PNicholls

Paul Nicholls reveals that three of his horses will be entered in big contests at Down Royal and Wetherby next weekend.

We have had 13 winners in the last fortnight, so things are clearly going well, but most of mine have been needing the run, win or lose.

There have been disappointments along the way, notably Pacha Du Polder at Aintree yesterday. But I think that run showed us that he wants a trip, and he will go for three-miler on the Friday of the Tingle Creek meeting at Sandown in December.

But when you target a big race you have them well tuned up, and that will be the case with Kauto Stone, Cristal Bonus and Silviniaco Conti next weekend. They will be ready to run for their lives.

They all worked well yesterday morning, and the first two go to Down Royal next weekend and Silviniaco Conti goes to the Charlie Hall at Wetherby.

Kauto Stone goes for the three-miler, the JNwine.com Champion Chase. I have four in the race, but Silviniaco takes in the Charlie Hall,Join Together goes to Ascot next Saturday and Tidal Bay will probably run over hurdles at Wetherby on Saturday with a view to running in either the Betfair Chase or the Hennessy.

Kauto Stone won the 2m4f race on the card last season and then ran an excellent second to Sizing Europe in the Tingle Creek, before losing his way. He goes well when fresh and shapes like a three miler to me now. We have been teaching him to settle at home, and he is ingood form.

Cristal Bonus is another who won first time up last season before proving himself a very smart novice and he takes in the 2m4f race won by Kauto Stone last season. The softer the better for him.

And then we have Silviniaco Conti, who ran so well in the Feltham before beating Champion Court by 13 lengths at Aintree in April. We will see how he fares at Wetherby before making firmer plans for him going forward.


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14:10 Cheltenham - Grandioso

Proved slightly frustrating last season - he would have won but for falling two out at Hereford - but he came good off a mark of 118 in a 2m4f Ayr handicap hurdle in April. He only won by a neck, but the pair pulled 13 lengths clear of the third. Clearly finds this trip more to his liking and, although the Ayr win came on good ground, he did win his bumper for Howard Johnson in the soft, so he is adaptable if the ground does worsen a bit. However, he wouldn't want it too testing - I took him out at Chepstow on Saturday because of the ground - but the forecast I have seen is pretty good. This is a competitive race, with very promising horses such as The New One in here, but Grandioso is a much stronger horse this season. Goes chasing after this.


14:45 Cheltenahm - Domtaline

Smart handicap hurdler at his best and has taken really well to chasing, jumping soundly when winning at Ludlow in April and again when also showing a real good attitude when defying a penalty at Stratford in May. The runner-up Kingsmere won his next two starts by wide margins (and re-opposes here) and conditions should suit us. Also he goes well when fresh, so his break since May is a big plus. Clearly, this is a big step up in class for him - there are several very smart chase prospects in here, among them Go All The Way and King Of The Night, who I obviously know well - but hopefully he will put up a good show. Worked well on Wednesday.


15:20 Cheltenham - Wiffy Chatsby

His form tells you he is a bit of an in-and-out performer but there was certainly nothing wrong in the manner of his 15 length win at Stratford last time, his second win at that track. This is obviously a much more different and stiffer test for him but a mark of 125 gives him chances in a clearly, hugely competitive handicap. We know how to ride him now, so the 3m trip will give Ruby plenty of time to creep into the race.


15:55 Cheltenham - Sire Collonges

Is a horse that has always shown us a lot and promised much since coming over from France, and I hope he can really make his mark over fences this season. Is built to be a chaser and he got off to a good start over fences when winning easily over 2m6f at Fontwell in May. The opposition may have not been much there - and he clearly faces a much better class of rival here - but he jumped superbly that day, this has been the plan since, and has a lot of potential.


16:30 Cheltenham - Landscape

As you would expect at Cheltenham, this looks a competitive maiden hurdle, with good bumper horses like Population making their hurdling debut and horses with decent hurdling form already on the board. But I have to say that I have been impressed with everything that Landscape has done at home. He is owned by my fellow Betfair ambassadors - the likes of Michael Vaughan, Will Greenwood and Lee Dixon - and I think they have a decent prospect on their hands. Landscape was a decent middle distance winner on the Flat in France and he has worked and schooled very well in preparation for this. I really do like him, but he will come on for the run both physically and mentally, and I suspect 2m4f may be his trip in time, as he had form up to 2m in France.


