Taunton treat for Nicholls and Walsh

NEITHER Qozak or Inchidaly Rock are likely to be gracing the Cheltenham Festival but both gave encouragement for their potential careers over fences as part of a three-timer for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh at Taunton yesterday.

The picturesque course nestled in the Blackdown Hills is regularly used by champion trainer Nicholls as a testing ground for his young prospects and Qozak got the ball rolling as he strolled away with the southwest-racing.com Novices’ Hurdle at odds of 2-11.

A prolific winner of middle-distance races in France for non-thoroughbreds, the rangy five-year-old hinted at more than a bit of ability when touched off by Cracboumwiz on his first start for Nicholls at Newbury last month.