Nicholls takes blame as Tataniano turned over

PAUL NICHOLLS blamed himself for the defeat of Tataniano after the smart novice chaser was subdued by the deep ground at Newbury.

After impressing with his economic jumping on two previous starts over fences, the Stewart family’s gelding is the champion trainer’s leading prospect for a third success in the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.

Tataniano was the 2-11 favourite against just two opponents in the MC Seafoods Novices’ Chase and although he made no tangible mistakes, he leaned noticeably to the right over many of the fences.

Ruby Walsh discovered he could not shake off the 14-1 outsider Suntini, who made a mistake at the last but rallied to get up by half a length close home.

“You can just put it down to the ground – I should have run him at Doncaster instead but I wanted Ruby to ride,” rued Nicholls.

“You just have to juggle things with Ruby. He doesn’t want two miles and two furlongs and it is one of those things.

“Ruby said you couldn’t go any faster because you’re falling into the ground.

“He’s better than that. I’m angry as I shouldn’t have run him.”

Suntini, ridden by Jack Doyle, was a dose of good karma for trainer Emma Lavelle, who was sponsoring on the day.

She said: “He has surprised us, but it’s a nice surprise.

“I suppose the option now could be the Jewson, although Cheltenham is not the be-all and end-all. We’ll find a novice chase over two and a half miles somewhere, and I’ll have to bend the handicapper’s ear.”

Nicholls’ day failed to improve when his 7-4 favourite Aiteen Thirtythree failed to keep tabs on Adams Island (2-1) in the Rutland Antique Centre Bakewell Maiden Hurdle.

Master Of The Hall joined an ever-expanding list of exciting Festival projects for Nicky Henderson with a clear-cut victory as the 5-4 favourite for the Berkshire Stand Bookshop “National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle.

“He will go over two and a half now – I am quite surprised he won like that over two miles giving weight away,” said the trainer.

At Doncaster, Blue Nymph slalomed into the JCB Triumph Hurdle equation with a sprightly debut triumph over timber in the Bill Egginton Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.

The four-year-old filly brought to the table a priceless combination of class and spirit to firstly subdue Master Fong with a sound jump at the last.

John Quinn’s representative then stuck to the matter in hand to keep at bay the onrushing odds-on favourite Barwell Bridge by two lengths

“It’s always difficult to win first time out but she buckled down really well,” said North Yorkshire-based Quinn.

“We’ll put her in the Musselburgh race (Scottish Triumph Hurdle, February 7) but the track might be a bit tight for her.

“We’ll stick her in the Triumph and she’s also eligible to run in the Fred Winter after two more runs.

“She ideally wants a galloping track and a nice bit of drying ground.”

Conditions also played to the strengths of Wogan, who underscored the exceptional form of Nicky Henderson’s yard in the robinhoodairport.com Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Runner-up Presenting Forever is held in some esteem by Howard Johnson, but was humbly ground into submission by the 8-1 winner.

Johnson feels there might also be more to come from Bleak House (7-1) after his redoubtable victory under Paul Carberry in the skybet.com Handicap Chase.

“He’s a grand horse and will be better going right-handed next time,” said the County Durham handler.

Jessica Harrington’s Bostons Angel (6-1) then emerged as one of the day’s easiest winners in the finale to vindicate the journey across the Irish Sea.