17:05 Cheltenham - Round Tom

Has won over hurdles and fences at Worcester, but probably didn't show his best side when beaten at that track last time. Is not straightforward on occasions - he ran in cheekpieces and a tongue strap last time - but he jumps well and a mark of 117 probably reflects his ability. Was second in a novice hurdle here at this meeting last season.


17:40 Cheltenham - Dark Lover

Has yet to finish out of the first two in five starts off for us, although he has been off the track since winning at Taunton in February 2011 with a leg injury. I think a mark of 120 is possibly a touch too high on what he has achieved on the track so far, but he has been going well enough at home and clearly doesn't have many miles on the clock, so let's get him back on the racecourse and see what we have got. Ryan takes off 3lb.

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I would just like to take this opportunity to thank all the readers of my column on what has been a rollercoaster season for Ditcheat. I hope you have enjoyed the ride here on Betfair with me.

When I look back, it has been one of the most frustrating - yet most enjoyable - seasons of my career.

But the overwhelming emotion is one of pride in the horses, and winning another trainers' championship.

For Kauto Star to come back and win the Betfair Chase and King George was remarkable, and many people sadly lost sight of the fact that Neptune Collonges' win in the Grand National was one of the best of all time, carrying so much weight and in such a fast time. And as an 11yo, too. It many ways that was the performance, and race, of the season.

And then there was Big Buck's' record-breaking season, and then the capturing the race I had always wanted, The Champion Hurdle, with Rock On Ruby.

And Saturday really was the icing on the cake, winning the two big Sandown races with Sanctuaire and the 11yo Tidal Bay.

We now have to plan for next season, with no Denman, Master Minded, and Neptune Collonges. And Clive will be making a decision on Kauto in the summer, I imagine.

So we could be without four household names and stable stars next season.

But Sanctuaire looked a real top-class two miler at the weekend, and we have to find more like him to contest the big races and take on Nicky, such as Silviniaco Conti.

We have some promising youngsters and impressive pointers coming through though, and I have already bought three really nice prospects from France.

And, as ever, there will be a lot more change in the stable, as we can normally expect a 25 per clear-out in the horses.

But a few staff have left us, too, and we are looking for new people to join the team as well.

So a new challenge, with new staff and new horses lies ahead.

Once again thanks for spending the season here with me on Betfair.

14:15
Toubab
Realistically, the three of us are just playing for the places here with Sprinter Sacre in the line-up. But the fences still have to be jumped and, as we have seen at this meeting already, Cheltenham can leave its mark on the best of horses - even if horses win races on the bridle at the Festival, they still take plenty out of them - so stranger things have happened. And I think we are fairly well positioned to benefit if the favourite doesn't perform, for one reason or another. Toubab's run at Cheltenham pretty much summed up my Festival - he was brought down when travelling well in the Grand Annual, by Free World, a horse I used to train. But even though he was running off a mark of just 143 there, I think he has the potential to be a bit better and conditions could suit him here. I think there is plenty to come from this strong travelling horse, and hopefully a bad experience at Cheltenham hasn't left its mark.


14:50
Rock On Ruby
This looks some race but you really shouldn't fear any horse if you have the Champion Hurdler. Many people will look at his poor run at this meeting last year and be put off. And I admit that is a concern - it always is when you are attempting the Cheltenham-Aintree double with any horse. But he is much better and stronger this year and it is not as if he has been campaigned heavily. This will be just his fourth start of the season. And the simple facts are that we know he stays well and he won the Champion impressively, by 3 ¾ lengths. And who knows whether he has stopped improving? Hopefully, he hasn't and he will show that here.


Zarkandar
I fully respect Oscar Whisky (clearly ran out of petrol in the World Hurdle) and Thousand Stars (fourth in the World Hurdle and possibly unlucky when a strong-finishing neck second to Oscar Whisky in this race last season), but I believe that Zarkandar could be the horse that Rock On Ruby has to beat today. He may have lost his unbeaten status in the Champion but no-one who watched the race could have failed to see that he was finishing like a train - he probably would have finished second in another 100 yards - and that 2m4f should suit him ideally. Factor in that I wasn't entirely happy with him that day - he didn't look as well as I would have liked in the paddock - and you have to think he is the most likely improver in this field.
And the Champion Hurdle showed that he doesn't have to progress too much to trouble the best. He is going really well at home now, much the best he has been all season, and I like his chances. In fact, I will put my neck on the line and say that I marginally (and it is very marginal) prefer him to Rock On Ruby today. Now that will get me into trouble with the Barber clan!


