Nicholls: What A Friend the value in Gold Cup
The trainer was involved in midweek banter with Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of reiging champion Imperial Commander.
Writing in his exclusive column at https://promotions.betfair.com/paul-nicholls he said: “It was amusing to read quotes from Nigel at The Betfair Chase media day at his stables on Monday that he thought we were “nervous” of taking on Imperial Commander at Haydock.
“So, for a bit of fun, on Wednesday I tweeted that “Denman and Kauto Star had sleepless nights after reading yesterday’s Racing Post front page, but What A Friend slept like a log.”
“Now, Nigel is entitled to be bullish as he has the Gold Cup winner in his yard, and Imperial Commander is a horse that I have huge respect for.
“He will be a hard horse to beat at Haydock, when fresh and on a left-handed track. He only lost out by a nose to Kauto Star in the race last year.
“So I didn’t take his light-hearted comments too seriously, as we all think the world of our horses.
“But you can be sure of one thing, though – we are by no means ducking the issue by not sending Kauto Star, three times a winner of the race, or Denman for the Betfair Chase.
“And I am sending What A Friend to Haydock for one reason, and that is I think he can win the race.
“In fact, if I was recommending punters to back any of my three horses for the Gold Cup at this stage, I would say back What A Friend at the current prices. He is a general 14-1 chance, and 15-1 on Betfair.”
Nicholls also reveals in his Befair column how he gave Sir Alex Ferguson advice on the Wayne Rooney saga having transferred the owner’s Marc Aurele earlier in the week!
