PNicholls

The fact that I haven't won the Grand National in 60-odd attempts is sure to get plenty of airtime this week, but it certainly doesn't cause me any sleepless nights.

Obviously, it would be great to finally land the big prize, as AP did on Don't Push It last year, but it won't ruin my weekend if we do miss out again.

That said, I am leaving no stone unturned in my bid for victory. And for only the second time we have built a couple of National-type fences here.

We borrowed a lot of spruce from the local point to point to cover two existing fences here, and they have made a nice test for the horses (see accompanying picture). And we schooled a few horses over them this morning.

Niche Market (Harry Skelton; Grand National) schooled with Fistral Beach (Nick Scholfield; Topham). And The Tother One (Ryan Mahon; National), fresh and well, schooled with Ornais (Nick Scholfield; National), and they were followed by Harry on Mon Parrain.

All five jumped really well, but I must admit that Mon Parrain was awesome. The more I see of him the more I like, and am excited by, him. He has three options at Aintree - the 3m handicap, the Martell or the Topham - and I am leaning towards the latter at the moment. But obviously nothing will be decided or finalised until I speak with Mr Cotton.

What A Friend, now second favourite for Aintree, will school over the fences tomorrow with Free World (goes for the Topham) and hopefully he will continue to thrive.

I hope so for the sake of some of the Betfair punters who have backed him at colossal prices for the race. I am told someone has got 680.00 and others have got prices from 600.00 downwards.

Any chance of the trainer getting any of those prices? If not, I may re-route him somewhere else!

On a more serious note, Tricky Trickster, who broke a bone in his neck when falling at Uttoxeter, was x-rayed again yesterday and is slowly going the right way.

But it will be a long recovery and his injury just goes to show the highs and lows of this game.

Just 24 hours before Tricky's fall at Uttoxeter, his owner Chris Giles was in the winners' enclosure at Cheltenham, greeting in his first Festival winner in Zarkandar.

Horse racing can be a very sobering game on occasions and that is why, if come Saturday night we still haven't won a National, I will be disappointed. But nothing more, as long as my horses come back safe and well.

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When Nicky's assistant Tom Symonds announced he was leaving Seven Barrows last month, it got me thinking about my team at Ditcheat and how important Dan is to me.

So we had a long chat after Cheltenham, and I have decided to hand over the day-to-day training of my bumper horses/hurdlers to him next season - all bar the top-flighters like Big Buck's, of course - and give him more responsibility.

I will train the chasers and proven Grade 1 horses from Highbridge, where I live and am having a new house built, while Dan will train from the main stable, where he lives on site.

The transition should be seamless. He deserves it, and hopefully it will stop him leaving for new challenges and opportunities elsewhere!

I have heard Tom described as "gifted with an encyclopaedic brain for form, breeding and most other racing data".

And while some at Ditcheat may think that Dan struggles to get past page 3 of the Sun each morning, he is a brilliant horseman, all the owners here know and appreciate that, and he won't let anybody down.

I have thought for a while that I have been spreading myself a bit too thinly with so many horses here, and at our pre-training yards, and the name of the game these days is identifying and bringing in new talent, as well as maximising what you have got.

We have had some great success with our hurdlers down the years - indeed, our three Festival winners this year were all hurdlers - but chasers are my passion and my raison d'etre.

So next season I am going to take a much more hands-on role in sourcing, viewing and buying all the new incoming horses, and keeping a closer eye on the pre-training yards, often on a daily basis.

Nothing will slip under the radar.

That will be time-consuming, involving more trips abroad, but I will at least save on some hefty agents' fees.

The one stumbling block to this is the Trainers' Championship. I am still in a real tussle with Nicky this year, and if I am fortunate enough to retain my title, I wouldn't like to relinquish it without a fight.

So I rang up the BHA and they are looking into the situation for me.

Obviously, everyone knows I am up front about my stable and horses. And I wouldn't want punters to think I am training the bumpers and hurdlers, when some young whippersnapper is.

But, if as a result, the BHA say that Dan has to take out a full licence, and I have to relinquish the bumpers/hurdlers and Dan gets my money, then I will have to have a rethink.

The BHA's initial thoughts are that I may have to officially hand over the horses to Dan to register and train. If that is the case, then I can assure you nothing will be changing.

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Here are my views on our two Stratford runners this afternoon:

15:40 - Rivaliste

This is just a sharpener over hurdles as we have our eye on a valuable 20k handicap chase at Newton Abbot on the last day of the season. He has never raced over hurdles for me (though he won three times over 2m2f-2m3f in France) so you obviously cannot be confident of his chances, but this is a winnable race at first viewing. He races off a 2lb lower mark than his current chase mark. He hasn't really progressed since his reappearance third at Cheltenham in November but ran ok when third at Doncaster last time. If he does go close it will be a bonus, but it doesn't look the strongest of races, and with James taking 10lb off he must have a leading chance.


