Nicholls waits on Trophy plans
The champion trainer has four horses engaged in the extended two-mile handicap hurdle, including Tolworth Hurdle hero Silverburn, but admits running plans are undecided at present.
Pirate Flagship was last seen finishing seventh to Acambo in the Ladbroke at Ascot and seems the likeliest representative at this stage, although Nicholls feels the weights may need to rise for him to take his chance.
“O’Maley and Pepporoni Pete are probably unlikely but the one that may run if the weights go up enough is Pirate Flagship,” said Nicholls.
And of Cheltenham Festival-bound Silverburn, he said: “Options are open and we’re just going to see what the weights and the ground do at Newbury.
“If the ground is good or good to soft (at Cheltenham) then I think he’ll probably run in the two-and-a-half miler (Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle).”
