PNicholls

12.40 Taunton - Black Thunder

Won a Newton Abbot bumper by nine lengths in May and delighted me when second to Tetlami at Sandown earlier in the month, and the first and third both franked the form when winning at Kempton on Boxing Day. Has come on for that run, jumped great at home on Thursday morning and looks to hold a good form chance here, with the prospect of further improvement to come. However, this is a very hot race for Taunton with the likes of Mister Dillon, Moorland Sunset and a couple of smart bumper horses in opposition.


13.45 Taunton - Salubrious

The Johnson and Stewart Families bought him after he won a Stratford bumper by 21 lengths for Pam Sly. Was disappointing when only seventh on his debut for us in a Cheltenham bumper in November but he came back with sore shins and we have given him a lot of time. Has done a lot of schooling in preparation for this, as you would expect, and I think this longer trip will suit him. This is the easier of the two divisions but he still meets some smart animals in Carrigmorna King and Zama Zama.


14.20 Taunton - Ted Spread

Ran in the Derby after winning the Chester Vase last year, so clearly has an engine. And he made a pleasing hurdling debut for Mark Tompkins in a warmish race at Ascot last month, when finishing a 13 length in fourth to Broadbackbob and Cinders And Ashes, both subsequent winners. Even though he has been with us for just over a month, he has improved a good deal physically in his short time here and jumps really well at home. I like him, though again this is a pretty competitive contest, with a couple of smart Flat recruits making their debuts.


16.00 Taunton - The Reformer

I was going to run him in the novice chase on this card before Menorah stood his ground. But this is a horse I like and he could just have a handicap hurdle in him off a mark of 128 before he goes over fences. Showed fair novice form over hurdles before disappointing on his last two runs. But he choked at Sandown, so he had a breathing operation in the summer; goes well fresh, too.


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I was more confident of Kauto Star beating Long Run in the Betfair Chase, than I am of my horse confirming the Haydock form in the King George today.

There, I have said it.

For punters out there, that may seem a very strange thing to say given that Kauto Star was twice the price at Haydock than he is likely to go off at Kempton today, and that he beat Long Run so convincingly there.

But going to Haydock, I was really bullish in my own mind that Kauto was as fit and well as I could possibly have had him. But, for obvious reasons, I had to rein back my true enthusiasm and confidence going into the race; a race, lest we forget, that many were saying that he shouldn't even be running in.

Hand on heart, I cannot say the same today. I'm confident, but not that confident.

Don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing in his homework or demeanour that says that he isn't in A1 condition here; if he wasn't then we would not even have considered running him. And Dan made a good point the other day when he suggested that Kauto's heavy fall in the 2010 Gold Cup may have left more than a mark than we thought.

Whatever the truth of the situation, Kauto Star is certainly in a far better physical place than he was 12 months ago. Every day he works with Master Minded, and every day they both show the same speed and appetite for the game. In fact, Kauto Star looks absolutely tremendous in all aspects of his well-being.

But history and common sense dictates that whenever you gear up a horse to be at his absolute peak on one day, then it is asking a lot of them to repeat the feat just five weeks later. Especially in the highest class.

Then again, Kauto Star is no clearly ordinary horse.

Long Run is undeniably a worthy favourite. He is entitled to come on for Haydock - before this year, Kauto was never cherry ripe when running in the Betfair - and you only have to look at the fact that he beat our horse 19 lengths in this race last year, and by 11 lengths in the Gold Cup, to see who goes into the race with the most solid credentials. And he is a six-year-old, and Kauto is 11.

We kept our front running tactics under wraps before Haydock, and I am certainly not going to air them here either. I will speak to Ruby Walsh this morning but there looks to be plenty of potential pace in the race with Nacarat, and Ruby will play it as he sees it.

And having Ruby back on board for the King George again is a massive plus; the pair are poetry in motion and suit each other as do Eskimos and snow (well, you know what I mean!).

They got the better of Sam and Long Run in the jumping stakes at Haydock, and that is one potential area of weakness for the reigning champs for the other rivals to try and exploit.

I suppose there is another. I get on really well with Sam but I wouldn't mind if he hears Long Run making a noise and pulls him up a circuit too early!

