PNicholls

Here's my look ahead at our stable's runners at Fakenham and Sandown:

Fakenham

14:00

Promising Ashan

Has run three nice races in handicap chases for us, last time out being beaten a length by Cornish Sett at Wincanton. Has a good opportunity to get his head in front in this Beginners' Chase, and maybe the Kim Muir is an option after this. One of his opponents is Nodforms Paula, who left us after disappointing at Newbury in November, as he was beaten when unseating his rider there. We always thought a bit of him, so let's hope he goes well on his first outing for Milton Harris.

14:35

San Remo Bello

Won a hurdle in the French provinces before finishing a fair fourth on his debut for me at Stratford in October. Has had the winter off because he wants good ground. This is actually a very decent race, but he needs to finish in the first four to get qualified for the EBF Final. Is fit and well after his break, and has a nice chance, especially as the 2m4f trip should suit him better.


Sandown

15:20

Blu Teen

Not actually trained by me (though he used to be, winning a couple of races for The Stewart Family) but will be a Ditcheat winner if he does oblige here, as he is trained by one of my best pals, Dave Staddon, who lives in the village. Dave trains Blu Teen on our gallops and let's hope he can add to his Sandown Hunters' Chase win last year.

17:00

Just Amazing

Is one of my 10 entries in the Grand National. Last seen out on a racecourse when he finished sixth in the Whitbread (sorry Bet365 Gold Cup), where he came back jarred up. He needs to finish first or second in two Hunters Chases before March 1 to qualify for the Foxhunters' at Cheltenham, so that is our immediate target. Needed a lot of time after Sandown and as a result only came back in on New Years Day, so he will improve a deal for the run. But he is in good order and would be the highest rated of these on his Cheltenham novice chase win last year.

To read Paul's exclusive preview of his weekend runners every Saturday from 8am, go to http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

Plenty has been said about the tragic events at Newbury on Saturday and I think we should now let the necessary investigations come to a conclusion before commenting further.

But I am just thankful that Al Ferof came back safe and well from the racecourse - winning the race was an irrelevance in the circumstances - but I would just like to pass on my sincere condolences to the connections of the horses that died.

Having lost Watamu Bay here at Ditcheat in midweek, I know how all those close to the horses - from the owners and trainers to the lads and lasses who look after them on a daily basis - must be feeling.

But the sobering aspect of horseracing is that, as a seven day a week sport, the show goes on regardless.

We are all racing again, and making plans.

Silviniaco Conti is in many ways the forgotten horse of the Champion Hurdle - he was after all giving Menorah 4lb when beaten five lengths in the International - and he goes to the Kingwell at Wincanton next week, and soft ground will suit him there.

That promises to be a hot race and will tell us a lot more as to where we go next, but he needs soft ground. Maybe the 2m4f race at Aintree will suit him better than the Champion Hurdle, but let's see.

I will tell you more about my weekend runners on Saturday but they will include Pride Of Dulcote in the Betfair Ascot Chase and The Minack in the Reynoldstown.

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A host of big names at Paul's Ditcheat yard are beginning preparations in earnest for two of the most valuable Cheltenham Festival races, so which horses are shaping up the best? Read Paul's verdict here

Obviously, we have some of our Gold Cup and Champion Chase hopefuls running this weekend and next.

So let's hope What A Friend furthers his Cheltenham claims. But I thought it would be useful to give you a brief update on my other probable runners in those races.

Kauto Star has been kept ticking over since Kempton, but he starts really strong work on Monday. He has been cantering every day, and is in tip-top form.

We will also start stoking work into Denman; he is in really good form and is exactly where we want him.

Neptune Collonges is over his scare and has started back in proper work after his brief spell walking.

For those of you who didn't read last week's column, he came back a little sore after winning at Cheltenham, and had a badly swollen off-fore joint on the Monday morning. But x-rays thankfully showed nothing untoward.

Pride Of Dulcote came back from Ireland and now goes to the Betfair Ascot Chase next Saturday. It's a valuable Grade 1 race in its own right, and hopefully it will provide a decent springboard to a crack at the Gold Cup.

And it will be nice to snaffle some Betfair loot before they give all their money away to Flat racing and the all-weather!!

Woolcombe Folly would have started an odds-on favourite for the Game Spirit but for his bad scope. However, with so much rain about there may even have been a possibility of me withdrawing him because of the ground anyway.

But my number one Champion Chase hope is Master Minded and he is just ticking over at the moment.

Incidentally, I keep reading that Master Minded is nowhere near as good as he was despite winning three from three this season, including two Grade 1s.

By that, they mean not as good as he was in that 2008 Champion Chase win.

He was undoubtedly brilliant that day but it was probably overhyped, and it is interesting to hear that the 174 Timeform had him running to at Ascot last time was the highest basic rating he's achieved with them since the 2008 Champion Chase.

Something to ponder on perhaps.

Tataniano pulled muscles behind when schooling recently so he has had an easy week. It is nothing major but it means that we couldn't do what we wanted with him, so it clearly isn't the ideal preparation for Cheltenham.

But the Festival is still the idea and we also have Aintree, Punchestown, and Sandown as late season options for him.

