Three and easy for Nicholls
Paul Nicholls cemented his reputation as the man to back at his local track when saddling a treble at Wincanton.
Based only half a dozen miles away from the course at Ditcheat, Nicholls has a strike-rate of 28% with his runners at the track – a ratio which improves even further when stable jockey Ruby Walsh takes the reins.
Fittingly, it was Walsh who partnered all three of winners as Nicholls continues towards an inevitable first win in the trainers’ championship.
Made In Montot finally lived up to his hot French form when getting Nicholls off to a winning start in the opening Rollin Clones On 12 May Novices’ Chase.
The 4-1 chance has proved a bitter disappointment on his two previous British starts, breaking a blood vessel on his most recent appearance when odds-on at this track in December.
But under a typically patient ride from Ruby Walsh, the six-year-old crept forwards from off the pace to dispute the lead over the last with 8-13 favourite Without A Doubt.
Strongly ridden on the run-in to throw down his challenge, Walsh just succeeded in getting his mount up for a head verdict to deny Without A Doubt’s handler Carl Llewellyn his first success as a trainer.
“It’s good to get his head in front,” said Nicholls. “In the summer he will have an operation to try and sort out his breathing because I think that’s where his problems are stemming from.
“We tried him with a tongue-strap and a crossed noseband today and, along with the better ground, I’d have been disappointed if he hadn’t gone close.
“He probably wants to be bowling along in front but as he had been keen last time, I told Ruby to get him settled today and switch him off.”
The double was completed with Colorado Pearl, who bounced off the ground to take the Countryside Day Next Mares’ Only Novices’ Hurdle.
While Made In Montot is set to see the surgeon about his breathing, Colardo Pearl has already had hers.
The 7-1 chance, trained last season by Nicholls’ partner Georgie Browne, was clear at the last and only had to be pushed out to account for Annie Fleetwood by eight lengths.
“She had her op a while ago but we have just been waiting for this sort of ground with her,” said Nicholls.
“She will go novice chasing at some stage and has schooled well but we might try and win another one of these first.
“She will probably be kept going this summer because she appreciates some decent ground.”
Allaying breathing problems also proved the key to the final leg of the treble when L’Oudon, equipped with a tongue-tie for the first time, took the concluding Sponsor At Wincanton Handicap Hurdle.
Lorient Express stood out at the weights and did the job with a degree of ease when taking the Easter Novices’ Handicap Hurdle under Liam Treadwell.
Well-treated on his steeplechasing form, Venetia Williams had taken advantage of his low mark over hurdles when sending him out to win a conditional jockeys’ event at Exeter last week.
And without a weight penalty here, the 10-11 favourite followed up with a straightforward two-and-a-half-length victory from Royal Stardust.
“This horse is owned by a syndicate and the idea is to give them as much fun as possible so we decided to switch the horse back to hurdling and try and win a few more races there,” said Mark Ball from Let’s Live Racing.
“He has gone up 13lb in the weights for winning at Exeter so he had every right to win here.
“But he is going to stay further than two miles and we might step him up in trip next time.”
Tom Sayers led home a one-two for Philip Hobbs in the Axminster Carpets Handicap Chase.
A winner of three races last season, the eight-year-old’s campaign this time around had been blighted by a series of jumping errors and disappointing performances.
But given a confident ride by amateur Tom O’Brien, the 9-1 chance was kicked into the lead before the fifth-last fence and galloped strongly all the way home on his way to a five-length victory over stablemate Elenas River.
Hobbs was bringing up his seasonal century of winners with this success.
Lucky Sinna belatedly broke his duck at the age of 10 in the Pat Ruthven & Guy Nixon Memorial Vase Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.
Given a sensible ride by Sam Jones, the 8-1 chance was kidded along in front and pushed out to hold the challenge of Joe Deane – without his rider having to resort to the whip.
“This kid can ride,” said trainer Brendan Powell, delighted to see one of the stable’s most consistent performers lose his maiden tag, but less pleased to see him return with what appeared to be a tendon injury.
