PNicholls

[u]13:30, Supreme Novices' Hurdle [/u][i]Prospect Wells[/i] Was quite a challenge when he first came to us - actually that's an understatement, as we couldn't even get him to jump a pole at first - but we got there in the end with him and he was very impressive at Chepstow on his hurdling debut. We then decided to throw him in at the deep end against Steps To Freedom in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham, and looking back at the race, I really think we should have won there. We were beaten a neck as he got worried about of it close home after looking sure to win - I gather he traded at the minimum price of 1.01 on Betfair - but at least that told us that we had a serious novice hurdler on our hands. He then went to Newbury and won well before taking his chance in the Ladbroke off a mark...

For those of you who like to back ante-post, I will run you through my entries in the novice chases at the Festival, and the National Hunt Chase. I have five entries in the Arkle, for which Al Ferof, Timeform's leading novice chaser at any distance this season, is obviously my number one hope after his excellent third at Ascot last Saturday. He goes straight to the Festival. Thursday's Warwick winner Pacha Du Polder is a very unlikely runner and wants a trip. He is also entered in the Jewson, but it could be that we give Cheltenham a swerve with him this year. Sanctuaire probably makes his chasing debut at either Taunton or Ludlow next week. I was toying with running Escort'men in the Lightning at Doncaster on Saturday but decided against it; I refuse to believe this talented hurdler...

I was obviously very pleased to hear that Zarkandar will be left on a mark of 151 for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury next month. And I am clearly very keen to run the horse in what is now Europe's richest handicap hurdle since Betfair backed the race. Zarkandar is only workmanlike at home - Brampour used to murder him over 5f last season - so, while he is pleasing me, he is never going to tell you that much from his work. He does it on the track. So while it could be argued that he is theoretically well-handicapped with the Triumph Hurdle form working out so well and should take his chance come what may, I have decided to give him a racecourse gallop in the next 10 days to see whether he will be ready in time to do himself justice at Newbury. That gallop will decide where we go ...

At the start of the season, Zarkandar was obviously my leading contender for the Champion Hurdle. But we have been lucky enough to have Rock On Ruby and, to a lesser extent, Brampour confirm themselves as contenders for the race during the season. So it is very heartening that we have three possibles for the Champion Hurdle, the race that has so far eluded me that I most want to win. Who knows, Rock On Ruby may have been far shorter in the betting (he is currently 14.0 on Betfair) had he jumped the final flight cleanly in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day. But in any event you have to be thrilled with his neck second to Binocular there, with a further 8 lengths back to such a good yardstick in Overturn. He has come a long way in his two runs this season, and we know Cheltenham suits...