For Paul's exclusive preview of his weekend runners from 8am on Saturdays, go to http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

Betfair sponsor Friday's card at Kemtpon - here are my thoughts on American Trilogy, Rebel Rebellion and Pasco

14:05
American Trilogy: Has obviously been disappointing since winning the 2009 County Hurdle, and fell over hurdles at Wincanton first time out this season and then took a nasty tumble on his chasing debut at Plumpton. Although he ran well in a Jumpers' Bumper at Kempton in December, it is clear that he has lost a bit of pace so we step him up in trip here. A nice clear round is the priority but he has done loads of schooling and jumped as well as he has done at home when we put him over what I call the proper fences on the grass recently. He could run ok, and the race has cut up to just five runners.

14:35
Rebel Rebellion: Showed some fair form when with Charlie Mann last season, finishing a good third to Megastar on good ground at Sandown before winning his bumper at Southwell. Went off the 11-10 favourite on his hurdling debut for us at Ascot in November, but disappointed badly. But he choked there and has had a breathing operation since. I am hoping to see him in a much better light on better ground today, but he will improve for the run. And this will probably be his last run of the season as chasing will be this winning pointer's game next year.

15:45
Pasco: I would like to see a bit more rain for him, but he loves a flat track and this could be a perfect race for him. As everyone knows, he loves Newbury and finished another good second there in November. He is in good form and was still going well when falling 3 out here in a Graduation Chase won by Duc De Regniere in 2009. Obviously meets a couple of potentially high-class chasers in Punchestowns and Crack Away Jack, and has it to do at these weights, but I think he has a decent chance all the same and could still be a possible for the Racing Post Chase after this, or maybe even a handicap at Newbury next month.

To read Paul's exclusive preview of his weekend runners at 8am every Saturday, go to http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

One of the most distressing parts of this job is when we lose horses, and unfortunately I am sad to report that we have lost Watamu Bay.

He was doing a routine canter when shattering his off-hind fetlock, and had to be put down.

One of the ups and downs of training racehorses is giving this often-crushing news to owners - as well as seeing the devastation on the faces of the lads and lasses who look after them - but I am afraid it is part and parcel of the job.

You must inform the owners first in these circumstances, and I have let Jared know.

But trainers have a duty to keep punters informed too, especially as I see Watamu Bay was prominent in the betting for the National Hunt Chase at The Festival.

But money and betting is clearly secondary in these circumstances.

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Last weekend showed us never to write off a horse after one moderate run.

So I wouldn't be in a rush to pack off Noland into retirement just yet after his admittedly disappointing run at Cheltenham last week, where he was pulled up four out after never really going.

AP got off the horse and said not to retire him, and to send him over 3m next.

So we are going to send him for the Aon next week, and see what that race tells us.

I was quite open before his comeback jumps run last week that I thought he would need it, despite finishing second in a Jumpers' Bumper, though of course he ran very poorly.

But last week also illustrated that horses can, and do, bounce back after a poor run; step forward Neptune Collonges. It was great to see him win at Cheltenham.

Unfortunately we have since had a minor scare with the horse.

Neptune came back a little sore after the race, and had a badly swollen off fore joint on Monday morning.

So we got Buffy in to do an X-ray straight away.

That revealed nothing untoward, and he will have done a week's walking prior to having another X-ray on Monday morning.

If that is fine, then he will carry on back in work, with the Gold Cup his next target.

I talk about my Grand National entries on a separate blog, but Neptune was raised 6lb after last week's win to 168.

So I would think he would have too much weight for the Grand National, and that he will go to the Gold Cup at Punchestown, a race he has won twice, after Cheltenham.

But I suppose I could be pleasantly surprised at the National Weights Lunch on February 15.

Paul Nicholls' exclusive preview of his weekend runners is available at 8am on Saturday mornings at http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

The Grand National entries were out this week, with the announcement of the weights to follow on February 15.

You can read my comments on Neptune Collonges on a separate blog, but I have 10 still in the race, and I would say that I am likely to have about five runners at this stage.

Here is my brief assessment of my other entries:

Gullible Gordon: Only a tentative entry at this stage. Hopefully will run in the Cross Country race at the Festival.

Just AmazingWill run in Hunter Chases prior to a tilt at the Cheltenham Foxhunters, possibly starting off next Friday at Bangor. But Aintree is a long way off for him.

Meanus Dandy: A definite possible at this stage, though he needs fast ground. Could go to Doncaster on March 5.

Niche Market: Is probably our number one hope at the moment. Had a breathing operation after his fifth in the Hennessy and is back in full work. Will go to Newbury for the race we won last year with Big Fella Thanks on March 5, where the intention is for Ruby to ride him, and may even have a run in a 3m novices' hurdle at Bangor on Friday to sharpen him up.

Ornais: Had his first run after two and years off the track at Wincanton on Thursday, and will improve enormously for the run. I suspect we will find another Hunter Chase in three or four weeks time.

Taranis: Is being aimed at what was the William Hill Chase on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. It is fair to say that his owner Angela Yeoman is not that keen on going for the race, so a charm offensive may be needed when we travel over together to see her Pride Of Dulcote run at Leopardstown on Sunday!