15:25
Noland
The handicapper has taken a real chance in dropping him 7lb since Cheltenham. Yes, he was tailed off when pulled up last time but he was still going well enough when a terrible mistake at the 12th knocked the stuffing out of him. Ruby looked after him and pulled him up soon afterwards. And it was only just over a year ago that he was beating What A Friend in the Aon, yet he now races off 141. There comes a time when you have to stop making excuses for horses and he could be well, well past his best (we already know that he is 11yo and clearly a shadow of his Grade 1-winning self of 2008) and easily make similar jumping errors here - as he did at Ascot previously - but I wouldn't be in a rush to totally dismiss him yet. Not off a mark of just 141.


Chapoturgeon
I thought that he was going to give myself and David Johnson a Cheltenham Festival winner - I own half, along with David - jumping the last in the Foxhunter but he couldn't quite wear down Salsify on the run-in. But he has come out of that race in good form, and this 2f shorter trip is a positive too. And I think he is reasonably treated off a mark of 138 as well. Hasn't enjoyed the best of luck in his two starts round here - falling at the first in 2009 and being brought down the following year - but I am hopeful. In fact, I think he will go very close to winning.


16:15 The Grand National
Neptune Collonges
Everyone knows that I don't have the best of records in this race, and it may be asking too much to expect 11yo Neptune Collonges to break my Grand National duck. But I am very surprised that he is trading at 50+ on Betfair. I see Giles Cross is half of that price and I can't work that out at all. He certainly looked the stronger stayer of the pair when just unable to reel in the winner by a neck at Haydock last time and we are 2lb better off here. This race has not been an afterthought for Neptune - I have targeted him at this race all season - and he has a lot going for him. He jumps and stays well (though, admittedly, he has fallen twice in his career), should find the going ideal (he goes well on the soft but I think he prefers good ground these days), is a Grade 1 winner and races off a very fair mark of 157, 2lb lower than at Haydock. You obviously need all the luck going to win this race and I am clearly not saying that he will win or even be placed, but I think he has a far better chance than his current Betfair odds imply.


17:05
Ted Spread
The handicapper has kindly dropped him a whole 1lb after two disappointing runs and I have made no secret of the fact that he needs a breathing operation in the summer. So he doesn't appear to have a great deal going for him here. But he continues to work like a good horse at home and if he clicks, then it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest were he to win this. He may be the kind of horse who has to do everything on the bridle but, as a Group 3 winner over 1m4f on the Flat, I think he has races in him off a mark of 134 if everything goes in his favour. The track will suit but soft ground would not, so let's hope the rain stays away for him.


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14:00, Aintree

Prospect Wells

This high-class Flat performer showed very smart novice form before Christmas but we found him to be suffering from a trapped epiglottis after he disappointed badly at Sandown in January. Took a while to get over the breathing operation that he subsequently had, but pleased us in his work before Cheltenham and took his chance in the Supreme, fitted with a tongue tie. And he ran his best race over hurdles yet, finishing just over 2 lengths in fifth, pulling 8 lengths clear of the sixth home. Certainly doesn't lack pace - he won a Group 2 over 1m2f in France - so perhaps this flatter, speed track will suit him even better. Darlan looks the one to beat again.


14:30, Aintree

Join Together

Was pulled up in the Sun Alliance last month (the second year running he has disappointed at the Festival), where he simply couldn't quite cut it with Grade 1 horses over 3m. In fact, I was kicking myself for not running him in the four miler. Perhaps he needs softer ground when pitched in at that grade over 3m - so any more rain would help his chances here - but there is little doubt that he is far better than he showed at Cheltenham, as his earlier wins at that track showed. We had the option of putting him away for the season but he is in good form and we let him take his chance here, especially with the likes of Bobs Worth, First Lieutenant and Grands Crus not turning up.


