Another winner for Nicholls

Paul Nicholls took up from where he left off as Natal ran out an easy winner of the opening contest on Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup day at Newbury.

Fresh from having sent out a treble on the first day of the meeting, the trainer was back in the winner’s enclosure again after the 5-2 favourite took the cantorspreadfair.com Novices’ Hurdle by an easy 16 lengths from Fandani.

Always travelling well, Ruby Walsh only had to shake the reins at his mount to see him go clear of his rivals.

“He appreciated the good ground today – I walked it before racing and it has held up really well,” said Nicholls.

“He probably deserves to be stepped up in class now and we will think about taking him to Sandown for the Tolworth Hurdle if conditions are suitable.

“People kept saying the stable hasn’t been in form but we have had more winners now than at this stage of the season last year.”

Paddy Power and Coral both offer Natal at 20-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.