PNicholls

We obviously get fresh new French talent into the yard all the time here at Ditcheat, but this week we have a potential two-legged star joining us in David Cottin.

From what I have seen he is a good jockey - he rode a double at Pau on Tuesday - and he will be with us for a month.

But we have had two more traditional newcomers to the yard this week, in Aerial and Indian Daudaie.

Aerial will be running in novice chases in the spring, but Indian Daudaie is perhaps a more interesting recruit to Betfair customers.

Because he joins Plenty Pocket in becoming the horses I now train for the Timeform Betfair Racing Club.

The club owns the two horses in partnership with Clive Smith, who I believe is now a patron of the Club.

We have had Plenty Pocket for a while, and he had decent middle distance winning form in France. We gelded him after he came to us, but is schooling and working well and will be running in a juvenile in the New Year. Hopefully, that will tell us if he is good enough to be aimed at the Triumph Hurdle.

Unlike Plenty Pocket, Indian Daudaie was already a gelding and hopefully will be ready to run in the New Year. But sometimes these French horses take time to acclimatise, and to get used to our diet and training regime.

But he certainly looks the right sort of horse, and the form he has shown over hurdles in France already gives us plenty of hope.

He won the second of his three starts at Auteuil in October before finishing runner-up in a Grade 1 race last time, and that is obviously smart form.

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It is obviously disappointing for horseracing that the Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander will not be lining up for the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.

But, as Nigel said at the HWPA Awards on Monday, he has clearly seen sense and lost his bottle. And I'm not surprised!!

On a more serious note, Kauto Star heads the five entries that I still have in the race after the recent forfeit stage, and he is fine.

And Noel was also fine after riding out at Charlie Mann's today, and he is at Ditcheat to school Kauto Star this week.

As for my other entries, Free World is the most unlikeliest runner at this stage but John Hales would like Noland to line up.

He hasn't raced since winning the John Durkan in 2008 and had a small setback a while ago, but is back working nicely again. So he is a possible if I can get him ready in time.

What A Friend could take in the Lexus but he certainly hasn't been ruled out of Kempton just yet.

The Nightingale is potentially very interesting if it came up very soft.

If the handicapper is correct, he is actually third best in at the weights here. Kauto Star is rated 190 and Albertas Run is in 168, and The Nightingale was raised to 167 after winning at Down Royal last month.

To read exclusive Paul Nicholls content - including his preview of his weekend runners each Friday at 6pm - go to http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

There are a few big races coming up, weather permitting obviously, so I thought I'd give you a brief update on my entries.

Tingle Creek
If this is run at Cheltenham on December 11, then Master Minded and Twist Magic will both go. Having won two Champion Chases, the course obviously won't pose any problems for Master Minded, though history says it won't be ideal for dual Tingle Creek winner Twist Magic, whose Cheltenham form figures read F6FP, while his Sandown figures read 31F113. Both are well after very pleasing reappearance runs.

December Gold Cup, Cheltenham, December 11
We have three left in this race; Robinson Collonges, Poquelin, and Breedsbreeze. But we are likely to rely on just the first two, with Breedsbreeze a possible for the Peterborough. You will have read my thoughts on Robinson Collonges elsewhere, a very promising horse but harshly handicapped on what he has done so far. I see he is one of the favourites for this, though. On the other hand, Poquelin has finally been given some respite by the handicapper - being dropped a whole 1lb and that should make all the difference. Not! The Peterborough could have been an option for him but he doesn't go right-handed, so he will more than likely take his chance here.

Long Walk Hurdle, Ascot, December 18
We have Big Buck's and Celestial Halo in this race, but we will probably rely on Big Buck's. Everyone knows all about him. Celestial Halo reverts to hurdles but probably not in this race, the Relkeel at Cheltenham on December 11 being a possible alternative.

Ladbroke Hurdle, Ascot, December 18
We have four in this race: Advisor, Sanctuaire, Tito Bustillo and Toubab. Advisor is fine after being brought down at Newbury last weekend and races here for the Royal Ascot Racing Club. Tito Bustillo ran well first time up and is a likely runner, Sanctuaire could possibly make it three in the race for me. He is fine after his fall. He was far too free at Cheltenham but he may just settle better this time in this fast-run race. Toubab went up to 144 after his impressive Haydock win, and I will have to study the weights before I make a decision about him. But at this stage I would say that he is more likely to go for the novice race on the same card, so hold your bets on him.

King George, Kempton December 26
Aside from Kauto Star, we have another three entered in the race. Unlikely runners maybe, but none have been ruled out at this stage.
What A Friend also has the Lexus as an option, a race he won last year. Noland is another possible, as Jon Hales would love to run him here. He had a slight setback a fortnight ago but he is fine now and back in hard work. It could be that the race comes a little too soon, though. Impressive Down Royal winner The Nightingale is likely to go for the Peterborough but, as with the other two, we will see nearer the time with him, as regards running at Kempton.