Silviniaco Conti

Ran well below-par at Ascot last time but a few of mine were not quite right at the time and there is little doubt he is much better than he showed that day. And I have always thought Aintree would suit him, so we deliberately swerved Cheltenham to keep him fresh for this meeting. And if he returns to the form of his Feltham second to Grands Crus, with Bobs Worth 3 lengths away in third, then you have to have to say that he has a favourite's chance in this company, as the race has strangely only attracted five runners. Champion Court, an excellent second in the Jewson, looks the one to beat.


15:05, Aintree

This race will take plenty of winning with Finian's Rainbow and Albertas Run in the line-up, but they had hard races at Cheltenham and Poquelin and Kauto Stone don't have that much to find on the book. And my pair, for different reasons, come here as fresh horses after frustrating experiences at the Festival last month.


Kauto Stone

The more rain the better for Kauto Stone. Won a Grade 1 in the heavy in France and looked a potential top-notcher when winning first time out for me at Down Royal in November, the form of which has worked out very well. There was no disgrace in finishing second to Sizing Europe in the Tingle Creek next time but his last two starts have been very forgettable. He ran far too free when tailed off at Ascot and then fell at the first in the Champion Chase, which was very annoying because this horse is usually a brilliant jumper. I haven't lost faith in this horse one bit and Paul Carberry, who was on him at Down Royal, is back on board.


Poquelin

Was kicked at the start of the Ryanair, and was withdrawn. I personally think he could have raced as he had just a superficial cut, nothing worse than a shaving nick or a bitten lip, but at least he didn't have a hard time in what turned out to be a gruelling race. People forget what a top-class horse Poquelin is - not many horses have won handicaps off a mark of 170 - and he shouldn't be underestimated. He ran badly in this race two years ago, but that was after finishing second in the Ryanair and he comes here a fresh horse and he invariably runs well after a break. And he ran one of his best races when ½ length second to Monet's Garden in the Old Roan over this course and distance last season. I think he could give the front two in the market plenty to think about.


15:40, Aintree

Fistral Beach

Probably needed a greater test of stamina than he got when a fair third over 2m3f at Taunton last time, and a strongly-run race over these fences could spark his interest and suit him much better. He is clearly a decent horse when fresh, so the three month break since Taunton is a real positive. May be too high in the weights - he went up 7lb after winning first time up at Wetherby - but I can see him running well all the same.


Frankie Figg

If people look at this horse and think "Nicholls plot", then they can think again. I know Aintree is his track and he is now on the same mark as when winning the Grand Sefton by 5 lengths in November 2010, but that is by accident and not design. He unseated at the first last time and that was hardly an ideal prep race for this. But we know Aintree brings out the best in him - he wasn't able to establish an uncontested lead when ultimately disappointing in the Grand Sefton here in November - but if he can get out in front and into a decent jumping rhythm then he is certainly handicapped to go close.


16:15, Aintree

Hawkes Point

Has loads to find with the likes of Fingal Bay and Cotton Mill here, but is a lightly-raced horse on an upward curve. Won in the heavy over 3m at Chepstow and probably wasn't suited by the shorter trip on better ground when a 2 length second in a handicap at Sandown last time. But that Sandown run, from a harsh-looking handicap mark of 134, was an improved effort and he could run into a place at what are sure to be big odds here. Any more rain will be welcomed.


16:50, Aintree

Robinson Collonges

In truth, has proved a very frustrating horse to train - he looked a potential star novice chaser at one stage last season - but is certainly capable of making his presence felt off a mark of 136 (he finished a decent third over hurdles at Chepstow off a mark of 134 on his appearance) if he runs to his potential. And a breathing operation since his last run hopefully wouldn't have harmed his chances, either.


Like Minded

Has often flattered to deceive but he ran a fair race when a 7 length 8th to Attaglance at the Festival and has been dropped 2lb since. I can see him running well but a place is probably the best we can hope for here. Harry takes a handy 7lb off.


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14:00 Aintree

Big Buck's

Has come in his coat and looks in superb nick at the moment. I suppose the only possible negative about his chance here is that this is his fifth run of the season, having taken in an extra race this year. But he certainly shows no sign of being over the top. Had quite a hard race - for him at least - when winning his fourth World Hurdle at Cheltenham last month but he did what he had to do, as he always does, and ground out the win. Aims to win his fourth Liverpool Hurdle today and last year's win in the race was arguably his most impressive over hurdles, never coming off the bridle in beating Grands Crus by 5 lengths. This year's renewal doesn't look anywhere near as strong. Will I be disappointed if he is beaten? Yes, of course. But this is racing and horses get beaten, as we all know.


