and pulled up again. There is a few niggly problems but nothing serious and to qualify for Aintree he has to run in one more Chase before March 18 and at the moment we are going to go for the Ultima on the first day at Cheltenham. He is going to have an awayday this week and school over fences and hopefully get him back to form. He is looking good in his skin now and we have done a few different things with him. If he ran well in the Ultima, then we would go for the National but if not we might leave it until next year.

Form profile

155 rated chaser. Beaten nine and a half lengths by Victtorino in a Premier Handicap Chase on his reappearance at Ascot (3m) in December off his current mark and got much closer to the same rival on his return to that course and distance this month off a mark of 153 when failing by a nose.

Trainer says

He is going to run in the National now. He carried 12st at Ascot last time and was beaten a nose. It was a great National trial. We haven’t run him much this year as we wanted to keep him fresh, and he could run really well. We missed out last year which was good, and he is jumping really well now. Some of his best races have been going right-handed but that might be more coincidence. I know Max McNeill is excited about running him in the National and he is the best shape I have ever seen him. He has been fourth in a Scottish National so stamina won’t be an issue

Form profile

125 rated hurdler. Made a winning reappearance in a novices’ hurdle at Ffos Las (2m) in November when beating Diamonds For Luck two and a half lengths and solid effort when runner-up, beaten a length, to Rubber Ball in a novices’ hurdle at Newbury (2m 1/2f) this month.

Trainer says

He is in the Supreme and another race, but I will leave that to the owners.