Weekend Runners 
/ Timeform / 29 February 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Woolcombe Folly is arguably Nicholls' highest profile entry this weekend
"Of the three, it is arguably Woolcombe Folly who has the greatest chance of winning having fallen in the handicap of late..."
A relatively quiet time of year for most trainers with all eyes on the Cheltenham Festival but Paul Nicholls still has some high profile representatives due to take up engagements this weekend...
A novice hurdle on Taunton's Thursday card is likely to get the yard underway this week with the champion trainer holding four entries at this stage: Opening Batsman, The Timeform Betfair Racing Club-owned Unparthou, Black Thunder and Jump City. Of the quartet, it is the latter pairing that look to hold the stronger claims, the duo joint-top on Timeform ratings. Black Thunder also looks open to progression after just two runs over hurdles and he could take a lot of beating should he line up, though it is worth noting that he also holds an entry at Newbury on Friday.
Egypt Mill Spirit is Nicholls' other entry at Taunton, that one set to go to post in the 19.5f handicap hurdle due off at 16:10. Egypt Mill Spirit has 10 lb to find with the David Pipe-trained Katchmore at the weights but he remains relatively lightly raced and there is a chance that he could progress given his connections and the manner of his four starts over timber so far.
Billy Merriott and Themilanhorse are the stable's only entries at Ludlow on Thursday, the pair entered in what looks a modest 21f handicap hurdle. Themilanhorse is perhaps the more likely winner, currently considered 2 lb superior to his stablemate and also open to more progression after just the two tries over hurdles. Whilst Themilanhorse remains 4 lb adrift of Venetia Williams' Sprit d'Armour at the weights, he could easily give that one something to think about if building upon his Warwick performance last time, as is expected to be the case.
Likeable Rogue and Curtain Razer join Black Thunder in the aforementioned novice hurdle at Newbury on Friday afternoon, the trio all with a bit to find with Phillip Hobbs' Talkonthestreet. Both Black Thunder and Likeable Rogue are open to improvement, however, and it would be of little surprise if they were to figure in the finish should either take their place in the line-up.
No Loose Change is another Nicholls entry later on the Newbury card, set to run in a novice handicap chase over two miles and six furlongs. The half-brother to useful bumper horse Dylan Ross will be making his debut over fences and the step back up in trip should be to his advantage.
Tigre d'Aron could be the final runner for the yard at Newbury. also set to make his fencing debut when taking in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap. Tigre d'Aron has been relatively disappointing in two hurdle starts since leaving Howard Johnson, finishing well down the field at Cheltenham back in November and never a factor over three miles at Taunton last time, but the step back down in trip should be to his favour and he does have the physique to excel over fences (dam won 19f chase in France).
Niche Market could get Nicholls off to a good start on Saturday as he is entered in a veterans' handicap chase at Newbury. Niche Market would seem to have a good chance at the weights and comes out joint-top rated with Whinstone Boy after a solid effort behind West End Rocker in the Becher Chase last time. His main target has always been the Grand National on April 14 and Saturday's race could see him put just right for that race.
Nicholls is triple handed in the following race at Newbury, the Grade 3 Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase, with Aerial, Pasco and Woolcombe Folly all set to go to post. The race looks very competitive at this stage with all three of Nicholls' representatives with in 4 lb of the Timeform top-rated horses. Of the three, it is arguably Woolcombe Folly who has the greatest chance of winning having fallen in the handicap of late, and he is now down to a BHA mark (158) off which he could be competitive. Aerial was a well-held fourth on his latest start despite running creditably, whilst Pasco has showed signs of temperament in the past.
It is worth noting that Aerial is also entered in a race at Kelso on Saturday but has a fair bit to find with ratings topper Ballabriggs. The two miles and six furlongs may be a bit on the sharp side for Ballabriggs, however, and, given that Donald McCain's eleven-year-old will be using the race as a Grand National prep, he's unlikely to be at a peak on Saturday.
Edgardo Sol is Nicholls' remaining entry at Kelso on Saturday, entered in a Grade 2 novice hurdle. Edgardo Sol currently heads the ratings for the contest, considered 5 lb superior to his nearest rival and, judging by how his season has taken shape so far, another solid performance wouldn't surprise.
Takeroc could round the weekend off well for the yard in what admittedly looks a fairly open handicap chase at Doncaster. Takeroc is another Timeform top-rated after a useful performance behind Finian's Rainbow last time and a reproduction of that form will surely see him go close. He will have to shoulder top-weight in Saturday's contest but, with conditions likely to suit, he should have every chance of featuring in the finish.
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