Joking aside and in all seriousness, I have the utmost respect for Long Run, Nicky, and Robert and Sam Waley-Cohen. And if they turn the tables on us, then I will take defeat with the same good grace that they did at Haydock.


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A fantastic tribute to my legendary chaser as the race that Denman so memorably won in 2008 is to be renamed in his honour.


With the likes of Kauto Star, Master Minded and Big Buck's in the stable, I am lucky enough to NOT be able to say that Denman is a once-in-lifetime-horse for me and the team here at Ditcheat.

But of course Denman is a legend - and I dare say he will always be the favourite for many in the yard, and fans in general, because of his attritional and confrontational style of racing - and myself and his owner Paul Barber were very proud to be told by Betfair today that Denman is to have a race named after him at Newbury.

And Newbury is a very fitting course, too. Not only is it one of my favourite tracks, but Denman didn't seem to mind it too much either. He won two novice chases there, two Hennessys and an AON Chase.

And it is the latter race that which is to be re-named in the horse's honour, and will now be registered as the Denman Chase.

All the team here at Ditcheat would very much like to thank Betfair, Newbury and the BHA for organising it. It was an initiative developed by Newbury in association with Betfair in order to reflect the importance of the horse to Newbury and horse racing in general, and we thank them for that.

I gather it will be called the Betfair Denman Chase in 2012, but I am not so sure if the new sponsors will be too happy when everyone starts referring to it as the "Denman" and doesn't mention Betfair at all!

The plan is for Denman to parade before the race on February 11, and hopefully the racegoers and punters that have followed and supported him throughout his career will turn out to see him on the day. I only hope that they, and the horse, don't remember the last time he ran in the race - I seem to recall that he unseated Tony McCoy last year at odds of 1-6.

As for the horse, he is 100 per cent sound and a similar injury would simply have seen a younger horse out for the season, instead of retired. But Denman is currently enduring a month of box rest, although we lead him out for a pick of grass each day.

After his box rest is over, we will put him on the walker for two hours each day.

Luckily for those who look after him, he calms down a lot when he is not in full work, as he is at his most aggressive when fit. So hopefully he will behave himself on the day.

It was a great shame that he picked up his injury when he did, but he has retired with his head held high and, while 2008 at Cheltenham was his premier day in my opinion, we will always be proud of his Newbury exploits and I know his Hennessy wins are many people's favourites performances of his.

Which is why the Betfair Denman Chase on February 11 is such a fitting tribute to the great horse.

Perhaps it is a race that we can support by running the likes of Paul's impressive recent winner Join Together, or maybe Aiteen Thirtythree, who Paul owns in partnership with Andy Stewart.


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We hit the £1m prize money mark for the season today but Sam Winner is a stark reminder that this sport is not all roses.

One of last season's leading juveniles, we had high hopes for him over fences this season but he fell first time up at Exeter and again at Cheltenham last week.

And I am sad to report that he sustained a fracture of his off fore knee at Cheltenham, and is out for the season.

In fact, it was such a nasty injury that he was only 50-50 of pulling through at one stage. But we sent him to Rossdales Veterinary Hospital in Newmarket and they did a great job with him, and so far, so good in his recovery.

He had two screws inserted to stabilise the fracture.

So while it is a blow for Mrs Yeoman, I am guardedly optimistic that he may be able to race again.

But fingers crossed.

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I spoke to Clive last night and we have decided to let both Kauto Star and Master Minded take their chance in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, although that is obviously dependent on both horses being fit and well and continuing to please me in the lead up to the race.

We saw with Tataniano and Denman recently how the smallest of injuries can end seasons and careers, and that brought into sharp focus that sometimes you have to seize the moment with racehorses.

And Clive and I have always campaigned Kauto sportingly and adventurously, none more so than when he won the Old Roan, the Betfair Chase, the Tingle Creek and the King George in just over two months in 2006.

Compared to that, Kauto has had it very easy this season! So the plan is to try for a fifth King George victory.

And while I am writing this, I would just like to take this opportunity to thank all the people that have got in contact with us about Denman. He will be given the best of retirements, of that you can be certain.

As I said when we broke the news of his retirement here on Friday, the plan is for us to keep him in his box to keep Kauto company for the rest of the season.

