While the bookmakers quotes centred on the Arkle, Nicholls intends to step him up in trip.

"He did well to get back up and win but he wants further than that," said Nicholls.

"If I'd had my way and we could have relied on the weather he'd have gone to Ascot on Friday over two and a half miles but it was a bit more experience for him and we'll now step him up in trip in the spring.

"I just wanted to get a run into him. He's unlikely to run in the Arkle and I'll find a target for him in the spring.

"We might look at the Pendil (Kempton, February 26) or the Scilly Isles (Sandown, February 6) next for him, but nothing is set in stone."

Quvega .. read above that was already covered mate.

Eric, Nicholls said immediately after his chase debut victory he was not sure he'd be suited by an Arkle.

sintonian did you have much on him for the Arkle?

Noble Prince has this to lose. Nap.

Noble Prince has this to lose. Nap.

What have you backed then Eric, im sure they are convenientyl half the price now, but lets see if you can tell us what you've actually backed before you sling in a Freebie for £5k.

No backfitting there, Eric.

Sint, i wouldn't give up on Royal Charm just yet. Soft ground festival and who knows. gl

No offence but you sintonian and CvByrne are clueless guessers on here. I am all for you both blocking me so I dont need to get stupid uninformed comments from you both.

FFT,CV, you are right. I got reeled in.

Reyes, soft ground could change things but have just listened to PN again on ATR, he said the horse may not even have an entry for the race. And they do have Ghizao. well see anywya.

Forza Barca

hows about notus de la tour going chasing?or mr thriller stepping back in trip?

Guys - if Eric stars annoying you just mention the word Steinbeck and that normally shuts him up

I'd still be reluctant to go in again on Finians tbh. This is a novice race afterall and he's had just the one run. The Arkle is notorious for fallers aswell.

Torphicen is interesting. He has some good form in the book and jumped great last time, I thought. He is also owned and trained by the same connections of Osana who placed in the race last year.33/1 on here.

unclepuncle hilarious how after all the time I've been on here you can only think of an injured horse I backed in the Guineas to have a dig, that is a compliment really isnt it,  the other bet being Canford Cliffs while you were kissing St Nicholas Abbeys backside. You only have to mention the words cowardly arber to get your hackles up.

Kirk - if you can show me any post where I mentioned having a single penny on St Nicholas Abbey I'd be very grateful, as I know full well I never had a penny on him for the Guineas.

As for being an arber I'm not totally sure what that means - if it means laying off the whole or part of a bet at lower odds than I have backed at then I'm guilty as charged but you often mention having traded off to get free bets to win many thousands of pounds so surely that makes you an arber too.

And as for the huge bets and wins you claim to have - I have said on numerous occassions that I will travel anywhere in the UK for you to show me the proof - as yet no invite, wonder why[:x]

If you want I'll bring back the hilarious thread where you slag off your alter ego Kirs St Moritz - I've heard about having a split personailty but that really was priceless.

Which bets are you referring to that I have won on by the way which you would travel to see?

Around 90% of my bets arent laid off. I have 5 figures on multiples currently, how the hell am I meant to lay that off smart@rse?

http://community.betfair.com/horse_antepost/go/thread/view/94098/25429669/The_Return_of_Steinbeck?post_id=458533389#458533389

That is not the thread leading up to the Guineas on Steinbeck during which he became injured and missed the race.

You have conveniently not posted the massive pre-Guineas thread up where a certain poster explained why St Nicholas Abbey would not win the Guineas and explained this with past stats on Guineas winners and comparisons between the Racing Post Trophy and Dewhurst as a Guineas trial.

This against many posters saying St Nick was Sea The Stars reincarnated, the thread become so long as those inexperienced antepost punters wouldn't have it.
Also 'insiders' like Prima Donna were proven totally wrong re St Nick and the Guineas but at least he didnt act like a feeble adult used to kissing the bosses @ss to get on rather than showing real ability and didnt turn stalker after losing face. Respect to him for that as I can understand that those other than me can get it wrong sometimes.

The same thread a certain poster also suggested Canford Cliffs was the most likely Guineas winner after Steinbeck's injury. Other respected posters were claiming he wouldnt stay, however though he wasn't ready on the day he did turn out Champion miler.

There is an awful lot of drivel written on here, total guessing driven by bets, rather than objective debate and that is true of the current set of most frequent posters on here with the exception of aka, budd and a few others.

If anyone who knows antepost really well with several decades of active experience in the markets points out Menorah is the real deal with others touting a bumper winner novice over him and backs it up with hard cash, or reads a trainers thoughts/campaigning pattern re Royal Charm and posts up the conclusions of that, or that St Nick would not be suited to the Guineas in many respects the way to react to all of these is not to look at your bet and not like what you read/attack the poster giving that opinion (you know how well their predictions have turned out in the past and really dont like it, I understand that), the way to react is learn from it and quit the guessing to suit your bet or you will never improve.