Nicholls’ Empire to rule in Gerry Feilden
Having twice won the race as a jockey (Broadheath in 1986 and Playschool in 1987) and three times as a trainer (Strong Flow in 2003 and Denman in 2007 and 2009), `there are few who know as well as Nicholls what is needed to land the prestigious prize.
Aiteen Thirtythree is a lightly raced gelding, who made his seasonal debut in a three-horse race won by Somersby at Kempton. The winner didn’t let the form down when finishing an honourable second behind another Ditcheat inmate, Master Minded, on his next outing. On that occasion, Aiteen Thirtythree was severely disadvantaged by the conditions of the Graduation Chase, having to run off level weights with a horse officially rated a stone superior. With Nicholls reporting that the reason for the run was to take the freshness out of his horse, it looks a pretty smart move by the champion trainer.
His horse, who was favourite for this race until some time yesterday afternoon, did not go up in the weights for finishing three lengths behind the winner over what was an inadequate two and a half miles on the unsuitably sharp Kempton track.
Stepping up to three miles and two furlongs on Newbury’s galloping circuit, where he won twice last season, Aiteen Thirtythree undeniably has a lot in his favour and should go very close in what looks an average renewal of the race.
Nicholls could have another fine plan come to fruition if Empire Levant lands the Gerry Feilden stakes on the same card.
This four-year-old absolutely routed the opposition here on Thursday and, because of the rules pertaining to that conditional jockeys’ race, he is not penalised for the victory.
The burgeoning talents of Harry Derham, who rode him on Thursday, allow seven pounds to be taken off the grey’s back and if his constitution dictates that he can take two races in quick succession, he should follow up here.
Clearly he didn’t beat an awful lot on Thursday but what was most impressive about the performance was the fact that he was able to quicken at will. That’s a sure sign that there was plenty left in the tank and, off the same mark this afternoon, he looks a really solid bet at 5-2, despite the presence of plenty of experienced handicappers.
His stable companion, Rock On Ruby, deserves his place at the head of the weights for having run First Lieutenant to a short head in the Neptune Investments Management Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but he must give away a full two stone to Empire Levant.
There are other horses in the race who have an unexposed look about them but the selection has already proved that he is better than his current mark and who knows how much more improvement might be in him.
Tomorrow in Navan, the Monksfield Hurdle should provide an early gauge as to merits of out novice hurdlers as the unbeaten Texas Jack takes on Mount Benbulben, Rebel Fitz and some more very useful sorts. Texas Jack can’t be faulted for his successes but preference is for Gordon Elliott’s Mount Benbulben, whose bumper form was outstanding.
