Golden run continues for Nicholls and Thomas

Just 24 hours after Denman’s breathtaking success in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, the Paul Nicholls bandwagon rolled back into town as the champion trainer saddled an 11-1 treble at Newbury, all ridden by man of the moment Sam Thomas.

The highlight was Big Buck’s success in the Mar-Key Group Beginners’ Chase and further big-race glory could be on the cards as the four-year-old was clipped into 10-1 favouritism from 14s with Paddy Power for the Arkle.

Other layers were not so impressed and Cashmans and Stan James left him unchanged at 14-1.

Victory was certainly no walk in the park and Thomas had to switch the 1-2 favourite around Barbers Shop on the run-in before his mount knuckled down to collect by a neck.

Nicholls said: “There is a two-mile-two-furlong race here at Christmas which he will come back for and we will just creep away with him.

“The Arkle is at the back of my mind and I have no doubt he is good enough - it is just a matter of getting the experience into him.

“I am open-minded about trip for him and whatever happens he will be a smashing horse for next year.”

Nicholls quickly doubled up as The Tother One – a half-brother to smart chaser Thisthatandtother – made a mockery of his rivals in the Sarah Baggaley Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

The 6-5 favourite was all the rage following his stylish victory at Exeter and duly obliged by cruising clear for a thumping 12-length victory.

Nicholls said of the unbeaten six-year-old: “We have done plenty of schooling with him and his jumping is getting better.

“It wasn’t much of a race and he was off a good mark, but he could be quite a nice horse.

“He is progressing and I might run him again at Sandown on Saturday. He is a three-mile chaser for the future.”

The final leg of the winning spree came as Thomas drove 11-4 favourite Officier De Reserve home by four lengths in the Grundon Recycle Handicap Chase.

Only two of the four runners completed in the Grade Two Marshall’s Peugeot 308 Novices’ Chase, with the Nicholls-trained favourite Nevada Royale tipping up at the second-last, bringing Here’s Johnny to a virtual standstill in the process.

That paved the way for the Colin Tizzard-trained Joe Lively to steam through under his son Joe and collect in the three-mile test by a distance.

Tizzard senior said: “I might take him back to Cheltenham in two weeks as he was so impressive there earlier in the season.”

Smart bumper performer One Gulp (7-2) scored over timber at the first time of asking when coming with a forceful run to land the Mares Only “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle by three and a half lengths.

Trainer Paul Webber said: “I thought she would need the run but is obviously fitter – and better – than I thought.”

“She loves heavy ground and plans will be dictated by conditions.”

Another towering performance came from 11-8 favourite Ring The Boss, who routed the field in the Events Bar Management Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on his debut for Philip Hobbs having been transferred from Alan Swinbank’s yard.

Hobbs said: “He is a lovely horse and will now go to Cheltenham on Friday week for a 0-135 handicap for which he escapes a penalty.”

Alan King saddled two in the London Racing Club Standard Open NH Flat Race but it was his less-fancied Midnight Sail (25-1) who cruised across the line nine lengths to the good, with stablemate Paradise Regained taking fourth.

King said: “I think both of mine are probably good, but that surprised me a little as he has routed them and I thought he would need the run.”