Nicholls chasing a dream

13 April 2012

Master trainer Paul Nicholls is never one to overrate his horses. While many handlers would give a right arm to have Valley Henry in their care, he refuses to get carried away with the 11 year old gelding's fourth place behind dual Gold Cup hero Best Mate at Cheltenham last March.

At jumping's headquarters on Tuesday where Best Mate's trainer, Henrietta Knight, was launching the book on her legend, Nicholls observed: "I wouldn't lay a horse of mine out for the Gold Cup specifically, because I reckon Best Mate is unbeatable.

"Saying that, Valley Henry could go for it again, but first things first. He has always had tomorrow's Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby as his opening race in a season where Kempton's King George VI is his main target."

Hopefully, the ground at the northern track for the Channel 4 televised feature race will be more forgiving than appeared likely a few days ago, and with some welcome rain the going should be about right for Valley Henry.

Nicholls believes that if his horse wins there, and he is very hopeful, the plan would be to go straight to Kempton with a pair of blinkers on, not because Valley Henry is ungenuine but the aids tend to sharpen him up, and stop him from going to sleep a he's sometimes inclined to do.

The son of Step Together is on top of my horses to follow list for this term, and I expect him to climb the first rung of his ladder to further fame, starting with tomorrow's race sponsored by on-line bookmakers bet365.

Good old Marlborough, who won the race last season in a pulsating finish from Hussard Collonges and Gingembre, may not quite be the force he once was and I would worry more about Irish raider Alcapone, one of two sent over by trainer Mouse Morris.

Trainer Alan King's Stromness choked in the event last year but a breathing operation may have cleared up his problems. I side with the Morris-trained Rostropovich in the Grade 2 John Smith Hurdle on the same card.

Morris, who is based in County Tipperary, said: "Both of mine are in good shape and I expect them to run well. They are fit from recent outings."

Rostropovich, who ran well in the Irish Cesarewitch earlier this month, may have most to fear from the Sue Smith-trained Royal Emperor.

Venetia Williams showed she can produce a newcomer to score first time when sending out Chief Yeoman for an impressive Kempton victory last Saturday, and her Fantastic Arts has been pleasing connections prior to tomorrow's Wensleydale Juvenile Novices Hurdle.

The Channel 4 team also cover Newmarket, where the opening Zetland Stakes looks a fine chance for Amanda Perrett's Art Trader. The Listed 10-furlong event has been won three times by rival trainer Mark Johnston but the West Sussex colt gets the vote after his jockey, Seb Sanders, gave him a fine ride to win here last time beating Buckeye Wonder by a neck. That experience will have brought Art Trader on even more.

Sublimity can be on the mark for the Sir Michael Stoute stable in the second of the three listed races on the programme, while Desert Opal should go well if enough rain arrives for John Gosden in the Mile Handicap and Ouija Board could prove a winner for Ed Dunlop in the following event.

Jumping is on the BBC at Ascot and the pair to follow appear to be trainer Charlie Mann and jockey Noel Fehilly with Merchants Friend in the three and a half mile handicap chase and then with Investment Force in the showcase handicap hurdle.

Tomorrow's TV selections: Ascot: 1.15, Merchants Friend; 1.45, Investment Force; 2.15, Tysou. Newmarket: 1.55, Art Trader (nap); 2.25, Sublimity; 3.00, Desert Opal; 3.30, Ouija Board. Wetherby: 1.40, Fantastic Arts; 2.10, Valley Henry (nb); 3.15, Rostropovich.

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