18/02/17 Straight From The Trainers Mouth

Paul Nicholls

1.15 Ascot Topofthegame 9/4

Won nicely on his hurdles debut at Ascot despite running extremely green and was then too keen for his own good when a respectable fourth in a better race at Cheltenham where a mistake at the second last cost him momentum. Topofthegame is a huge horse, one of the biggest I've ever trained, and is going to make a smashing chase in time. Whatever he achieves over hurdles will be a bonus

★★★★☆

1.50 Ascot Arpege Dalene 13/8

Has a good record at Ascot and this is an ideal prep race before he goes for the four mile NH Chase at the Festival and then the Scottish Grand National. Three miles on a stiff track should play to his strengths as he wants every yard of the trip and more. I'm really sweet on his chances here.

★★★★★

2.05 Haydock Aux Ptits Soins 15/8

Is back over hurdles because he hasn't been jumping fences very well. He's a bit like Big Buck's in that he hasn't really taken to fences. That is why he ran so ordinary at Doncaster last time.

His jumping was a fair bit sharper when we popped him over hurdles at home this week and he looks well treated in this with no penalties to carry.

But he has his share of problems last season and is not showing quite the same spark that he did before he won the Coral Cup a couple of years ago

★★★★☆

2.05 Haydock Zarkandar 3/1

Zarkandar is well treated, too, for the same reason. Although he is ten now he has been a fabulous horse for us down the years and showed he still retains plenty of ability at AIntree in November when he was hacking up until Sean Bowen come off at the final flight.

He faced a couple of stiff tasks subsequently but I've freshened him up since then and he is in good shape at home.

★★★★☆

2.25 Ascot Virak 7/1

Is a victim of own consistency as he runs his race every time so the handicapper has got him well in his grip. I expect him to go well again and would love to see him finally gain the reward for trying his heart out every time.

★★★☆☆

2.45 Wincanton Irving 14/1

Has something to prove now after a clumsy mistake put him on the floor at Haydock before he ran no race at all at Sandown a fortnight ago. As Irving tends to struggle after Christmas we are hoping he might pick up some crumbs with only seven runners.

★★★☆☆

3.00 Ascot Connetable 25/1

I am hoping that blinkers first time will bring some improvement from Connetable who has struggled this season and has become disappointing. There is no obvious reason for his loss of form. Jack Sherwood rides him here with a view to them teaming up again in the boys race at Cheltenham.

★★☆☆☆

3.00 Ascot Cyrname 14/1

Ran much too free and didn't give himself a chance to get home on his debut for us at Ascot in November and needs to learn to settle if he is to fulfil the promise he showed as a youngster in France. He is also too keen at home so Sean Bowen will be dropping him in tomorrow and trying to get him to relax. The truth is that Cyrname will not be winning races while he tries to emulate Usain Bolt.

★☆☆☆☆

3.15 Haydock Vicente 8/1

The longer trip and drier ground will be much more suitable for Vicente who I've trained all year with the Grand National in mind. Provided it doesn't rain I'd say he has a massive chance each way at 16-1 which looks very generous to me.

★★★★★

3.20 Wincanton Persian Delight 5/4

Should probably have won first time up at Chepstow and the form of his latest run when he was third looks smart. He did bleed that day but hopefully that was a one off and he has been fine ever since and goes out in the field every day after exercise.

The winner and second have gone in again and the fourth horse is now rated 124. So I'd say Persian Delight is on a nice mark racing off 121 here. He is fine on soft ground, should stay the trip and looks to have a great chance.

★★★★★

4.55 Haydock Wonderful Charm 2/5

Drying ground at Haydock is just the ticket for Wonderful Charm who relished similar conditions a fortnight ago Musselburgh when winning with a fair bit in hand under an ice cool ride for Will Biddick.

It was great to see him get his head in front again for the first time in ages because he has had lots of issues with his wind and feet. After several operations his wind is still bad and that is what has been stopping him, so dropping down in grade to hunter chases has helped him.

★★★★★

5.05 Wincanton Dreamcatching 7/4

I've put a line through his last run at Kempton when he was lit up from the start, ran much too free, was in front three out and then stopped quickly. It just didn't happen for him there but he is more settled at home now and shapes like a really nice horse at home. With Stan Sheppard taking a handy 5lbs off his back he carries only 10st 2lbs here and must have a decent chance with Fadas looking the one to beat.

★★★★☆

Nicky Henderson

1.15 Ascot Beyond Conceit 5/2

He won very nicely on his hurdles debut, and first run for me, at Newbury last month after being off for yonks and while he was fully tuned up for that run, he is sure to have come on a fair bit too. We were going to go straight to Cheltenham but with the ground as it is, we thought we might as well roll the dice again as he should really appreciate the going and I want to try him over 2m4f which will give us a better idea of whether to run in the Supreme or Neptune. He stayed well on the flat so should get it but I also don’t think he’s a slow horse so we should learn more here. This is a much more difficult race to the one he won at Newbury but he is in great form and of all our runners he is the one I am most looking forward to seeing if he is up to booking his Cheltenham ticket.

★★★★★

1.50 Ascot Laurium 8/1

I probably wouldn’t normally run him on ground like this but I don’t think it looks the most competitive Reynoldstown, it’s wide open, put it like that. He’s the type that will run well on ratings as it’s a tight little heat. He won very nicely at Exeter on his penultimate start which has given him confidence and I’m happy with him at home.

★★★☆☆

3.00 Ascot Oscar Hoof 16/1

Oscar has been off for some time but was a very good horse and I always thought he wanted better ground so I’m not sure how he’ll handle this but he’s got to start somewhere and is particularly well at home. He’s fit to run but will obviously improve upon it. In a less competitive race you can sometimes get away with it and they win but this is a hard contest!

★★☆☆☆

3.00 Ascot Divine Spear 11/1

Divine Spear is stepping up in trip which will really help him as he was staying on beautifully at Cheltenham last time and on that effort you would have to give him a decent chance off the same handicap mark.

★★★★☆