Nicholls bandwagon rolls on
Trainer Paul Nicholls continued his rich vein of form with an across-the-card four-timer at Lingfield Park and Chepstow today.
Not only did the Ditcheat handler saddle Armaturk to take the feature Coloroll United House Handicap Chase at the Surrey venue but he also provided the third, St Pirran, as well.
Armaturk, sent off at 6-1, was always prominent under Christian Williams and ran on strongly in the straight to beat Bleu Superbe by four lengths, with more fancied stablemate St Pirran and Ruby Walsh five lengths further back in third.
Nicholls said: “Armaturk had a breathing operation in the summer and it looks to have worked well as he dealt with this dead ground all right. I will have to sit down and sort a race out for him now.
“St Pirran came back blowing like mad, so he will come on a bundle from that. I will be looking for a decent handicap with him in the future.”
Walsh reported: “He was never really travelling early, and when they quickened he felt a bit flat.”
Nicholls, who has now saddled 16 winners in the last 15 days and was also on the mark with L’Aventure and Mouseski at Chepstow, completed a 13-1 double at Lingfield when the Walsh-ridden Cornish Rebel (evens favourite) was left clear at the third-last in the Crown Wall Coverings Beginners’ Chase.
“He was left in front too soon really but it was a decent run and he should be out next in a valuable three-mile novice chase the Sunday after the Hennessy at Newbury,” Nicholls said.
The race was marred when Felixrdotcom, who looked like winning, slipped on landing three out and broke his hind leg. The Nick Gifford-trained gelding was subsequently put down.
Amateur rider Robert Stephens rode a blinder on the Philip Hobbs-trained Salute in the Vymura Novices’ Hurdle, coming from well off the pace to nick the race on the line by a head from Twenty Degrees.
The trainer’s wife, Sarah, said: “Robert rode a beauty on Salute because he needs to be switched off near the back to show his best.”
Conditional rider Tim Bailey was banned for seven days (November 10 to 16) for not riding out Huxley to achieve the best position.
The gelding is trained by Mick Quinlan, who was cleared of any blame, and finished ninth of the 17 runners.
Tommy Carson landed the Wilman Interiors Handicap Chase after the favourite Prominent Profile bowed out of the three-mile contest in a first-fence fall.
The Jamie Poulton-trained gelding led at the top of the hill under Colin Bolger and kept on well, although tiring a bit in the softish ground, to beat El Hombre Del Rio by three lengths.
Lewes handler Poulton was extremely confident about his 7-1 winner, saying: “I was 100 per cent certain about him and backed him last night at 10-1 and 12s.
“He got a bit close to the last, but otherwise I had no worries. He is a fine prospect.”
Guru showed a fine turn of foot in conditions he loves when bursting into the lead in the straight in the extended two-mile Life From Coloroll Handicap Hurdle to leave the rest for dead.
Genuine Article made sure there was a good pace to the race, which Guru won by a decisive six lengths from Barton Nic.
Jockey Philip Hide said of Gary Moore’s 5-1 shot: “There is such a lot to look forward to with him. I am sure he will jump fences well and he could be a force to be reckoned with in novice chases in the future.”
Noel Fehily, who rode a treble at Uttoxeter on Friday, was on the mark again when Aldiruos took the Coloroll Novices’ Handicap Hurdle by five lengths from Floranz.
The closing Ports Of Call Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race was won by the Noel Chance-trained Dans Pride.
The 2-1 favourite was confidently ridden by Tom Doyle to beat Sintos by six lengths.