Poungach

Has been a hard horse to place ever since the handicapper put him up 17lb for winning at Sandown but I give him a definite each way chance here. We had no option but to pitch him in against Grade 1 horses after Sandown and he certainly wasn't disgraced when a 2 length second to easy winner Oscar Whisky over 2m4f110yd at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. He hasn't run since and wasn't quite right last month, so we gave Cheltenham a miss but he is in good order now. The step up in trip will suit. But whatever happens today, this will be his last run over hurdles before he goes chasing.


Tiday Bay

Runs here instead of in the Bowl, as that looks a very hot race. And this should put him right for a crack at the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown later this month. But he certainly looks to have as good a claim as any, Big Buck's aside, on his chase form or his third in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham off a mark of 160 in January. Something of an enigma but he comes here a fresh horse after bypassing Cheltenham, and seems to go well at Aintree.


14:30 Aintree

Dodging Bullets

There wouldn't be much between my three in this race but Dodging Bullets clearly has a decent chance in a competitive race. Runs in a tongue strap for the first time and wouldn't mind it if the ground was riding on the soft side, as he had form on testing ground on the Flat in Ireland. But in my opinion the more the ground dries out, the better for him. Delighted me when second to Grumeti on his hurdling debut at Kempton and then made the anticipated improvement when running a storming race to finish fourth in the Triumph. Travelled like the best horse in the race for a long time at Cheltenham - I gather he traded at 1-4 in running on Betfair, so many punters clearly agreed - and this flatter track, with the emphasis more on speed, should suit him.


Hinterland

Pretty much the forgotten horse among my juveniles. Probably won't fulfil his undoubted talent until going chasing but he shouldn't be underestimated. His form before Christmas puts him in with decent form claims here and we probably got the tactics wrong when he was third off a mark of 141 in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in January; in hindsight we should have pressed on from two out when he was going well. He was another of my horses who wasn't pleasing me prior to Cheltenham, but is fine now and certainly comes here a fresh horse.


Pearl Swan

Won on his debut for me at Taunton and then showed tremendous improvement just nine days later when giving Grumeti 3lb and a short head beating at Cheltenham, only to lose the race in the stewards room. We went to the Triumph confident of a bold showing but he ran a strange race there, reminiscent of Sam Winner the year before, in that he got detached early before flying home from two out. In fact, had he not fallen at the last, I think he would possibly have gone close to winning. Together with Dodging Bullets and Hinterland, I look to hold a strong hand here and a win for any of the three wouldn't surprise me.


15:05 Aintree

What a Friend

This looks a very hot Bowl but in our favour is that the market leaders - the likes of Riverside Theatre, Burton Port and Medermit - all had hard races at Cheltenham and we didn't. Granted, I would rather that he wasn't coming here as quite such a fresh horse - he fell at the second - because the way the Gold Cup panned out, you would have to think that he may have taken a hand in the finish. He beat Carruthers and Nacarat in this race two years ago and, while this is a far more competitive renewal, it wouldn't surprise me in the least were he to run a big race. In fact, he makes some each way appeal at around the 10-1 mark, having sparkled in his work yesterday morning.


15:40 Aintree

Gwanako

Won the Topham as a 5yo here in 2008 but he hasn't been anywhere as successful here since - he fell in the Topham the following year and unseated in the Grand Sefton, and that has to be a concern. But I think he will give James Cowley an excellent first ride over these fences. On official marks he is the one to beat (though I think that is a false rating as I couldn't see him winning a handicap off 140 these days) and he has been in good form in winning a couple of hunter chases at Sandown. Granted, he didn't have much to beat at odds of 1-5 last time but the runner-up, I Have Dreamed, won by 27 lengths on his next start, so the form isn't too poor. Looks to have a winning chance to me but he needs to jump round and will need luck in running with 25 rivals against him.


16:15 Aintree

Takeroc

Basically, the handicapper has had him by the nuts since his 12-lengths win over this course and distance in October and he hasn't shifted from a mark of 145, despite being well beaten since. Probably ran too well when fourth to Finian's Rainbow in a Grade 2 at Kempton in December but again found a mark of 145 too much when beaten around 11 lengths at Doncaster last time. Harry's 7lb helps and he clearly goes well here, but he wouldn't want any more rain.