17:10 - Karinga Dancer

Has run two nice races in defeat at Ffos Las and Doncaster, showing a fair level of form, and I think he will appreciate this slightly better ground here, too. His form in the book already gives him a fair chance, though he obviously faces similarly unexposed rivals and some interesting newcomers.

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First of all, I would like to say a massive thank you to all the people who have sent letters, emails, texts and cards about the way my Gold Cup horses ran.

It's a good job Kauto or Denman didn't win, or else the postman would have had a heart attack delivering the post up my office stairs.

As it was, the feedback has been truly phenomenal. It has simply astounded me, and we have had more correspondence this week than we had when Kauto won his Gold Cups, and Denman his.

All my horses have come out of the race fine and I definitely think Denman has improved for the wind operation. Not necessarily in the race itself, but the recovery time. He has got over his hard race quicker this time around.

On a similar note, initially, I was going to put Sam Winner away for the reason after his Triumph fourth - not a bad effort at all considering he was tailed off at one stage - but he was mad fresh last week and he has come out of the race really, really well. I could send him for the 2m4f race at Aintree providing there is cut in the ground, and send Rock On Ruby to Punchestown.

As I said previously - and the news that we broke here that What a Friend is now a probable for the Grand National certainly caused his price to tumble! - I still have plenty of bullets to fire until the end of the season.

A horse that a lot of people have been talking to me about is Sandown winner Mon Parrain (the egg on my face is slowly coming off, by the way....) , and I see he is as low as 10-1 with one firm for next year's Gold Cup. That must make him a good thing off his revised mark of 149!

That Gold Cup quote looks a touch of over-reaction but we will really see what we have got after he runs next - it could be the Martell Cup, Topham or the 3m handicap at Aintree. But he is an exciting horse, for sure.

If the ground is too quick for Denman at Aintree, I could be tempted to go for the Martell.

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Here are my views on our two runners at Newbury today:

15:50 Newbury
River D'Or: Timeform sums up River D'Or as: "All in all, he's been a flop since joining this yard" - thanks for that lads! In truth, they aren't far wrong and he has clearly disappointed since coming to us after winning at Auteuil in June 2009. He ran a little bit better to a point here last time but the fact is that he was beaten by 26 lengths. The positives are that the handicapper has dropped him 5lb and this longer trip may suit, but you clearly cannot be confident of his chances. I have seen stronger Newbury handicaps though.


16:25 Newbury
Teshali: Has a similar profile to River D'Or in that he has been really disappointing for me. Showed near 100-rated form on the Flat in France and, to be honest, if you had told me that he would be running off a mark of just 105 on his fifth start for me, I would have said, 'Re-mortgage the house and lump on.' But he has not come up to scratch over hurdles yet, and the application of a tongue tie (which he wears again today) didn't improve him at Taunton last time, where he was beaten by 59 lengths. Has clearly got the talent to win off this mark, but it is impossible to recommend him as a bet today given what he has shown to date. Let's hope I am proved wrong.

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Cheltenham this year was one of the best Festivals I can remember. Three winners, some great performances in defeat, and we were only a short head away from emerging as the top stable from the week.

We came out of it £118,000 or so in front of Nicky, and we still have plenty more bullets to fire in the latter part of the season.

Here are my thoughts on some of my leading lights of the week. Plans are not set in stone for any of them but this is my current thinking:

Al Ferof: I was obviously delighted to win the first race of the Festival, and get Ruby on the board so soon. Al Ferof won't run again this season. Even though the Supreme was clearly a very good race - it was actually faster than the Champion - I don't think he is a horse that wants to stay hurdling too long. We will school him, put him away, and bring him back for a novice chase in the autumn, maybe at Exeter.

Ghizao: Found the ground too quick and lost any chance with a blunder four out. He will go to Aintree, in the 2m race if it is soft or the 2m4f if it is better ground.

Gullible Gordon: The National remains the plan with him.

Definity: One of my mistakes of the meeting, running him in the 2m4f race on that ground instead of the 3m Stewart Family Spinal Research handicap. He could go for the 3m handicap at Aintree.

Rock On Ruby: Ran a great race, only getting collared in the final stride in the Neptune. The form of his earlier second to Bob's Worth is clearly very solid form and the target now is the 2m4f race at Aintree.

Aiteen Thirtythree: Has come back with sore shins, and Daryl said he was like a car with flat tyres coming down the hill. He will be prepared for the Hennessy.

