PNicholls

Kauto and Denman are enjoying themselves out in the field and it's business as usual for Big Buck's. Paul Nicholls provides an update on his top horses.


As I said earlier, in many ways this is a season of the changing of the old guard here at Ditcheat. But I suppose we still have the odd established star here and there, too, even if some of them probably won't be around for much longer.

Of course, there has been a lot of speculation about Kauto Star's future after his Punchestown run. But he is still out enjoying himself in a field with Denman, and we will leave him there for a bit longer while the sun is still shining, though they may both come back in next Monday. There are no plans at all for Kauto at this stage, and won't be until I sit down and talk to Clive.

The plans for Denman are more clear cut after discussions between myself and Paul Barber. The plan is that Denman will have two runs this season, the Lexus and Gold Cup, and Cheltenham will probably be his swansong. When both horses do eventually call it a day, I really would like to keep them together in retirement, wherever that may be, as they love each other's company. But that is obviously a matter for Paul and Clive to discuss and agree upon.

Contrary to what appeared in the Telegraph, Big Buck's has not had a breathing operation. I think I summarized the situation quite well when journalists rang to check on the accuracy of that story.

"It's bollocks," said I.

In fact, the horse of Andy Stewart's that has had a breathing operation is Celestial Halo. As for Big Buck's, it will be business as usual for him this season, with the same targets as in previous years.

Master Minded excites me for the coming season, too, and he will have Georgie back riding him out at home. He will run in the Ascot race he won last season before taking on Long Run in the King George. Obviously the trip is an unknown but the two times we have stepped him up in trip, he has delivered, so we are hopeful; his nine length win over Albertas Run at Aintree certainly opened up options and his class has never been in doubt. But I fully respect Long Run, and I think Philip Hobbs has a couple of serious prospects in Wishfull Thinking and Captain Chris. But I am really looking forward to seeing Master Minded run.

Triumph Hurdle winner Zarkandar is probably the most high profile horse in the yard to have had a breathing operation. He was struggling in that area last season and always made a noise, so let's hope that it has improved him, as second-season hurdlers do tend to struggle historically, with Katchit an honourable exception. He was clearly progressive last season though and is around second favourite for the Champion Hurdle behind Hurricane Fly; options are open for him at this stage, but maybe the Greatwood could be a good starting point.

Our Supreme winner Al Ferof actually comes back into the yard tomorrow. I have him earmarked for a 2m1f at Exeter for his reappearance, though he will probably want 2m4f in time.

Silviniaco Conti is very much the forgotten horse of the hurdling division - he was very impressive when beating Karabak by seven lengths in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot in November, after which I believe Timeform put him up as ante-post bet for the Champion Hurdle. I never truly had him down as a two miler though, and think he is more of a 3m horse. We have yet to decide whether he will go novice chasing but the Ascot race he won last year was worth £50,000 to the winner, so perhaps we will send him there again and consider our options thereafter.

Mon Parrain excited many people towards the end of last season, not least because of his superb jumping, and I agree that he could develop into a top drawer performer. But the fact is that he only won off 133 at Sandown and was beaten four lengths off 149 in the Topham. I have my eye on the Paddy Power Gold Cup for him.

Of the others Aiteen Thirtythree has had his shins pin fired and I will try and get him to the Hennessy; Sanctuaire will go novice chasing and I am going to target Ghizao for the Haldon Gold Cup, all things being well.


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