*** Paul Nicholls Festival Plans ***

Paul Nicholls is hoping a recent breathing operation will see Denman return to his brilliant best when he goes for Cheltenham Gold Cup glory next month.

The 2008 Cheltenham winner galloped with Big Buck’s, Poquelin and Ghizao at Wincanton on Sunday morning, and the champion trainer was delighted with the Prestbury Park-bound quartet.

“Obviously, there was no disgrace in finishing just over 15 lengths third to Diamond Harry at Newbury, giving that very talented rival 26lb” Nicholls said in his column on Betfair.

“So why did we see fit to give him the operation? Well, in last year’s Gold Cup and the Hennessy I didn’t think he was finishing the races as well as he could. Before Denman first ran in Ireland, he had a hobday operation but he didn’t have his soft palate cauterised. So we had that done a week after the Hennessy, and I just hope that it will improve him slightly and allow him to finish off his races a little better.

“We took four of our big Festival guns for a racecourse gallop this morning, and they all fired nicely. They all worked over two miles, going a nice steady gallop, then quickening up in the final furlong. Denman (Sam Thomas) worked with Big Buck’s (Harry Skelton), and Poquelin (Ian Popham) worked with Ghizao (Nick Scholfield). All four went nicely, but it was not a serious gallop”.

Put Al Ferof in The Neptune please. He can't win the Supreme.

Denman

He worked really nicely with Big Buck's yesterday. I wanted to announce the fact that he had had a wind op today but that got out of the bag last week. He had his soft palate cauterised, which is a minor operation. In England when we do breathing operations we do hobdaying and soft palate at the same time, but over in Ireland they just hobday them. He was hobdayed before he when ran as a three-year-old. I just felt that when he ran in the Hennessy and Gold Cup he was just fading in the last furlong and I said to Paul (Barber) that I was concerned about his breathing. We spoke to Jeff Lane, who had a look and he agreed so we had his palate done which might, and just might, bring out a few more pounds improvement in him. He made no noise at all working up the hill and so that's a positive thing. He ran a cracker at the weights in the Hennessey and we didn't want to run him again before Cheltenham. He looks great in his coat for this time of year, he looks very fit and enthusiastic. Obviously he's eleven now and he's not getting any younger but we're very happy with him. It's a really interesting race this year. We've got the three previous winners of the race up against some really exciting younger horses, but I still feel that the older horses are the ones to beat - Denman, Kauto Star and Imperial Commander. They're tough, professional horses who love the track and if they all get there in one piece then it's going to be a great race.

Kauto Star

He's a little bit more forward in his coat this year than some of the others and he looks great. I don't need to tell you what he's done - winning two Gold Cups and all those other races - but obviously he was a bit disappointing at Kempton. If he hadn't made a bad mistake then he would have been second, beaten Riverside Theatre who of course was impressive on Saturday. He's by no means a back number and Long Run just looked awesome round Kempton. When we came back from there he had a little trickle of blood in his bucket and a bit of a cold for a week, which is something he's never done before and some of our horses weren't right at the time. I think we can forgive him one iffy sort of run, which wasn't even that bad! I was watching RUK the other night and the Cheltenham highlights and it surprised me, watching it again, just how bad his fall in the Gold Cup was. He was lucky to survive and given that he's older now and has had a couple of falls, you might have thought it would put him off - but not at all. He's back in good shape - hopefully we can give him a racecourse gallop before long - and Clifford (Baker) is very happy with him. We're really looking forward to running him.

Big Buck's

He had a racecourse gallop with Denman - just to help chivvy him along a bit - and he's the sort of horse who needs plenty of work. He hasn't had a hard race for a while and the last thing I want to do is have him going into the race underdone. I'm very happy with how he looks right now and the way he's going - he's bang on target for the World Hurdle which of course he's won the last twice. Grands Crus looks very good opposition - but we learnt last year that no race is a two-horse race and there are plenty of good horses in the race who could run well - Willie Mullins has two good ones in Ireland. On form he's still the one they've all got to beat and I always thought that when Grands Crus won at Haydock that he'd be very interesting, but this lad at the last day at Newbury never came off the bridle under AP (McCoy) and you just don't know how good he could be. I've always thought that he might get himself beaten one day by being idle and me not doing enough with him at home because he does it all so easy. But it's fantastic that we've got some strong opposition and the way I look at it is if Grands Crus or something beats him then I can persuade Andy (Stewart) to go chasing with him next year, or if he wins again then we can stay hurdling. Grands Crus is obviously a very, very good horse but he'll have to be to beat Big Buck's. I'm very happy with him and I know Ruby (Walsh) can't wait to get back to ride him.