Welsh National, Chepstow, December 27
Again, you have probably read what I said about Watamu Bay on my lead article. He certainly isn't well handicapped on his form to date. But, having had the minimum three runs over fences to be eligible for this race, he is open to improvement, jumps and stays well and will love the probable soft ground. I will aim Tricky Trickster at a 3m novice hurdle next to try and get his confidence back. He didn't show any sparkle or go a yard at Cheltenham on his reappearance; we will see where we stand after that.

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We have had a lot of success with our novices in handicaps down the years - and that fact certainly doesn't seem to have been lost on the handicapper.

Because all I can say is that my three novice chasers - Rebel Du Maquis (official mark of 148), Watamu Bay (147) and Robinson Collonges (148) - appear to have been handicapped on what they may achieve in the future, and not what they have done.

And, surely, you have to give the novices a chance.

But it is the handicapper that has taken no chances with their ratings.

Take Rebel Du Maquis, for example.

He has been given a mark of 148, and I can tell you now that he won't be entered in a handicap off 148, as he may as well start now.

He won well at Cheltenham first time out and then won at odds-on at Taunton, and is clearly open to improvement, but a mark of 148? I don't think so.

And why has he got a mark anyway? I haven't asked for one, or entered it in a handicap.

People may not realise that the answer is, that after two runs, the handicapper gives them a mark so it can be published in the racecards.

Now, as you will know, I am all for giving the public as much information as possible.

But I feel that we are shooting ourselves in the foot here.

At a time when we are struggling for runners in our novice races - and therefore producing competitive fields that will help boost the betting turnover and the resulting levy - we are initiating the opposite by publishing these handicap marks too soon.

If I am a trainer thinking about taking on Rebel Du Maquis in a novice chase, and then see that my horse is rated a whopping 148, then am I more or less likely to take it on and possibly ruin my handicap mark?

Of course, I am less likely.

Even if they are beaten at a respectful distance, their horse could still be raised to an uncompetitive mark. Trainers just don't take the risk.

Of course, this would benefit me in this instance, as I may just have two horses to beat, just as Watamu Bay did at Exeter and Robinson Collonges did at Hereford.

But there is a wider picture to be seen here.

And if 148 is an accurate assessment of Rebel Du Maquis' ability, then from what I have seen, Robinson Collonges - rated on the same mark - has about a stone in hand in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham on December 11.

Which, of course, he hasn't.

And I was expecting a chase mark of around 140 for Watamu Bay, the same as what he was rated over hurdles.

But, no, he has been given 147 after being beaten first time out at Chepstow, then winning twice at Exeter at odds of 8-11 and 1-5. On the latter occasion not impressing everyone in victory, though that run probably came a bit too quick for him.

He will run in the Welsh National off 147, but that is just 1lb lower than Pandorama, a dual Grade 1 winner over fences as a novice. Figure that one out.

You have to give the owners a fair crack of the whip.

It would appear that the handicappers tend to build in extra for potential improvement in their marks on occasion, which I just cannot agree with - and you won't be surprised to learn that I have had a friendly chat to Phil Smith about all of the above.

But to get a second opinion I contacted Timeform to get their view. They use symbols to earmark potential improvers but it was very interesting to see they rate Rebel Du Maquis and Watamu Bay 137p and 137+ respectively, and Robinson Collonges 135p.

Of course, that may underplay their future ability.

But, crucially, on what my three horses have achieved over fences so far, Timeform seem nearer the mark.

On what I have seen not one of those three horses should be rated higher than 140.

But obviously I hope I am wrong.

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I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere condolences to Tom George and the owners - and in fact, everyone connected with the horse - after Tell Massini's fatal fall at Newbury last week.

We won the race with Aiteen Thirtythree but nobody likes winning in those circumstances.

Unfortunately, deaths on and off the track are a big downside of this game, and we have suffered our share of heartache already this season.

We lost Pendower earlier in the season following complications after a fall at home, and just this week Massasoit had to be put down after Bristol University discovered a tumour behind his eye.

Yes, it's a business. But let the public be in no doubt that we love the sport, and our horses.

Read exclusive Paul Nicholls articles - including his preview of his weekend runners every Friday at 6pm - by visiting http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

I am not sure how it happened, but I appear to have become a Flat owner again.

I now have a quarter share in an £80,000 Acclamation yearling with Richard Hannon, and I own it with Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and a good friend of theirs, Sotirios.

But the only correspondence I have had to date has been receiving a bill!

Richard won an amazing 119 two-year-old races this year, so fingers crossed that our juvenile can notch a victory next year.

It's not the first time that I have had an interest in the Flat - I did have a part share in a horse with Alan King - but let's hope this one is good enough for a day out at one of the top tracks next summer.