And on the rare occasions Denman deigns to stick his head out of his box, he will have seen that his next door neighbour is as lively and alert as ever.

Obviously, whenever you train a horse to be at his peak for one race - and we had Kauto at 100pc in the Betfair Chase - there is always the possibility of them underperforming next time. You simply don't know until you get them back on the track.

We saw that with Kauto himself at Punchestown earlier in the year. But that was in May, this is December; he had a full season's training behind him, as well as his racecourse runs, before disappointing in Ireland.

And all I can tell you is that he that he has come out of his fourth Betfair Chase win remarkably well, and don't forget that Timeform have that run down as his best ever run at Haydock. And he has always run well at Kempton after running in the Betfair Chase.

He had two weeks ticking over after Haydock, but started back in full work at the start of last week and has delighted Clifford.

He works with Master Minded every day, so that just adds to the rivalry come Boxing Day!

Long Run will be a formidable opponent if he returns to the form of his King George or Gold Cup wins, but he is now set to face two of the best chasers in recent decades, so he will have to be on his game at Kempton.

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It is with great regret that I have to announce the retirement of Denman.

A scan yesterday afternoon revealed tiny damage to his near fore tendon, so this morning marks the end of an era for Ditcheat.

Denman was great on Wednesday morning as he worked towards his intended start in the Lexus later this month, but he pulled up a little bit sore yesterday morning and Clifford wasn't happy with him.

So we called Buffy (our vet) in to scan him at 4pm yesterday afternoon, and that revealed the problem with his near fore tendon.

We immediately informed his owner Paul Barber who, after consulting those close to him, took the decision to retire him.

It was the only course of action to take.

We are all devastated here at Ditcheat but Denman has given us some wonderful moments on the track, winning a Gold Cup, finishing runner-up in three more, as well two Hennessys, a Lexus and a Sun Alliance Chase.

He will be given an honourable retirement. But for the immediate future and to help his great friend Kauto Star, he will be kept in his box next to Kauto for the rest of season.

Denman will always be a legend here at Ditcheat.

So this truly is an end of an era.

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12:00, Cheltenham
Sam Winner
Proved himself one of the best juveniles of last season with two impressive wins here, and when running an extraordinary race from off the pace to finish 4th to Zarkandar in the Triumph, but we have always viewed him as a chaser. And, even though he was up against Menorah in a three-runner race, we had high hopes for him on his chasing debut at Exeter last month, as he had worked and schooled really well at home and we felt a summer breathing operation have aided him, too. But let's just say the race didn't turn out as we had hoped; Menorah would have won but for unseating his rider 2 out and then we go and fall at the last. But a touch more disappointing was the fact he continually jumped out to the left, which he had never showed us before. Hopefully, that problem won't resurface now we switch back to a left-handed track and we try him over a longer trip. And he has done loads of schooling since. Faces some class opposition in the likes of Solix here, but we get 12lb off him and Sam Winner is clearly capable of winning this if showing his true potential. But, to be honest, I will be happy with an error-free round to get his confidence back and a win will be a bonus.

12:35, Cheltenham
Edgardo Sol
Like Sam Winner, he didn't appear to appreciate going right-handed at Sandown last week, jumping out to his left and running below par in finishing an 11 ½ length 4th to Ubi Ace. So he is probably far better assessed on his earlier two wins on left-handed tracks, including a course and distance win. Was given a great ride by Ruby when getting up by a nose over fences at Aintree and we took advantage off his 5lb lower mark over hurdles and sent him to a 2m1f handicap here at the Paddy Power meeting. And he certainly made the most of it as he dotted up by 6 lengths from the favourite Cape Dutch, an in-form and progressive horse himself. Went up 12lb for that and has to give weight all round here, but appears to have come out of the Sandown race well and takes his chance before we give him a winter break. Harry takes 7lb off and Edgardo Sol will enjoy the better ground here too, as Sandown was too soft for him.

13:10, Cheltenham
That'lldoboy
Point winner who confirmed the promise of his fencing debut at Chepstow when winning at Wincanton and then following up at Newbury, beating Zarrafakt by a head, with the pair pulling 23 lengths clear of the third. Has paid for the latter win with a further 9lb rise in the weights but is clearly improving and it was good to see that the blinkers continued to do the job at Newbury, too. Let's hope he can continue to defy the handicapper, and Ryan's 3lb helps in that regard. Will love the ground.