Edgardo Sol

He had the option of four races at Aintree this week but we have plumped for this 2m handicap chase, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he ran a big race. Is probably not the best handicapped horse in the race - in fact, he races off a 16lb higher mark than when beating The Cockney Mackem by a nose over this course and distance in October, his last start over fences - but he has continued to thrive over hurdles, and clearly ran a great race when second to Alderwood in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, and the winner followed up at Fairyhouse this week. Could still be improving.


16:50 Aintree

Al Ferof

We went into the Arkle with high hopes after his excellent third in the Victor Chandler and he was obviously still in with every chance when he made a catastrophic mistake at the tenth, and that effectively put paid to his chances. We have always seen him as a stayer so the step up to 2m4f will suit and the more sedate pace should help his jumping, too. Is the horse to beat here if returning to the form of his Ascot third, but I respect all of the opposition here.


Cristal Bonus

Proved himself to be as good over fences as he was a hurdler with an impressive 13 length win over Duke Of Lucca in a Grade 2 at Kempton in February, and we fancied our chances in the Jewson. But he simply ran no sort of race there and the performance had me scratching my head. But the reason soon became apparent as a very bad abscess appeared on his whither and it burst on the Friday morning. But he is fine now and the recent rains have increased his chances.


17:25 Aintree

Deireadh Re

Ran poorly at Newbury last time but before that had done exceptionally well, winning three and putting up his best performance when beating Shoreacres a short head at Wincanton under a great ride from Harry, who is on board again today. May be a bit high in the weights now but has had a nice break. Trip and ground should suit.


Big Buck's is clearly my best chance of a winner today but Gwanako also holds strong claims.


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My possible Aintree team had an easy fortnight after Cheltenham, but we are beginning to step them up in their work now.

When I say they were given an easy time, we obviously still kept them active. But this would just involve walking one day, cantering the next, in the first week, then a canter every day in the second week and we gave them some half-speed work last Saturday.

However, this week, we will really step it up and see how the horses respond. Then we will start to firm up our Aintree plans.

But it looks like we will be going to Aintree with both a strong and fresh team, for various reasons, with everything to play for in the trainers' title.

Neptune Collonges is my only runner in the Grand National. From what I have seen there isn't a great deal of rain forecast for Liverpool in the next 10 days, but Neptune will be fine as long as the ground isn't quick.

Yes, it was heavy when he was just touched off the in Grand National Trial at Haydock in February but he goes well enough on good ground, is a Grade 1 winner, jumps well, and last year's Argento winner isn't at all badly treated off a mark of 157.

I suspect Ruby may ride one of Willie's in the race and, if he does, Daryl Jacob will take the mount on Neptune. But let's see; there is no point getting ahead of ourselves.

As I said earlier, nothing is set in stone for any of the Aintree team until they have done a decent workout at home, but obviously I have pretty firm plans in my head.

Big Buck's spearheads my Aintree team in the three miler and I must say he looks amazing at the moment. He could be joined by Poungach and Celestial Halo.

The current plan is to run both our Champion Hurdler Rock On Ruby and Zarkandar in the Aintree Hurdle.

Betting never concerns me but I am told that Rock On Ruby is 9-4 favourite with some bookmakers for this race but available at over 6.0 on Betfair. It will be an incredibly hot race for sure - with the likes of Oscar Whisky, Thousand Stars, Oscars Well and Overturn likely to be in opposition from other stables - but perhaps Betfair punters are reading too much into his Aintree disappointment last season. Yes, his Aintree run last season is a possible cause for concern but, against that, he is a bigger and stronger horse this year and clearly much improved.

As everyone saw at Cheltenham, Zarkandar probably needs 2m4f now and he looks in good form too. He is no second string.

Elsewhere, we have Prospect Wells for the 2m novice, and Pearl Swan and Dodging Bullets for the juvenile. Pearl Swan could go for the 2m4f race, though; I haven't decided.

Al Ferof and Cristal Bonus, who came back with an abscess on his whither after Cheltenham, are possibles for the 2m4f novice chase, but the latter would need the ground on the easy side to run. Silviniaco Conti, who bypassed Cheltenham, goes for the three miler.