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Uttoxeter inspected last Thursday morning because of the threat of frost. But in my opinion they have far longer term problems than the recent cold spell - namely the heavy ground there.

Trainers such as Alan King, Nicky Henderson and Oliver Sherwood spoke about the ground there in less than glowing terms earlier in the week, and I have to say I agree. Uttoxeter have to make their minds up whether they are a summer track or a winter track. But they can't have both, and it seems to me that greed is why they currently attempt to.

You can't put hundreds of gallons of water on the ground during the summer to keep it race-able and then expect to maintain decent ground when the rains arrive later in the autumn and winter.

Because the ground there is consistently heavy as a result.

I have been sending my horses there far less in recent years, and to be honest I have pretty much given up on the course. I only had one runner there last season - ironically it won - and just two this. And unless something is done, I probably will ignore their fixtures in the future.

I read that the Uttoxeter team are considering spending 50k on drainage. But if they didn't race and, therefore, water so much in the summer it simply wouldn't be a problem.

Maybe if they had half as much racing, then they could have twice as much prize money. And they could put the 50k drainage money towards the prize money pot, too.

So, make your minds up, Uttoxeter.

Or else you may find that many trainers will become strangers.

Read Paul's exclusive articles, including his views on his weekend runners, every Friday at http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

As promised, throughout the season you will be reading exclusive and breaking news from Ditcheat in my Betfair column.

And I am relieved to be able to tell you that we have made a decision on who rides Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day.

I have literally just put the phone down to Clive Smith and Noel Fehily, and Noel takes the ride on Boxing Day.

It was fairly obvious that we were heading in that direction. And Noel's success aboard Master Minded on Saturday pretty much sealed the decision.

I am relieved to be able to put it to bed as it will now stop everyone asking me about it!

This story broke in Paul's exclusive column on Betting.Betfair: http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

I was astounded by Silviniaco Conti's win at Ascot on Saturday - in fact, I got up at 5am on Monday morning to watch the race again to make sure I wasn't seeing things!

I don't think that I have ever had a horse that has surprised me so much in such a short space of time.

I tweeted on the way back from Aintree that I was considering going for the Bula at Cheltenham next month - and I can reveal, that all being well, that is where he will go next.

I have to give him a chance to stake a Champion Hurdle claim after Saturday's win.

What impressed me most was the supreme ease with which he travelled at Ascot, and Noel said to me that he hasn't even had a slap yet.

So I said: "Keep that until March!!!"

I saw that one bookmaker quoted him at 7-2 for the World Hurdle, but that won't be happening. He is not a stayer at this stage of his career.

If he finds 2m too sharp at Cheltenham, then I will aim him for the 2m4f Aintree Hurdle.

We are obviously well served by Big Buck's in the World Hurdle, and he is all set for Newbury on Saturday. Noel will come down to school him on Wednesday.

Betfair customers can read Paul's exclusive views on his weekend runners every Friday by visiting http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

Denman, Big Buck's, Taranis and Neptune Collonges all took part in a racecourse gallop, in which they all really pleased me.

But what did the gallop entail?

Well, on Monday morning, we worked them all quite hard over 2m. They went a good clip, and quickened up in the final furlong. They didn't mess around, I can assure you.

Denman worked with Big Buck's, and Taranis did a separate piece with Neptune Collonges.

Denman seemed in serious order in his gallop with Big Buck's, and Taranis did a great piece of work with Neptune.

And I can reveal that we have pretty much finalised our Hennessy riding plans.

Sam Thomas will ride Denman, Nick Scholfield will partner Taranis, Noel Fehily is on board Neptune Collonges, and Ryan Mahon gets on The Tother One. And if Harry Skelton is back in time from injury, he will ride Niche Market; if not, Ian Popham will.

Noel will also ride Big Buck's in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. We also like to run our good novice chasers at the three day Newbury meeting and Sang Bleu is in the two miler on Thursday, while Celestial Halo starts over 2m4f on Friday.

Looking back to last weekend, we had two awesome winners in Sam Winner and Ghizao, now favourites for the Triumph Hurdle and Arkle respectively. The former will probably go back to Cheltenham for his next run. There are no definite plans for Ghizao, but the Henry VIII is a possibility.

It was great to be top trainer at the Open meeting, with Rock On Ruby sealing that achievement with a win in the listed bumper. He now goes hurdling.

I have now got a job on with Sanctuaire. He lost his chance before the Greatwood when far too free on the way to the start, and I have got to teach him how to settle if he is to confirm his undoubted potential.

Despite being beaten, I was pleased with Tataniano's run. Obviously I would have liked him to win, but the ground went against him, and he raced a bit fresh and free for my liking, which set the race up for the others.

But he will improve enormously for the run.

And the Champion Chase is in March, not November.

Betfair customers can read Paul's exclusive views on his weekend runners every Friday by visiting http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/