The Tother One: Was disappointing last time but had earlier run well when fourth in the Hennessy and is the type of horse to go well in the race. Runs next in a Graduation Chase at Exeter next Sunday. Actually, he may be for sale and would make a good National runner for someone.

Tricky Trickster: Is a possible, especially on soft ground. Has had a breathing operation since his last run but could possibly go for something like the Midlands National or Scottish National instead of Aintree, but the ground could be key to where he goes.

What A Friend: Is a very unlikely runner at this stage. His current plans are the Aon, the Gold Cup, then the Martell at Aintree.

Read Paul Nicholls' exclusive preview of his weekend runners, every Saturday morning, at http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

I'm hoping for improvement from a trio of runners on Tuesday's Betfair-sponsored card at Taunton.

14:20 - Qozak
Has disappointed me slightly in two runs since we sent him chasing this season, but perhaps he has just been mixing it in very good company - he has twice been behind a class act in Rock Noir at Exeter and Warwick. But I am hoping that 2m3f on a right-handed track will see him post improved form on his third start over fences. Certainly, he seems to love Taunton, being three from three here, including showing 140+ form when winning a handicap hurdle by 10 lengths last January. So he definitely has a chance.

14:50 - Rock Of Deauville
I am becoming firmly of the opinion that there's a marked difference between horses that like soft ground on the Flat and those who act on it over jumps; National Hunt winter ground seems to find so many of them out. Take Rock Of Deauville, for example. He has winning soft ground form on the level in the French provinces and was pleasing me at home prior to his hurdling debut at Hereford in November, and went off the 11-8 favourite. But he disappointed when over a seven length third there, on ground probably deeper than the official good to soft going suggested. My hope is that today's better ground will see him in a better light. But with the likes of Secret World and Shammick Boy in opposition, he has his work well and truly cut out. We have just withdrawn Dark Lover from the race as he fell schooling this morning and was lame this evening.

15:50 - Teshali
People may look at this race and think this looks like a 'plot' horse here. But don't fall into that trap. I really thought he would win first time out at Chepstow and he has disappointed me in his two subsequent starts as well. But, again on better ground, I am just hoping that he can show improvement over hurdles. Certainly, a mark of 108 is fair when you look at his French Flat form, where he was a 90+ performer, including when winning on his final start there over 1m3f at Saint Cloud. But if he continues on as he has done over hurdles, he may not even win off a mark of 90. Let's hope the expected better ground here today is the key to unlock his talent.

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I revealed a fortnight ago that I recently took out a dual purpose license.

And I can tell you what will probably be my first runner on the Flat.

If all goes to plan, it may be Celestial Halo, runner-up in the 2009 Champion Hurdle, in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot.

So, I will be switching the flat cap for the Top Hat that day!

Back to jumping, I aim to run both Robinson Collonges and Rebel Du Maquis in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

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Doncaster, 15:05
Empire Levant: Won his first three starts on the Flat in France last season over 1m3f/1m4f, before losing out by a nose in a listed race on his final start at Nantes in June. Shaped really well at home priory to running nicely enough in third at Newbury on his hurdling debut and would have been a lot closer there had he not blundered three out. But he also ran too free and the important thing with him is to get him to learn to settle and not be so keen. He's a horse I like an awful lot and the better ground will suit, as it was a little bit tacky at Newbury. As for the Triumph, we'll see what happens here first. Looks to have Palawi and Franklino as his main rivals here.

Doncaster, 15:40
Font: Won over 2m4f at Haydock back in 2009, but is not an easy horse to place and, frankly, he ran a dire race at Cheltenham last month (he finished second in a Flat charity race in October), where he didn't jump at all and tailed off at the finish. The positives are that this race has cut up to just seven runners, and we have done loads of work with his jumping at home since.

Doncaster, 16:10
King of the Night: Was very impressive when beating Fiulin by nine lengths at Cheltenham in October, but he disappointed on easier ground, when stepped up markedly in class, behind Cue Card last time. He's been going nicely enough at home recently but I think the key to him is better ground, so the expected good going will suit. This is a competitive race, though.


Fontwell, 13:00
Definity: Very progressive two seasons ago when landing two novice hurdles after winning his point, and then showing smart form when only losing out to Tazbar over 3m at Cheltenham in April 2009, where the three horses behind him were Franchoek, Blazing Bailey and Hills Of Aran. Missed last season with a leg and ran a nice race when fourth at Exeter on his reappearance, where he travelled well, maybe a touch too keenly, before weakening. That didn't surprise me, as I thought he would need the run and he has improved enormously since. Is out of the Irish National winner Ebony Jane but 2m4f on soft ground should be fine here. Holds an entry in both the 2m4f and Sun Alliance at the Festival.

Fontwell, 16:20
Tieptiep: Is a half-brother to a number of winners, notably Willie Mullins smart hurdler/chaser Pomme Tiepy. Goes nicely at home but, as with so many of my bumper horses, will improve a good deal for the run and experience.


Paul exclusively previews his weekend runners every week with Betfair - to read this and his other articles, go to http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/