Master Minded

He did have an entry for the Ryanair but we scratched that - the only race we're interested in is the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Obviously last season was a bit of a damp squib and we had a few little problems with him - the rib and others. He was never at his best and at the end of last season we were at the top of the gallops and he was making a noise. So we had a breathing op and he's been a different horse. He tends to idle a bit when he's in front and at Ascot last time, although Somersby ran a lot better, I'd say he wasn't doing much in front. AP said he was in front far too soon and I don't think he was at his best - I'd trained him quite hard for the two races in the autumn and then I backed off him a bit so he probably wasn't as fit at Ascot last time. He needs to be very fit and very fresh to be at his best. We don't want him to peak in January- we need him to be at his best in March, so I've given him a nice little break and now we're starting to stoke the work into him. He looks really well and I think he's got an outstanding chance in the race - the faster they go the better he'll be with Ruby (Walsh) sitting quietly on him and he's still the one they've got to beat. I'm really looking forward to running him - he's full of confidence and back to where he was before.

Woolcombe Folly

He's one of the most improved horses in training. He actually had a minor setback which ruled him out of the Game Spirit - he'd coughed a couple of times and he scoped dirty. He had antibiotics so I couldn't run him last week but he's back in full training now. I never thought he'd improve enough to be such a short price for the Queen Mother Champion Chase but he won so well at Ascot and Cheltenham. He's only been beaten once over fences and if the ground comes up good then I'm very much looking forward to running him.

Poquelin

He's going to run in the Ryanair Chase and he worked very nicely in a racecourse gallop yesterday. He surprised me when he won with top-weight and it was a career-best - the New Course, on which the Ryanair is run, really seems to suit him and I think he's improved this year since he was second in the race last year. He had a great battle with Monet's Garden at Aintree and then obviously his win at Cheltenham last time. He loves to be fresh, and likes nice ground, so he'll head straight to the Festival. We're very happy with where he is at the moment.

Neptune Collonges

He ran a cracking race the other day when he made all the running. He's not getting any younger or quicker but the intention is to run him in the Gold Cup. By winning the other day he's gone up 8lbs which means he's top weight in the National which I suspect will be unlikely now. We had a little scare after Cheltenham when he pulled up after the line a little stiff - but he's back cantering now though and is in good shape. We might go Punchestown with him after Cheltenham.

Aiteen Thirtythree

He's a gorgeous horse - one of my favourites. He won his novice hurdle at Cheltenham, and his two novice chases this year and Phil Smith has him rated 159 - that's 8lbs higher than Denman before he ran in the SunAlliance and only 2lbs behind Time For Rupert. That makes him very interesting. He's a big scopey individual who jumps well and gallops all day. He was ordinary last year - a bit babyish- but the other day he was awesome. Both Noel (Fehily) and Nick (Scholfield) have got off him and said he's one of the nicest they've ever sat on. Paul (Barber) thinks that Cheltenham might come a year too early for him but he's coming round to the idea of running him in the RSA - certainly Andy Stewart who part owns him wants to run him. I'm starting to win the argument! If the ground's nice then he'll go there with a great chance. Time For Rupert is obviously very good but you can't be scared of one horse. Give him another summer and my horse could be a real Gold Cup contender. His target in the autumn will be the Hennessey.

Ghizao

He's vying for favouritism for the Arkle. A lovely big scopey horse who was always going to be better over fences than he was over hurdles. We had a few problems with his breathing last year and we couldn't work out whether he wanted a trip or not. However once we sorted out his breathing we knew we had a good horse. He was nowhere near ready when he was second at Cheltenham - I rushed him a bit. I knew he'd improve tons for that and he won very nicely at the Paddy Power meeting. We then gave 10lbs to Captain Chris at Newbury and beat him on ground that didn't suit - he doesn't want it really testing. He went very well yesterday in a racecourse gallop and he looks fab ahead of the Arkle. He's got loads of speed, loves the track and although he's flat-bred, he has the size and scope to keep on improving. Touch wood he jumps great and I think he's got an outstanding chance in the Arkle. I wouldn't swap him and Aiteen Thirtythree for anything.