Sanctuaire could take on Sprinter Sacre in the two miler - it would be some sight to see those two tearing off in front - but we could bypass Aintree and go straight to the Celebration at Sandown with him, in which case Toubab would take his place in the race.

Elsewhere, we have Poquelin and Kauto Stone in the Melling Chase - both are fresh horses for different reasons after Cheltenham - and Tidal Bay and What A Friend for the Betfred Bowl, a race the latter won in 2010.

Throw in the likes Ted Spread, and Mon Parrain in the Topham and Gwanako in the Foxhunters', and I think it is fair to say that we aren't waving the white flag and conceding the title to Nicky just yet!

But Nicky has an unbelievably strong team going to Aintree too, so I dare say that we will both let the horses do the talking for us during the meeting and let the title take care of itself.

Aintree will probably decide its destination but don't forget the Ayr meeting has some valuable races too - as does Cheltenham and Sandown - and we have Harry The Viking pencilled in for the Scottish Grand National.

Let's just hope we get some rain soon though, to make everyone's life a little easier.

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14:10, Novice Hurdle
Plenty Pocket
Some of the main dangers among the five day declarations were withdrawn at the overnight stage, which obviously helps our winning chances here. We are now the form choice by some distance, but of course he has to bounce back from a very poor run last time out at Kempton on Boxing Day. There are several reasons why he may not have been at his best that day, but I think he is best when fresh and the subsequent break, better ground and the sun on his back appear to have done him the world of good. He will probably improve a bit for the run, but if returning to the form of his Kempton win or his 5 length third to Molotof at Haydock in November then you would think he would go very close to winning this.

14:40, Maiden Hurdle
Grandioso
Although there are some lightly-raced, potential improvers in here, Grandioso may just about set the standard on form coming into this race. That said, the horse probably hasn't run up to his potential since joining us from Howard Johnson, for whom he won a Musselburgh bumper and finished in midfield in the Aintree bumper. But he ran his best race yet when an 11 length third in a handicap hurdle over 2m at Wincanton last time, and I think the longer trip will suit him today.

16:40, Novice Chase
Earth Planet
This race has cut up at the overnight stage, so we are hopefully in here with another winning chance on the card. We kept Earth Planet busy after winning a Beginners' Chase over course and distance in June and he ran some smashing races in defeat thereafter, notably when second to Hold On Julio at Sandown. But we have given him a deserved break since a fourth on soft ground at Wincanton on Boxing Day and today's better ground, and the rest since December, are in his favour. Harry takes 7lb off. Tends to go well when fresh, too.

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14:10, Maiden Hurdle
Curtain Razer
This is a decent maiden hurdle, with the likes of Seven Woods, Royal Commission and Goulanes in opposition, to name but three. So it will take some winning. Winner of both his points, Curtain Razer was very obviously disappointing when a well beaten favourite at Chepstow last time. But that clearly wasn't his true running and if he returns to the form of his second to Gullinbursti at Exeter in November, where recent 15 length winner Oscar Davy was nine lengths away in third, then he has a definite chance here. Will be suited by the better ground, too.

15:50, Novice Handicap Chase
No Loose Change
Winning pointer who failed to get his head his front over hurdles, though ran a fair race when beaten just two necks into third in a Hereford maiden hurdle over 2m4f in December. We fancied him to go well over a mark of 116 in a Wincanton handicap hurdle next time and he was slightly disappointing in only finishing third, beaten 11 lengths. We then gave his chase debut under Rules off the same mark in a handicap over course and distance last time and he was still in with every chance when effectively brought down five out. I think he has races in him off 116, but he has to get his act together on the track.

17:30, Novice Handicap Hurdle
The Pretender
Winning bumper horse in the Provinces in France and he is slowly going the hang of things over hurdles, putting up his best effort yet when a five lengths second at Sandown last time, his first start in a tongue tie. Let's hope he can continue to progress and the return to a longer trip will suit.

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Cheltenham was obviously a trying week, but the last few days have put racing into perspective.

You may have wondered why you haven't read any updates from me since Friday, or seen me quoted anywhere in the press; well, the reason is that my youngest daughter, one-year-old Zara, has been very ill.

