D-Day for Tingle line-up
The champion trainer is likely to saddle Hoo La Baloo, but no decision will be made regarding the participation of Twist Magic or Kauto Star until the 11th hour.
Nicholls previously put Twist Magic forward as a prime candidate for the race, but has voiced concerns about unleashing that one on soft ground.
He said: “You can see my concern about it, but looking through his record you can see he did win on very soft ground at Auteuil.
“The Arkle was not on the fast side but it was drying out.
“It’s just one of those situations where we’ll talk to all the owners and make a decision just before declaration time in the morning.
“I’m not going to give any percentages (about the likelihood of each running) and I’ll talk to both owners tonight,” he told At The Races.
Kauto Star is available at 4-6 with a run with sponsors Paddy Power, but Nicholls admits the 18-day gap until the Stan James King George VI Chase could be a deciding issue.
“Obviously there isn’t much time until the King George as far as Kauto Star is concerned and we’re going to consider that,” he continued.
“If Twist Magic isn’t going to go on the ground we’ll just have to wait for better ground in the Spring.
“I was looking down the list of entries, and apart from Voy Por Ustedes, there aren’t many horses in the race who have won on soft.
“You wouldn’t rule out Hoo La Baloo running into a place if the ground was soft and Monet’s Garden seems to want good ground from what I’ve seen of him, so it could make it a very interesting race.
“I’ll get an updated forecast before making the decision, and hopefully I’ll make the right one.”
Paddypower.com Tingle Creek Chase, sponsors bet: 6-4 Voy Por Ustedes, 100-30 Monet’s Garden, 9-2 Twist Magic, 6-1 Ashley Brook, 20-1 Hoo La Baloo, 25-1 Oneway, Schindlers Hunt, 33-1 Bar.
* 4-6 Kauto Star (with a run).