Master Minded: We were nervous of the ground beforehand, and he wants further when encountering that ground in the future. Will go for the 2m4f at Aintree and he will possibly be prepared for the King George

Woolcombe Folly: Didn't get the run of the race, made a mistake two out, but wasn't at his best. Will go for the 2m handicap at Aintree, where Ryan will take 5lb off.

Robinson Collonges: Was bitterly disappointing. Never jumped or travelled. Could go for the 3m novice at Aintree or even the 3m handicap hurdle there.

Poquelin: Undoubtedly disappointing but perhaps he just isn't a Grade 1 winner; could go to Aintree or the Cheltenham April meeting.

Big Buck's: Nothing much more to say about him. Goes to Grade 1 at Aintree, as in previous years.

Zarkandar: To win the Triumph like that on his second start was awesome, and I think we have a Champion Hurdle horse on our hands; goes to Aintree.

Sam Winner: Was taken off his feet early but came from nowhere to finish fourth: has always been a chaser in the making and will not run again this season.

Brampour: Ran a good race in ninth in the Triumph but it could be that he is better on a flat track; goes to Aintree, where he could take in the older-age novice hurdle.

Kauto Star: I'll say this again - we have no plans to retire him. I thought his excellent third would have answered those questions. Could go to Punchestown.

Denman: Has come out of the race amazingly well, and it is possible he could go to Aintree.

Neptune Collonges: Found the ground too quick but actually ran a fair race. I've yet to speak to John Hales about his next target but he could be interesting in something like the Scottish National. Is ground-dependent though.

What A Friend: As we suspected, better ground and blinkers saw him post a much improved effort in the Gold Cup. Could run in the Totesport Bowl at Aintree but on good ground he is highly likely to run in the Grand National.

King Of The Night: Was going well when falling. Runs in a handicap at Aintree.

Indian Daudaie: Ran an excellent race in fourth for the Timeform Betfair Racing Club and we will look for a 2m4f novice hurdle for him now.

Tricky Trickster: Suffered a hairline fracture of a bone in his neck when falling at Ayr on Saturday; is in a bad way and the next four or five days will be crucial. Hopefully he will make a full recovery.

Other than these, we still have plenty of others to run that bypassed Cheltenham - horses like Silviniaco Conti, Rebel Rebellion and Royal Charm.

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Here are my views on our quartet of runners in the Gold Cup today:

Denman: Rain would certainly be a great help to Denman's chances. He is a horse the public have really taken to because he is a trier, a fighter and a bruiser; the Marvin Hagler to Kauto Star's Sugar Ray Leonard. Has had his problems since his finest hour - a 7 length defeat of Kauto in this race in 2008 - but has continued to turn in some devastatingly good performances since, notably when winning the 2009 Hennessy. And you would have thought he had won that race for the third time this season to judge from the reception he got coming in after finishing third to Diamond Harry at Newbury. Although he was eventually beaten over 15 lengths there, he was giving lumps of weight away to the youngsters Diamond Harry and Burton Port, and only weakened from 2 out. Ratings-wise, that wasn't far off his best but we got the impression he didn't finish his race off as we would have liked, so he had a breathing operation. Whether or not that ekes out some improvement we won't know until the race - if Imperial Commander is in the same form as when beating him 7 lengths last season, it may need to - but he comes into this race at his best physically,

Kauto Star: If significant rain does come that wouldn't be in Kauto Star's favour but I can tell you he looks in magnificent order and was bucking and squealing the stables down earlier this wee. It was obviously ridiculously premature for people to call for his retirement after his King George run; the facts of the matter are that he would have been a decent second to Long Run had he not made the stopping mistake, and Riverside Theatre went on to win the Betfair Ascot Chase. And after Kempton he bled slightly and had a minor infection, so there were excuses for what was a below par performance anyway, So we will see where he stand today but don't forget he has won this race twice, beat the Champion Chaser Sizing Europe on his reappearance at Down Royal and only four runs ago won the King George by a distance. Not retirement material in my eyes. But I just want to see him do himself justice and, re-united with Ruby, I hope he does just that.

Neptune Collonges: Missed last season with a bit of leg and this season certainly didn't start ideally, being brought down in the Hennessy and then never getting competitive or into a racing rhythm when starting slowly at Cheltenham next time. But got the lead in the Argento Chase last time and never looked back, beating Tidal Bay 1 ¼ lengths. That form puts him in the mix here and don't forget that this is a horse who is a multiple Grade 1 winner who has finished third and fourth in Gold Cups. He is probably not the 44.0 chance I see he is on Betfair but clearly this is a very tough ask. The more rain the better.

