Paul Nicholls: The views of my runners at Newbury today

Paul saddles seven runners at Newbury today

Betfair Ambassador Paul Nicholls saddles no less than seven runners at Newbury today. Here he talks exclusively about each one...

12:30 Newbury - Saphir Du Rheu

Is owned by The Stewart Family and apparently was bred by a certain Claude Duval; Andy knows the Sun's racing correspondent very well, but I didn't think that he had a French breeding sideline. But they probably have a lot of time on their hands, these hacks. Anyway, more seriously, we bought this horse after he finished third at Autueil in September, so we obviously haven't had him too long and are still getting to know him. The form of that race is not working out too well - the first two home have beaten well beaten since, though the fourth home has won since - but we like what we see of him so far.

It is too early to tell where he sits in the juvenile pecking order here but I must stress though that he is not a Triumph horse in the mould of a Samtegal or a Far West; he is a lovely, big, scopey, gorgeous horse who is a chaser in the making. But we think a bit of him and this may not be the strongest of Newbury juvenile contests, though there are a couple of decent sorts in here from the Flat. We will know more after today, though.

14:05 Newbury - There's No Panic

Won well at Fontwell and Fakenham after a lengthy lay-off, and I thought he was weighted to go well in a handicap at Cheltenham last time. And he was going ok before he landed on top of the last ditch, and was pulled up afterwards. The step down in trip on soft ground should be fine for him here, but he clearly has a mountain to climb off levels against the likes of Dynaste.

14:40 Newbury - American Trilogy

We know what we have with American Trilogy, namely a horse who is handicapped up to his best, but is capable of a decent show when things fall his way. He ran ok on his reappearance, and has been dropped 1lb for that. He should be sharper for the run and his fourth at Haydock in May showed us he can handle soft ground. But the ground drying out will probably be in his favour over this trip. Has place prospects with Harry claiming off him, but probably nothing more.

Curtain Razer

Is a half-brother to Irish Grand National winner Hear The Echo, won both his points in 2011 and made a highly encouraging hurdling debut when second to Gullinbursti over 2m6f at Exeter. On that form, he would look fairly weighted off 122 here. But it is obvious that he didn't really progress from that run and has had his problems, though he did run well here back in March. Clearly has ability if we can get him right, and hopefully a breathing operation in the summer will have helped in that regard.

15:15 Newbury - Tataniano

Has fragile legs, and has had plenty of problems in the past couple of years, so is clearly not going to make up into the top class chaser that he once promised to be. And we clearly expected a lot more from him at Chepstow on his reappearance. But I wasn't totally downhearted by that run, as I said here before that race that I suspected that he probably needed 2m4f these days. The positives are that he gets that chance here, is back on the same mark as when winning at Chepstow last season and goes well enough on the ground. But clearly we can't be confident after his reappearance run.

The Knoxs

This is a horse with a lot of ability, and 2m4f on soft ground on a left-handed track are probably his ideal conditions. And a breathing operation in the summer is hopefully another big positive as to his chance today. He took time to get the hang of jumping when he first came to us but he showed us his fencing potential chasing when winning a handicap, on good ground, at Ayr in April. Is 6lb higher today, but he goes well fresh and hopefully there is more to come from him.

15:45 Newbury - Sound Investment

Looked set to win on his point to point debut at Punchestown in February, before falling at the last. We bought him at the Newbury sales the following month, and we thought he would need the experience, both physically and mentally, in an Aintree bumper last month. And he did, travelling really well into the race before getting a bit tired. Has schooled well at home in preparation for this, but he will much better over further than this in future starts.

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