Nicholls outlines chasing plans

Paul Nicholls’s crack chaser Azertyuiop is likely to have a late start to the season and will reappear in the William Hill-sponsored Tingle Creek at Sandown in December.

The seven-year-old could only finish second to Moscow Flyer in that Grade One contest last year after crashing out at the first flight in the Haldon Gold Cup on his seasonal debut.

Nicholls was considering another tilt at the Exeter race with the nine-length Queen Mother Champion Chase winner but may instead keep his powder dry until December 4.

“He’s done plenty of work but I don’t want to set him an impossible task with his 174 rating,” the Ditcheat handler told the Racing Post.

“The Champion Chase is very much the aim and we’ll be looking to run him in the Tingle Creek, Castleford and Game Spirit first.”

Nicholls also has news of stable Sporazene, winner of the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, who is to be trained with a crack at the Arkle in mind.

“We looked at the programme book and decided that he should go straight over fences,” said Nicholls.

“He might run at Exeter on October 19 if the ground’s okay, and we’re hoping he can follow the lead of Azertyuiop and Thisthatandtother.”