RACING: Paul Nicholls on weekend runners

Betfair ambassador and champion trainer Paul Nicholls had a disappointing Saturday where three of his favourites at Newbury on were all beaten. 

Hitman (9/4f), McFabulous (4/7f) and Greaneteen (1/2f) didn’t hit the expected heights at the Berkshire track. Hitman was beaten into second by 16/1 shot Zanza in the Denman Chase, McFabulous was pulled up in the Handicap Chase and Greaneteen was third in the Game Spirit after running keen and weakening in the closing stages. 

Nicholls did have a small shining light in the shape of Holetown Hero, who ran a “blinder” to finish second in the Novices’ Hurdle at 7/4. 

But the day was dominated by the more disappointing results just over a month out from the  Cheltenham Festival, which is where Hitman and Greaneteen will likely be seen next in the Ryanair Chase and Queen Mother Champion Chase respectively. 

McFabulous holds entries in the Brown Advisory and the Turners at Prestbury Park next month but those plans could be on hold for a reason that could also explain why the nine-year-old was pulled up at Newbury. 

Speaking to Betfair, Nicholls said: “Harry (Cobden, jockey) said after jumping two onboard McFabulous it was obvious he wasn't going. We had him checked out with the vet who found an irregular heartbeat, and so we're looking into that. He's got a valid excuse, we just needed to find out why."

Nicholls was pleased with Hitman’s second behind Zanza in the Denman Chase but looks likely to be dropped back in trip for his next outing, which will be over 2m4f in the Ryanair Chase at the Festival, a race which has been hit by the withdrawal of hot favorite and hat-trick seeking Allaho. 

Nicholls added:  “Hitman ran a good race. The race was fast and I think 16 seconds faster than average, Kalashnikov and Joe Tizzard’s horse (Eldorado Allen) did not help by taking him on early on. 

“If I’d have known it was going to happen quite like that I would have got Harry to drop him in a bit. He was always doing a little bit too much and had a little bleed afterwards, but it wasn’t much.

Greaneteen was an odds-on shot for the Game Spirit, back on track for the first time since finishing second to Edwardstone in the Betfair Tingle Creek in December but Nicholls’s runner failed to fire, finishing third behind Funambule Sivola and Elixir De Nutz.

"Greaneteen ran the same race as what he did in the same race two years ago,” Nicholls said. 

“He ran fairly ordinary that day and then finished second in the Champion Chase. A year ago to the day at Leopardstown, he ran awful, so it might not be his time of year. He was a bit keen on Saturday and it just didn't happen for him. 

“Ultimately, if you look at his record, he’s definitely better going right-handed. I dare say that we’ll throw the dice in the Champion Chase as there’s not a lot else in it then we’ll go for the Celebration Chase at Sandown in April.”

Looking ahead to this week, Nicholls has Broken Halo running in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup on Sunday and holds a subsequent entry for the horse in the Coral Trophy later this month.

"It's a difficult one this week,” the trainer said. “I was set to run three at Hereford on Wednesday but the ground is good to firm. The problem is we need some rain at the moment."

"However, one I think will run well is Broken Halo in the Sandown Gold Cup on Thursday. He didn't run his true race last time out, but he's down in grade and he'll be sure to run really well."

Ryanair Chase odds via Betfair

Fakir D'oudairies 3/1

Blue Lord 7/2

Shishkin 4/1

Fury Road 5/1

Conflated 6/1

Envoi Allen, Pic D'orhy 12/1

French Dynamite 14/1

Funambule Sivola 16/1

GA Law, Hitman 20/1

Janidil 33/1

Fanion D'estruval, Millers Bank, Saint Calvados 40/1