Paul Nicholls: The views on my three Sunday runners at Taunton

Paul sends three to Taunton on Sunday

Paul sends three to Taunton on Sunday afternoon, with both Deireadh Re and Landscape holding leading chances...

12:40 Taunton - Sidney Melbourne

Is having his first start for us, but he will come on a lot for the outing - his first run for the best part of two years after a minor leg injury - and this is easily the most testing ground he has raced on. In fact, he never raced on anything worse than good ground when a fair stayer on the Flat two years ago, so that is an obvious concern. However, he showed clear ability when with John Best on the Flat and in his one run for Charlie Mann, a good second to Palawi at Stratford. But this race could take plenty of winning, particularly with Nicky's Group-class Flat stayer Electrolyser in the line-up.

14:55 Taunton - Deireadh Re

Has yet to show the same ability over fences that he did over hurdles last season, but there was more encouragement in his fourth at Sandown last time. I was pleasantly surprised to see the handicapper drop us 3lb after that run. And if he can build on Sandown, then I think he has definite chances, as trip and ground will suit. Harry takes 5lb off, too.

15:30 Taunton - Landscape

Missed what looked like a very winnable opportunity at Exeter recently when that meeting was abandoned, and I'll pretty much re-iterate what I said to his Timeform Betfair Racing Club Members back then. The negative is that this is a more competitive contest but the positive is that this race is over 2m3f110yd, which, as a stayer on the Flat in France, is a far more suitable trip for him than the 2m he has been running over.

The form of his Exeter soft ground win has worked out quite well, with the second running a fair race in defeat last time, so I don't think we can be too disappointed at all with a mark of 124. I was a little disappointed with his run at Haydock last time, even though that was probably a very hot race and Ruby did look after him once he was clearly beaten. But off this mark and on ground that shouldn't inconvenience, I give us a good chance, especially with Harry able to take 3lb off in this conditionals race.