Nicholls’ Production Line Can Produce More Winners
Paul Nicholls’ remarkable run of form can continue on Saturday afternoon. The trainer’s Ditcheat, Somerset, stables have been a proverbial winners’ production line since the start of the season. To date, 329 runners have yielded 101 winners. It is a strike rate of 31 percent.
Makin’yourmindup should complete a hattrick at Kempton on Saturday. ©GettyImages
The Nicholls’ win factory will have eight runners on Saturday afternoon, and it is not difficult to predict yet more winners. The stable’s statistics could look even more impressive by 3.30 pm.
Time to Make Your Mind Up
Nicholls’ first representative, Makin’yourmindup, runs in Kempton’s 12.55 pm. One of a disappointing entry of just four runners in this three-miles novices’ hurdle, this six-year-old is named after Buck’s Fizz’s 1981 Eurovision-winning song.
Two-from-two this season and best on official figures – rated 128 – this six-year-old should have little difficulty in making all under jockey Harry Cobden who is also operating at a 31 percent strike rate. Horse racing betting sites are understandably keeping Makin’yourmindup on their side. The British-bred son of the recently deceased sire Kayf Tara is long odds-on.
D’Orhy’s Young Legs Can Make the Difference
Nicholls and Cobden combine again in Kempton’s 2.05 pm, the Coral-sponsored Silviniaco Conti Chase. And, like Makin’yourmindup, their representative here, Pic D’Orhy, is unbeaten in two starts this season.
Winner of the valuable Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on his most recent outing and successful twice at Grade-2 level last season as a novice, Pic D’Orhy has a generous sprinkling of class about him.
The French-bred will need it as stablemate St Calvados – ridden by his entertaining owner David Maxwell – and Paint The Dream have strong credentials. But, with the youngest legs of all runners in the field – and at 157 currently rated higher than ever before – Pic D’Orhy is fancied to take this contest en route to an appointment with the Cheltenham or Aintree Festival.
Peter with Potential Can Prevail
By his standards, Paul Nicholls’ record in the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle is not exceptional. The trainer has won it three times since 2008. But that is a record that can be improved. And, with a string of possible candidates for this two-miles five-furlong contest, it is interesting he runs just two horses.
The trainer’s most obvious contender is Outlaw Peter. This seven-year-old has been lightly raced, but three outings since wind surgery a year ago have resulted in two wins. The latest success came at Exeter at the start of November. Such was the imperious nature of his 19-length victory, the handicapper raised Outlaw Peter by 12 pounds.
His new mark of 130 does not account for potential – and Outlaw Peter has stacks of potential. He may prove a much better horse than this and could provide part owners Dame Judi Dench and Sir Alex Ferguson with several visits to the winner’s enclosure.
Jumping Ability Is Not a Complete Unknown
Another Nicholls winner could come at Warwick in the Hampton Novices’ Chase. It is a race the Champion Trainer has won for the past two seasons and four times in total. In a disappointing four-runner field – due to start at 1.50 pm – he saddles Complete Unknown.
Despite the ironic name, this seven-year-old went into many notebooks when winning his one and only chase start at Ffos Las a few days before Christmas. His margin of victory was only small, but Complete Unknown was faultless at all 17 obstacles.
The same cannot be said of Galia Des Liteaux who made some serious errors in Boxing Day’s Grade-1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase. Obviously, it was a far stronger race than the contest Complete Unknown won. But it is always difficult to recommend a horse after a recent pulled-up effort.
The best UK betting sites offer Complete Unknown at 6/5. In a race that, on paper, appears a complete match, it is the value bet.