13:45, Cheltenham
Mon Parrain
Was one of the early hype horses of the season, with some bookmakers anticipating that he could go off as low as 3.0 in the Paddy Power at one stage. That was clearly nonsense, and on the day I gather that he went off at over 6.0 on Betfair, which didn't surprise me at all. Because while I said in my column that I fancied him, and thought him a horse of immense potential after his Sandown and Aintree runs, I also warned that there were clear question marks over him for that highly competitive race; namely that he is not the easiest to train, I wasn't sure of his optimum trip, and the nature of his Aintree second, where he looked all over the winner for most of the race, was a nagging doubt in the back of my mind. And the race itself at Cheltenham was undeniably disappointing, as he didn't jump with the superb accuracy or fluency of his previous two runs for me, and he simply plugged on for seventh through beaten horses.
It is clearly far too early to be writing him off (I didn't give him a King George entry for nothing) and it could be that this smaller field allows him to get into a better rhythm and show his true worth. But there is plenty of pace in this race and the fact that he runs off the same mark here, and has to give weight all round to some classy and improving horses, suggests he is up against it. In short, he has it all to prove off this mark now.

14:55, Cheltenham
Oscargo
This horse surprised us when winning on his debut at Chepstow in March, as he certainly wasn't fully tuned up and we fancied his stablemate (and runner-up) Harry The Viking more. That form has already been franked this season, although I didn't think a mark of 124 was overly-generous for his handicap debut at Cheltenham last month. He ran well to finish third there though, but has paid for it with a further 4lb rise in the handicap. Is clearly unexposed and stays well, so we are hopeful there is improvement to come.

Garton King
Successful in all three of his points in 2010, he made a highly promising hurdling debut when beating his stablemate Royal Collonges by 4 lengths at Exeter last October. And that form worked out well, with the 3rd and 4th winning next time with the 5th, 6th and 7th all winning subsequently. Has been off for over a year but I would like to think he has races in him off a mark of 122. However, will probably need the run today and I would want to see some rain for him, too.

15:30, Cheltenham
Balding Banker
Showed smart form in bumpers last season, notably when winning by 10 lengths at Newbury, and he clearly didn't give his true running at the same track on soft ground on his final start, when he stopped quickly after travelling well. But that was addressed and he came out and ran a cracking race to finish second to subsequent winner Molotof at Wincanton. Those behind him that day haven't done a great deal for the form and he will need to step up considerably again to trouble the likes of the highly-regarded Darlan and Aikideau. But with only four runs under his belt, the potential for improvement is obviously there.

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I was very surprised to be told earlier in the week that I was just one away from 150 winners at Cheltenham; I had no idea that I have had so much success at the home of steeplechasing.

And to have only Martin Pipe, Fulke Walwyn and Fred Rimell to have trained more winners at the course, it is an achievement of which I am very proud, as you can imagine. Because Cheltenham not only hosts the best National Hunt racing, but also the most fiercely competitive.

It certainly seems a long, long time ago since See More Indians got the Cheltenham ball rolling for me at this meeting 18 years ago - on December 10 1993, to be precise.

And we have had some great days at the course. We have had four-timers on big days, and only last month we had six winners at the Open meeting.

We have been fortunate enough to have had so many Festival winners; I believe our tally currently stands at 30.

Flagship Uberalles was my first Festival winner in the 1999 Arkle and that win initiated a week that will live long in my memory, as Call Equiname and See More Business won the Champion Chase and Gold Cup in the next two days.

I have been lucky enough to win four Gold Cups, as well as Champion Chases and World Hurdles, but I would dearly love to win a Champion Hurdle. That is the one race that has eluded me that I want to win.

What makes any win at Cheltenham so special is that it is the ultimate test of all aspects of horsemanship; be it training, jockeyship and obviously of the horse itself. And it is a tremendously-run racecourse, as well as being visually stunning.

Quite simply it is unique in all aspects.

