Kadarann cheer for Nicholls
The Ditcheat trainer had earlier been on the mark with Strong Flow in the £55,000 Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton.
With Isio an absentee as a result of a setback, only three runners lined up for the two-mile test and Kadarann was a bit reluctant to start, but Joe Tizzard soon got him going and he was at the head of affairs at the fourth.
He made the rest of the running and stayed on well up the straight to beat Flagship Uberalles 22 lengths, with Pharbeitfrome a distance away in third but still picking up £5,500 for his efforts.
Nicholls was represented by his assistant Jeremy Young, who said: “We thought we had him really well and he did a smashing piece of work the other day. This is a nice race to win.
“He is young and improving and he will probably go for the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury and then the Queen Mother Champion Chase.”
Tizzard said: “That is a very nice Christmas present. I have been lucky this year (his lightest weight today was 11st 5lb), so I was able to have two Christmas dinners!
“Kadarann was a bit worse at the start than he usually is and it took him a few fences to pick up, but he then ran his race and he jumped well and did it well.”
Tony Dobbin, who partnered Flagship Uberalles, said: “He did not travel well and did not finish well. They said the ground might be too soft for him.”
John Joe O’Neill was on the mark when Campaign Trail, ridden by Tom Siddall, just got the better of His Nibs in the Rocom Handicap Hurdle.
There was a sting in the tail for Siddall as he was suspended for two days (January 6 and 7) for careless riding, but it was no surprise that Campaign Trail survived the stewards’ inquiry.