Al Ferof

He's by the same sire as Neptune Collonges, Dom Alco, hence the nickname 'Baby Collonges'. He was second in last-year's bumper and he's won his last two hurdles well - at Taunton and then at Newbury. He's gaining experience all the time. I actually think he would have won at Cheltenham when he fell - he was still bowling along well in front - and then he ran too freely in the fog at Newbury. He doesn't want a slog in the mud - he's got plenty of speed. He's in both the Supreme Novices' and the Neptune Novices' but if the ground is good to soft then he'll probably run on the first day. He's in the mould of Noland - he's a staying two miler jumps very well.

Brampour

He's not the biggest and we bought him just as a hurdler - he's by Daylami and should like better ground. I'd left loads to work on before he was third on his debut where he was a tad free. He galloped on well when he won at Taunton last week and he'll improve again, especially when he gets better ground. He'll love a fast race and a true gallop which he'll get in the Triumph. He wouldn't want ground too soft and he'll keep on progressing - he'll get two and a half miles in time.

Sam Winner

He's the opposite to Brampour - strong and full of scope. He's a real chaser in the making - he'll go over fences in the autumn. He won well at Cheltenham, including with a penalty and his beating of Grandouet looks good form. I shouldn't have run him at Chepstow at Christmas - it's always a mistake to run a Triumph horse in the mud at that time of year and I was half-persuaded to run. The ground was deep and he didn't act in it. He's a horse who is a little bit thick in his wind and it was never going to suit him and I wish I hadn't run him. He's had a nice break since, he's fresh and well and working really nicely. He's another who will appreciate a fast-run race and is one who would like a little cut in the ground. He'll make a lovely chaser in time but he'd still be favourite for the Triumph if I hadn't run him at Chepstow and I think he'll run really well. Ruby (Walsh) always says forget January form when it comes to the Festival and we'll see a different horse there where he'll get much better ground.

Pepe Simo

He's done really well this year after frightening himself at Fontwell first time up over fences. We did loads of schooling with him and then he went to Sandown and won very nicely. He ran well behind Nicky Henderson's mare (Nadiya de la Vega) next time and I think the good ground in March will suit him. He'll run at Sandown on Friday and although he's in the Arkle, the race for him looks to be the Grand Annual. Over hurdles he showed that a fast run handicap suited him best and these small field chases don't really show him in his best light - something like the Grand Annual, with a big field and strong tempo, will really suit him.

Fistral Beach

He's got a couple of engagements - including the Racing Post Chase at Kempton on Saturday. He had a breathing op in the summer and had been finishing second too many times for my linking, over both hurdles and fences. The operation seems to have improved him enormously as he won really nicely at Wincanton. He was going to run in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster which unfortunately was off - so the obvious race for him is the Racing Post Chase. He wouldn't want too much rain there, as whilst he loves soft ground, I just have my doubts about three miles in very testing ground. However the track will really suit him and he might head to one of the handicaps at Cheltenham where he'd have a leading chance.

Join Together

He runs in the Albert Bartlett on the Friday over three miles. He was a winning point-to-pointer in Ireland and ran a nice race first time out at Exeter where we probably didn't make enough use of him. Then he went to Cheltenham and David Cottin rode him - he couldn't speak a word of English and I speak no French - so we got the orders completely wrong! He was supposed to run in a graded race at Doncaster but it was off, so he went to Chepstow and he won by the best part of 25 lengths. He stays forever and with a more positive ride at Cheltenham I think he's got a good outside chance in the race. He's another who will make a lovely chaser next year.

Denman [:D]

No news about The Nightingale although still entered in Ryanair - whats going on??

Great stuff BJG.Seems very confident behing Masterminded!
Am wondering is there a chance he might swerve the Gold Cup with What a Friend and target the Grand National which is much more suitable?