What A Friend: Is a horse we had really high hopes for this season after a 2009-10 campaign that saw him finish second in the Hennessy and go on to record Grade 1 wins in the Lexus and at Aintree. But he has disappointed me in his two runs this season, firstly when finding the tacky ground against him in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November and then when beaten a head by Noland in the Aon, looking very awkward. I am convinced the talent is in him to run a big race here, so let's hope the bigger field, hopefully better ground, and blinkers see him show it. But the jury is obviously very much out on him at the moment. But, remember I won the 1999 Gold Cup with See More Business, who was wearing blinkers for the first time.

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Here's my preview of the World Hurdle:

Both Big Buck's and Celestial Halo are owned by The Stewart Family and we will start with Celestial Halo. With all due respect to Alan, I was bloody relieved to see Mille Chief well beaten in the Champion on Tuesday. I may have to answer some tricky questions from Andy as we were giving Mille Chief 4lb when beaten by a nose in the Kingwell at Wincanton last month! But this horse has clearly come right back to his best in recent weeks - don't forget he is a Triumph Hurdle winner and a Champion Hurdle runner-up - and won well in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell last time. A lot of people think he is in here to make the running for Big Buck's but let them think that.

That said, Big Buck's is clearly the main man. Unbeaten in his 10 starts over hurdles, two of which came in this race, he is simply a star. But he is a more of a recluse than a showman in that he would beat a seller the same distance he would a Grade 1 horse; he is not one to overexert himself but if any horse gets near him they will hear the roar of his engine. This year he appears to have a fight on his hands against Grands Cru, who Timeform only rate 2lb inferior to Buck's after a very impressive course and distance win. I obviously respect him greatly but the ground would be an obvious concern for him. But if he beats us, then he beats us; he will have to be a top-class stayer to do that. though.

I also respect Mourad and Ruby says not to underestimate Fivefortthree, with Willie's stable in flying form. Actually, I suppose you could say I am in a no-lose situation going into this race; if we are beaten fair and square, perhaps Andy will let me prepare Big Buck's for the Gold Cup next season!

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Here's my preview of Master Minded ahead of today's Champion Chase:

Probably the most maligned and misunderstood horse in training! Whatever he has done since 13th March 2008 seems to be a disappointment to everyone, no matter what he does. And that includes winning six Grade 1s and two Grade 2s subsequently!

But it is about time that people forgot his 19 length defeat of Voy Por Ustedes and focus on what he is doing at the moment. And that is continuing to be a top-class chaser who comes into this race with the form and with the best credentials - in my mind at least.

His stop-start 2009-10 campaign culminated in a modest fourth here last year, but a breathing operation in the summer has put that behind us. He looked a different animal in his first two wins this season at Ascot and Cheltenham and then we had the Victor Chandler victory in January.

And there are two ways of looking at race. Personally, I think that I didn't have him in the same form as his two earlier wins there. But then you have Tony McCoy admitting that he went far too soon there after looking set to win by a wide margin, and Timeform saying that his short head defeat of Somersby was actually his best form effort since that 2008 race.
But, whatever way you look at it, I am delighted with him at home - he looks magnificent and as well as he ever done. A lot of people think that the good ground is a negative and it is true that he has always had cut in the ground when winning, and lost both his starts on officially good going. But you play the hand you are dealt with and he wasn't right on good ground at last year's Festival, and it was a mistake 2 out (and possibly the 2m4f) that beat him in the Melling Chase at Aintree on the only other time he encountered the going.

I respect the opposition, particularly last year's winner Big Zeb and my other horse, but I think bookmakers are being generous in offering him at 10-3 to regain his crown and win his third Champion Chase.

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Here's my views on our first runner on day one of the Festival:

Al Ferof - The Supreme 13:30

Could well be the forgotten horse of the race. Obviously, this is a very competitive and high class renewal though; I said recently that if I could train any horse from another yard it would be Cue Card (he beat Al Ferof by eight lengths in the bumper last season) and any horse that can give 12lb and a 21 length beating to Cedre Bleu, as Spirit Son did at Exeter, has to be feared. But Al Ferof has really pleased me, we have brought him on steadily and he did his best bit of work for a long time on Saturday. I thought: "Wow, you are right!"

I think we all feared the worst when he took a crashing fall on his hurdling debut at Cheltenham in December and we rode him to get his confidence back when third to Backspin and Court In Motion at Newbury next time. Has since recorded bloodless victories at odds of 1-7 and 1-4 at Taunton and Newbury, but could just surprise a few people here.

Of the remainder, I'm not surprised that Barry Geraghty has chosen Spirit Son over Sprinter Sacre; I trained Polisky to finish second to Sprinter Sacre and I think Spirit Son's form is far stronger. But I would expect Al Ferof to do to Cedre Bleu and Polisky what Nicky's horses did.

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