Par for the course for Nicholls
Michel Le Bon and Aiteen Thirtythree had provided the Grade Two honours for Ditcheat in the previous five years but looking further back, the likes of Cornish Rebel, Valley Henry and See More Indians achieved even better things further down the line.
Runner-up behind At Fishers Cross in a Grade One novice hurdle at Aintree in the spring, Just A Par was beaten into second by Shotgun Paddy when odds-on for his chasing debut at Chepstow in late October but made amends in encouraging fashion.
Sent off the 5-4 favourite, he was ridden handily by Daryl Jacob but hit something of a flat spot jumping the first fence in the home straight, where four stood almost in line.
However, Just A Par saw the three miles out well and it was all over by the last as he stretched 17 lengths clear of Third Intention.
Nicholls said: “He’s still as green as grass and you’d hope in a year’s time he might be back here for the Hennessy.
“He did get beaten at Chepstow, but he had a clear round and got that in the bank.
“I don’t think he’s a Feltham horse, I could see him coming back here on Aon Chase day, and you’d definitely be thinking about the RSA because he was bought to be a nice staying chaser.”
Stablemate Rolling Aces lifted the bet365 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase a year ago, and it stayed in Nicholls’ possession courtesy of a spring-heeled success from 5-4 favourite Easter Day.
Nicholls said: “He had a run at Chepstow and off 135, he really had to win if he jumped. He’s not the biggest of horses, but he does jump well.”
David O’Meara has taken the Flat world by storm and the former National Hunt rider showed he should not be underrated under the other code as Ifandbutwhynot (8-1) made all the running in the bet365 Intermediate Hurdle.
A few aspiring stars lined up for the old Gerry Feilden, but jockey Timmy Murphy never gave his rivals a chance as he dispensed with the gelding’s usual waiting tactics, even if his winning advantage of seven lengths over 5-2 joint-favourite Chatterbox was possibly flattered by the falls of Irish Saint and Back In Line.
O’Meara, who reckoned the Summer Hurdle win of Viva Colonia was his best previous best jumping success, said: “It’s great for Timmy, as he took a nasty fall off him and broke his hand when he was going well in the Scottish Champion Hurdle.
“There was no obvious front-runner, so Timmy said if no-one wanted to lead then he would.
“We’d talked about going chasing with him, and I think he would make a chaser, but after that we will have to talk to the owners and make a plan.”
Nicky Henderson’s Volnay De Thaix came clear at a canter as 1-16 favourite of the bet365 Novices’ Hurdle.
The booking of leading Irish pilot Jamie Codd by Warren Greatrex was an indication as to the chances of 15-8 favourite Top Dancer in the Burges Salmon Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase, and those who took the hint were not disappointed.
Bought from the Doncaster sales in May after winning once for Ben Case, the 15-8 favourite cruised alongside Susquehanna River and held him by three lengths up the run-in.
The in-form Lambourn trainer said: “It (the booking of Codd) was there for all to see. I do think he’s a nice horse and I liked his pedigree as he’s related to a good horse of Guillaume Macaire’s. He’s only a six-year-old and he should have plenty of improvement in him.”