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13:10 Ludlow

Twist Pistol

Won over 2m2f at Pau last January but it is fair to say that he's been a touch disappointing in two starts for us, but the reason was readily apparent at Sandown last time. He pulled far too hard there and was soon a spent force. He definitely has the raw ability to win off a mark of 119 - and it was a touch disappointing to see him left on the same mark over hurdles and fences after being beaten 35 lengths at Sandown - but it all depends if we can get him to settle. If he does, then we are in business on a track that should suit him. And he certainly has the size and scope of a chaser, and has schooled well in preparation for this, too. Ryan takes 3lb off.

14:00 Huntingdon

The Nightingale

Took his chance in the King George after an impressive Down Royal win last season, but returned with a fibrillating heart when disappointing there. He normally goes really when fresh and I had him "ready to fight for his life" on his return to the Irish track for the Grade 1 Champion Chase last month. He ran a cracker to finish third to Quito De La Roque there, looking a likely winner before his stamina ran out. So the step down in trip, and class, will clearly be to his liking. The question is, what has the Down Royal race taken out of him? He had a hard race there in testing ground, but I was surprised at how well he bounced back at home. And I obviously wouldn't be running him here if I didn't believe he was capable of running to his best. Whether he is capable of giving 4lb to the likes of Somersby though is another matter. But we will see.

15:00 Huntingdon

Italian Master

I unsuccessfully tried to buy this horse privately after he beat Likeable Rogue (who we also subsequently acquired) at Dromahane in March, and the form of that point looks fair - the 12 length third ran well in defeat thereafter and the fourth won subsequently. But fortunately John Hales and Aiden Murphy manage to buy him at the Cheltenham Sales the following month. He looks the part - a strong, athletic individual - and goes well, too. As ever though, I reserve my judgement on all these point winners until I see them on the track, and he is up against a couple of fair sorts from the Flat here too. But I would like to think he is a decent prospect from what I have seen at home.

12:50 Taunton

Rolling Aces

With all due respect to my other runners in the race, I was a touch surprised that Rolling Aces wasn't the shortest in the betting of my three at Wincanton last month and that he went off as big as 11-2. Because he had shown plenty of ability in his two points in Ireland - finishing second to Rocky Creek and then winning himself next time - and Liam Burke, who runs our satellite point stable in Ireland, thought a fair bit of him, too. And he certainly looked impressive when beating Mabel Tasman by four-and-a-half lengths at Wincanton - it is always good to see them confirm their home promise on the track - and let us hope that he can build on that. Has to give 7lb away here but the race looks winnable and the step up in trip should suit, too.

13:50 Taunton

Mr Hudson

Looks a competitive five-runner race, with the likes of recent Towcester winner On Trend in opposition, but I like this horse. It remains to be seen if he has recovered mentally from an horrific fall at Kempton in February, after which he lay winded for some time after. But we have given him plenty of time to get his confidence back at home and a breathing operation in the summer will hopefully have helped him too. He looks on a fair enough mark of 128 judged on his novice hurdle form and this point winner has always been a chaser in the making, though he will be suited by further in time. His owners live close to Taunton and love to support the track.

14:50 Taunton

Doeslessthanme

Won on his debut for us over 2m4f at Fontwell but fell at Hereford last time. We run him at a local track because we want to get his confidence back, and not travel too far with him. And even though he has won over this trip over hurdles, you would have to think he needs further than this. But only six line up here, so we take our chance.

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I run two in the International at Cheltenham on Saturday, but there has been a change of plans as regards jockey bookings.

At the request of his owners, Harry Derham now rides Brampour. So Ruby Walsh takes the mount on Sanctuaire.

I discussed it through with Brampour's owners yesterday and presented them with the facts, obviously pointing out that Harry couldn't claim, and gave them 24 hours to think it over and make a final decision today.

And they have just come back this morning and said they are staying loyal to Harry after he has guided it to victory at Ascot and in the Greatwood at Cheltenham. They are in the game for the love of it, and want Harry to ride him on Saturday.

Harry clearly gets on very well with the horse, but Ruby switching to Sanctuaire is certainly not a negative to that one's chances.

As he showed in the Fred Winter and in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, Ruby is the key to making this horse tick and, if Overturn is in the line-up, he is likely to get the strong pace he needs. He is just the kind of talented, if quirky, horse to run a blinder in one of these races at a big price.

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