Sun Racing ambassador Megan Nicholls is back as she reflects on a potential King George winner and looks ahead to a big weekend of runners for Team Ditcheat
He was exceptionally impressive in a competitive handicap and looks back to his best.
The long-term plan now could be the King George but before that he’ll have a crack at the Ascot Chase next month.
He’ll be taking on the likes of Waiting Patiently and Politologue so he’ll need to improve, but there’s no reason why he shouldn’t.
Credit must go to Scott Marshall, who rides him out every day. He’s done a fantastic job to get him firing again.
He’s a funny horse who has his own way of going about things but once he gets in a rhythm he’s such a brilliant jumper.
The fact that we know he stays that far is also useful as it opens up plenty of options for him.
He’s very exciting and has a big future.
Back to this weekend, and we’ve got a couple of big runners at Cheltenham and Doncaster.
Dynamite Dollars goes in the Lightning Chase on Town Moor – and on paper it should be easy.
He’s progressed massively this season and is miles clear on ratings.
It seems a perfect place to have a run around and if all goes to plan he shouldn’t be coming off the bridle.
It’s the perfect prep for Cheltenham and I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t win.
Second favourite Ballyward has been winning but he has a lot to find on ratings.
Truckers Lodge runs in the Albert Bartlett trial at 3.05.
It took us a while to completely get to grips with him but he’s improved recently and was unlucky not to win off 142 last time.
He goes there in great heart and if he can produce his Chepstow runs at Doncaster then he should be right there.
It’s a trappy race with Commodore Barry and Bailarico also lining up but I’m hoping our fellow can improve again.
The big race on the card is the Sky Bet Chase, where we run both Warriors Tale and Art Maresque.
Sean Bowen gave Warriors Tale a great ride to win at Aintree last time and the pair get on really well.
He’s a big, scopey horse so with any luck top weight shouldn’t be an issue.
Art Mauresque was unlucky not to win at Ascot before disappointing in the Peterborough.
He often doesn’t produce good races back to back, though, so you can possibly draw a line through that.
O O Seven is a big danger as a wind op has obviously helped him judged on his win at the track last time.
If he runs similar race he would have good chance.
Dingo Dollar hasn’t run since third in the Ladbrokes Trophy but he ran well that day and was in front for a long way. The form has worked out well and I don’t think he’ll have to try so hard to get an easy lead.
All about Altior
I have definitely seen Altior win more impressively than he did at Ascot last week.
At Kempton, for example, he jumped and travelled much slicker.
Personally, I think if Un De Sceaux had taken him on then he’d have given him a run of his money.
If the UDS team go to Cheltenham then I’d give him a good chance as he’s had an easier season than has been the case in the past.
However, there’s no doubting Altior is a legend. It’s great to see these top class horses perform again and again.
Parody runs for us in the bumper at the end of the card.
She’s had one run so far, at Lingfield, and I think it’s fair to say she’s not really going to be a great bumper horse.
I reckon she’ll be much better going over hurdles and over a trip.
She has a bit more experience now and if she runs a similar race and finishes in the frame we would be delighted. Her future lies over obstacles.
Over at Cheltenham, Frodon is our headline act in the Cotswold Chase.
He’s been an absolute legend for the yard and seems to be thriving.
He loves the track and the only question mark is the trip – but until he has a go, we just don’t know.
Hopefully we can get a couple of breathers into him on the way round and he’ll be bang there.
Elegant Escape is a worthy second favourite, having won the Welsh National on his latest start.
A bit like Frodon, he’s been running well in big handicaps off big weights. The pair are quite similar and they keep bouncing back.
He’s a very talented horse and the Tizzards are testing the waters for the Gold Cup, a bit like us.
The other one I fear is Terrefort, who we met a couple of times last year with different horses. He beat Cyname as a novice and is as tough as they come. He likes a stiff track and I can’t see the trip being a problem for him.
Gold Cup musings
Presenting Percy rocketed into Gold Cup contention with his win in the Galmoy Hurdle.
For me, he did what he had to do. His ears were pricked for most of the run and how much he has left is hard to know.
You can’t really fault his performance but it will be a different ballgame back over fences against the top three mile chasers.
We would obviously fear him if he came up against Clan Des Obeaux but conditions aren’t likely to get much softer and that may not play into his hands.
Earlier on the card, we run Dogon in the Grade 2 Triumph trial.
He’s having his first run for us but has done things nicely at home and jumps very well.
At the moment we’re thinking he’s a possible type for the Fred Winter but he’ll get a mark soon and we’ll decide then.
He’s got plenty of experience from his time abroad and we’ll be learning a bit about him.
It looks a competitive race with the likes of Adjali, who was just beaten by Quel Destin last time out, and Nelson River.
Joseph O’Brien sends a couple over and Alan King fields Our Power, so it definitely won’t be easy.
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Brelan D’As runs in the Grade 3 Handicap Chase.
He was second behind Kapcorse at Newbury before getting his head in front at Haydock under Bryony.
He was very tough that day and stuck his head right out.
He had a great attitude and it’s always nice to see horses wanting to win.
Cheltenham is a completely different track but if he can keep improving then he has every chance.
England's Rose
I want to say a quick word on Rose Loxton, who was one of our head girls for years and also trains point-to-pointers.
She’s got a mixture of some of her own horses and some of our old horses, including Monsieur Gibraltar, Virak and Earth Leader.
She works really hard to get the pointers ready and it’s great to see her doing so well.
There are a couple of meets this weekend so hopefully she can pick up some winners.
If anything else it will be a nice change of luck after she took a fall on the gallops a few weeks ago and broke her leg.
I’ll be keeping a close eye on her horses and how they get on, as well as the jocks who’ll be riding – Bryan Carver, Natalie Parker and Harriet Tucker.
Keep an eye out for Ashutor, who I put up as a horse to follow in this column a couple of weeks ago. He’ll be running soon, as will a nice juvenile called Scaramanga who’ll also be making his debut.
We haven’t got a runner in the Cleeve but at a big price I wouldn’t rule out Lil Rockerfeller, who’s going back over hurdles.
He’s clearly not the most natural over a fence so the decision isn’t that surprising.
Bryony takes the ride and she tends to get on well with horses that need a positive ride.
He has good Cheltenham form and I wouldn’t rule him out.
Paisley Park is the one to beat after winning the Long Walk at Ascot last time.
He’s improving and it would be nice to see him prove he can perform at the top level at another track.
Black Op is the other interesting one. If bringing his A game then he’s a very good horse as well.
It’s a busy weekend for the team and we’ve got a couple of runners at Fontwell on Sunday.
Greaneteen was very impressive at Exeter last time and goes in the novices’ hurdle at 2.00.
Dad, Bryony and Harry all think a lot of him and I know Harry’s keen to take the ride after watching him sprint clear at the Devon track.
He jumped brilliantly that day and looks the one to beat.
The handicapper has given him an opening mark of 134 and if he’s up to that then he should be winning this.
Saturday ride
I take the ride on Nananita this afternoon.
She’s landed a good draw in stall 1 and tends to travel very well in her races, so if she sees out the trip then she’ll be bang there.
She’s bumped into a couple recently and hopefully this is her time to shine.
Birds Of Prey runs in the maiden hurdle at 3.00.
He’s been given a mark of 128 but was beaten twice at Taunton so rather than going for a handicap we’ve tried to snag a maiden hurdle.
On his best Flat form he should be picking these up and carrying them and if he didn’t win I’d probably be disappointed.
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