PNicholls

[b]Paul Nicholls reveals that three of his horses will be entered in big contests at Down Royal and Wetherby next weekend.[/b] We have had 13 winners in the last fortnight, so things are clearly going well, but most of mine have been needing the run, win or lose. There have been disappointments along the way, notably Pacha Du Polder at Aintree yesterday. But I think that run showed us that he wants a trip, and he will go for three-miler on the Friday of the Tingle Creek meeting at Sandown in December. But when you target a big race you have them well tuned up, and that will be the case with Kauto Stone, Cristal Bonus and Silviniaco Conti next weekend. They will be ready to run for their lives. They all worked well yesterday morning, and the first two go to Down Royal next weekend...

[u]14:10 Cheltenham - Grandioso[/u] Proved slightly frustrating last season - he would have won but for falling two out at Hereford - but he came good off a mark of 118 in a 2m4f Ayr handicap hurdle in April. He only won by a neck, but the pair pulled 13 lengths clear of the third. Clearly finds this trip more to his liking and, although the Ayr win came on good ground, he did win his bumper for Howard Johnson in the soft, so he is adaptable if the ground does worsen a bit. However, he wouldn't want it too testing - I took him out at Chepstow on Saturday because of the ground - but the forecast I have seen is pretty good. This is a competitive race, with very promising horses such as The New One in here, but Grandioso is a much stronger horse this season. Goes chasing after this. [u]14:45...

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank all the readers of my column on what has been a rollercoaster season for Ditcheat. I hope you have enjoyed the ride here on Betfair with me. When I look back, it has been one of the most frustrating - yet most enjoyable - seasons of my career. But the overwhelming emotion is one of pride in the horses, and winning another trainers' championship. For Kauto Star to come back and win the Betfair Chase and King George was remarkable, and many people sadly lost sight of the fact that Neptune Collonges' win in the Grand National was one of the best of all time, carrying so much weight and in such a fast time. And as an 11yo, too. It many ways that was the performance, and race, of the season. And then there was Big Buck's' record-breaking...

[b]14:15 Toubab[/b] Realistically, the three of us are just playing for the places here with Sprinter Sacre in the line-up. But the fences still have to be jumped and, as we have seen at this meeting already, Cheltenham can leave its mark on the best of horses - even if horses win races on the bridle at the Festival, they still take plenty out of them - so stranger things have happened. And I think we are fairly well positioned to benefit if the favourite doesn't perform, for one reason or another. Toubab's run at Cheltenham pretty much summed up my Festival - he was brought down when travelling well in the Grand Annual, by Free World, a horse I used to train. But even though he was running off a mark of just 143 there, I think he has the potential to be a bit better and conditions could...

[i]14:00, Aintree[/i] [b]Prospect Wells[/b] This high-class Flat performer showed very smart novice form before Christmas but we found him to be suffering from a trapped epiglottis after he disappointed badly at Sandown in January. Took a while to get over the breathing operation that he subsequently had, but pleased us in his work before Cheltenham and took his chance in the Supreme, fitted with a tongue tie. And he ran his best race over hurdles yet, finishing just over 2 lengths in fifth, pulling 8 lengths clear of the sixth home. Certainly doesn't lack pace - he won a Group 2 over 1m2f in France - so perhaps this flatter, speed track will suit him even better. Darlan looks the one to beat again. [i]14:30, Aintree[/i] [b]Join Together[/b] Was pulled up in the Sun ...

[i]14:00 Aintree[/i] [b]Big Buck's[/b] Has come in his coat and looks in superb nick at the moment. I suppose the only possible negative about his chance here is that this is his fifth run of the season, having taken in an extra race this year. But he certainly shows no sign of being over the top. Had quite a hard race - for him at least - when winning his fourth World Hurdle at Cheltenham last month but he did what he had to do, as he always does, and ground out the win. Aims to win his fourth Liverpool Hurdle today and last year's win in the race was arguably his most impressive over hurdles, never coming off the bridle in beating Grands Crus by 5 lengths. This year's renewal doesn't look anywhere near as strong. Will I be disappointed if he is beaten? Yes, of course. But this is...

My possible Aintree team had an easy fortnight after Cheltenham, but we are beginning to step them up in their work now. When I say they were given an easy time, we obviously still kept them active. But this would just involve walking one day, cantering the next, in the first week, then a canter every day in the second week and we gave them some half-speed work last Saturday. However, this week, we will really step it up and see how the horses respond. Then we will start to firm up our Aintree plans. But it looks like we will be going to Aintree with both a strong and fresh team, for various reasons, with everything to play for in the trainers' title. Neptune Collonges is my only runner in the Grand National. From what I have seen there isn't a great deal of rain forecast for...

[u]14:10, Novice Hurdle[/u] [i]Plenty Pocket[/i] Some of the main dangers among the five day declarations were withdrawn at the overnight stage, which obviously helps our winning chances here. We are now the form choice by some distance, but of course he has to bounce back from a very poor run last time out at Kempton on Boxing Day. There are several reasons why he may not have been at his best that day, but I think he is best when fresh and the subsequent break, better ground and the sun on his back appear to have done him the world of good. He will probably improve a bit for the run, but if returning to the form of his Kempton win or his 5 length third to Molotof at Haydock in November then you would think he would go very close to winning this. [u]14:40, Maiden Hurdle[/u] [i]Grandioso[/i] Although...

[u]14:10, Maiden Hurdle[/u] [i]Curtain Razer[/i] This is a decent maiden hurdle, with the likes of Seven Woods, Royal Commission and Goulanes in opposition, to name but three. So it will take some winning. Winner of both his points, Curtain Razer was very obviously disappointing when a well beaten favourite at Chepstow last time. But that clearly wasn't his true running and if he returns to the form of his second to Gullinbursti at Exeter in November, where recent 15 length winner Oscar Davy was nine lengths away in third, then he has a definite chance here. Will be suited by the better ground, too. [u]15:50, Novice Handicap Chase[/u] [i]No Loose Change[/i] Winning pointer who failed to get his head his front over hurdles, though ran a fair race when beaten just two necks into third...