She was taken into hospital on Saturday morning, and was released home later that evening. But on Sunday morning we had to get the ambulance out again, as she took a turn for the worse, and it was touch-and-go for a while. We were worried, I can tell you.

Thankfully, she seems a bit better today but she will be in hospital for a while yet, and I have been to and from Yeovil hospital these past few days. We don't know exactly what the problem is with Zara, but it seems that she has picked up a very nasty virus.

I was ill myself before Cheltenham - Dan nearly took me to hospital on the way back from the Imperial Cup meeting at Sandown and for the first time I can remember in my life I never got out of bed the next day, suffering with a fever - and during the Festival I was still suffering badly from a chest infection.

So Zara's illness certainly put Cheltenham disappointments, and Kauto Star pulling up, into perspective.

Everyone knows how committed I am to my work, but it doesn't really need saying that my family has and always will come first when they need me.

So you will forgive me, at this moment in time, if I don't get too downbeat about my Cheltenham disappointments, or Kauto Star overstretching himself jumping the water and pulling up in the Gold Cup.

We just ran out of time with him. But Kauto is 100pc, and we will canter him away and rough him off for the summer and see where we stand when he comes back in.

But any talk of retirement is very premature. Clive and I haven't even discussed it, and I dare say we won't in any great detail until Kauto comes back in, in July. This season told everyone not to be so hasty in writing him off.

It may sound strange, given that we won a Champion Hurdle with Rock On Ruby and a fourth World Hurdle with Big Buck's, but Cheltenham really was a week where anything that could go wrong did go wrong. It was a testing four days.

Yes, we had some other horses placed and run really well in defeat, such as Edgardo Sol in the County, and Harry The Viking in the four miler, and the latter will now be aimed at the Scottish National.

But it is fair to say that luck and fate weren't really with us all week. And even the weeks leading up to the Festival were clearly not ideal. I think the coughing left its mark on a few, which is always a danger.

Noland and Al Ferof were both going well before bad mistakes put paid to their chances on the opening day, then we had Kauto Stone fall at the first in the Champion Chase, Pearl Swan falling at the last when just getting into the Triumph, and then What A Friend falling for the first time in his life at the second in the Gold Cup.

The way the finish was fought out, you would have to think he would have been in the shake-up in the Gold Cup.

Sonofvic also came to grief in the Pertemps and I don't think I have ever had so many horses fail to complete at The Festival - 13 in total, I think - and they were finding all ways of getting beaten. If indeed they were allowed to race.

Poquelin was withdrawn at the start of the Ryanair with what appeared little more substantial than a bitten lip - I think he could have raced - and my final runner of the week summed it up for me, when Toubab got brought down when going well in the Grand Annual - by Free World, a horse I used to train.

You couldn't make it up.

And some horses returned home poorly. Cristal Bonus ran very badly in the Jewson and had me scratching my head, but we knew the reason why on Friday morning when a bad abscess appeared on his whither.

Admittedly, some horses simply weren't up the job on the ground. For example, in hindsight, perhaps I should have run Join Together in the four miler, as he probably isn't a Grade 1 performer over 3m, and needs more cut in the ground.

So we have now lost our lead to Nicky, who had a unbelievable Festival and I would like to congratulate him here, in the trainers' title. We are about £9,000 behind, but we had a nice winner with Mr Hudson yesterday and we will now regroup.

Nicky may be 1-3 to win the title but we aren't giving up just yet, and we go to Aintree and Ayr with a strong, and a fresh, team of horses.

Brampour will run in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, where Harry will be able to claim, and Celestial Halo will join Big Buck's in the three miler at Aintree. Al Ferof, who was mixing it with Sprinter Sacre when making a crucial mistake in the Arkle, has the option of both meetings.

Rock On Ruby and Zarkandar could both go to the 2m4f race at Liverpool. In hindsight, Zarkandar could have been ridden closer to the pace in the Champion Hurdle but he finished strongly into fifth, probably running a career-best, and a longer trip will suit him. And Prospect Wells ran a blinder in the Supreme, as did Dodging Bullets in the Triumph.

So with the likes of Sanctuaire and others who bypassed Cheltenham such as Silviniaco Conti, we clearly have plenty of ammunition to fire at the big meetings ahead, so I am not conceding the title to Nicky just yet.

But that isn't the most pressing matter on my mind now, as you will appreciate.

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