Trainer Paul Nicholls has horses at three of England’s racecourses on Saturday, and will be hoping to add to his success.
The 61-year-old has five entries confirmed at Ascot, two at Haydock and seven at Wincanton before the day is out, with options up and down the country for punters.
Betfair ambassador Nicholls outlines his horses across England during Saturday’s racing action.
Trainer Paul Nicholls shares insight into his Saturday entries at Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton
Ascot
13:15 – Inthewaterside
He looked good when winning stylishly on his handicap debut at Lingfield in deep ground but this novice hurdle looks much tougher for him now that he has an 8lbs penalty. He is in top shape, jumps soundly, and can hopefully progress again.
13:50 – Brave Kingdom
He has won four of his five starts for us, stays well and showed plenty of determination to see off a strong challenge at Newbury last time. We’ve had this Grade 2 race in mind for Brave Kingdom for a while and he has his chance against some smart novices.
14:25 – Irish Hill
He was handicapped to the limit at the start of the season but has now dropped to a mark of 125 and I’ve booked our talented conditional Freddie Gingell whose 5lbs claim means that Red Risk will only carry 10st 2lbs which is a lovely racing weight.
He ran really well at Newbury at the end of last year and wasn’t disgraced in the Lanzarote last time when he was a bit keen. It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes very well.
15:00 – Threeunderthrufive
He keeps performing tidily and despite having to shoulder top weight of twelve stone again he stays well and has a chance over a stiff three miles in this £100,000 race at Ascot on ground that shouldn’t be too testing.
15:35 – Pic D’Orhy
He was second in this Grade 1 Chase a year ago to Shiskin and gave Banbridge quite a fright in a tight finish at Kempton last time where a mistake at the last fence proved costly. Pic D’Orhy loves Ascot, the trip is ideal and he looks to have the hot favourite L’Homme Presse to beat.
Pic D’Orhy loves Ascot, the trip is ideal and he looks to have favourite L’Homme Presse to beat
Haydock
14:40 – Red Risk
He ran a cracker at Wetherby first time up this season when he was a close second to Botox Has, stays well, and the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last time was probably asking a bit too much of him. This is a more suitable target for Red Risk who relishes heavy ground which he will get at Haydock.
16:25 – Isaac Des Obeaux
He is an exciting chasing prospect who is progressing nicely over hurdles this season, learning all the time, and shaped at Cheltenham recently as if he will appreciate this step up to three miles. It’s a tough looking race but he handles the ground and will not be disgraced.
Wincanton
13:30 – Onethreefivenotout
He’d been progressing nicely this season and I’ve no idea why he ran so poorly at Sandown recently. We ran some tests afterwards and nothing came to light. I’m putting cheek pieces on to try to sharpen him up and hoping they will help him bounce back racing on a flat track.
13:30 – Soir de Gala
A big, backward type, he is taking time to develop and will be going chasing next season. He hasn’t shown much over hurdles so far and needs more experience.
14:05 – Rubaud
He’s a classy type and I can’t wait to see him over fences in October. He is smart over hurdles, too, and finished second at a respectful distance behind Constitution Hill at Kempton over Xmas. Rubaud would prefer drier ground but this race has been the plan for a while and he will enjoy returning to a right-handed track after running another solid race at Cheltenham last time.
14:35 – Toothless
He’s been disappointing so far this season but has only three opponents here and has been schooling nicely over fences at home. It’s time for him to show some improvement and I’m hoping cheek pieces will help on his chasing debut, though I’m not convinced he wants the ground as soft as it is likely to be at Wincanton.
I’ve freshened Individualiste up, and am looking for this switch to fences to make a difference
15:07 – Individualiste
He won tidily over hurdles at Taunton at the end of December before disappointing a week later at this track. I’ve freshened him up and am looking for this switch to fences and a first time tongue tie making a difference.
15:42 – Pentire Head
He’s progressive, ran all right last time at Exeter against some useful novices, looks as if he has been crying out for this step up to three miles, and should be competitive back in calmer waters in this novice handicap.
16:50 – Paddy de Pole
He took his time to win a Point-to-Point in Ireland and has found life quite challenging at a modest level over hurdles since joining us. This is his first handicap off a realistic mark of 101 and although he is wearing cheek pieces for the first time I suspect he would prefer better ground conditions.
Best chance
Irish Hill. Each Way 2.25 Ascot. He stays well, and has a sporting chance running off a feather weight.
