Nicholls looking to novice mares for Festival success

Paul Nicholls rates Just A Rose and Jubilee Alpha as his best chances of a winner at Cheltenham, although the pair are due to tackle the same Festival contest.

The duo will line up for the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle with very different profiles, but with an equal chance according to Nicholls, who is chasing a 50th Festival winner this year.

Just A Rose has had just the one run for Nicholls, when hugely impressive at Taunton under Freddie Gingell, who will maintain the partnership, while Harry Cobden rides Jubilee Alpha, a Taunton Listed winner who was also successful at Windsor’s Winter Million meeting.

Of Just A Rose, Nicholls said: “She’s an interesting filly. She’ll run in the Mares’ Novices’ on the Thursday. We bought her last year after winning her only point, she wasn’t cheap (£175,000). The horse she beat that day (Country Mile) has done very well for Dan (Skelton).

“She took a while to come to herself, then went to Taunton six weeks ago and bolted in, she won by 26 lengths, Freddie couldn’t pull her up.

“I haven’t been able to run her since, I wanted to go to Sandown last week but I didn’t want to run her on desperate ground. I’d have liked more experience, Freddie will ride her with Cobby on the other filly and we like her.”

Jubilee Alpha is more battle-hardened, having won two of her three hurdles outings, and as a result is shorter in the betting.

“She’s a smart filly, third or fourth favourite and she can’t have done much more than win as she has. This one has more experience,” said Nicholls.

“They work together but you wouldn’t pick either out and Cobby is riding her because he’s won on her, while Freddie won on the other. Experience counts for a lot I suppose but the other is very unexposed, I think they’ve both got good chances, probably my best of the week.”

Nicholls’ only bet at this year’s Festival has a family connection given his daughter, Olive, will be riding Shearer in the St. James’s Place Hunters’ Chase.

“I part-own him now with Max McNeil,” said Nicholls. “Two years ago he won his only two chases but got a leg and had two years off. I did a bit of a deal with Max and I told him I’d try to get him back and qualified for the Hunters’ for Olive to ride – so far it has worked out brilliantly.

“He won very well first time at Ffos Las and then I had to run him back quick at Taunton when he won again, so he’ll go for the Hunters’ Chase and Olive is really looking forward to riding him.

“For her to win it would be amazing, she’s been third already on Shantou Flyer and I think he’ll give her a good ride.”

Few in the yard have had as much written about them as expensive purchase Caldwell Potter, but his trainer retains plenty of faith ahead of his likely run in the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

Nicholls said: “I know we haven’t seen the best of him, I still don’t know what trip he really wants. I know some of his family are two-milers but round Windsor the other day, he was flat out. He didn’t run badly there and he’s now rated 147, which I think is too high, but he’ll run in the novice handicap unless the ground is absolutely bottomless and he’s still in the Arkle.”

Speaking at a Jockey Club-organised press morning at his yard on Monday, Nicholls also gave a favourable mention to Kabral Du Mathan in the William Hill County Hurdle.

“He just got beat in the big handicap at Ascot at Christmas after making a mistake at the second-last and was then second at Windsor, but he hated it there,” said Nicholls.

“I wish I’d saved him for Newbury. He doesn’t want it too soft, but it could be decent ground come the County and I could see him running well in it. The Scottish Champion Hurdle is another decent race for him.”

Wrapping up a smaller team than usual for the meeting, Nicholls has still to decide if Monmiral will defend his Pertemps Final crown or run in the Stayers’ Hurdle, Ginny’s Destiny and Il Ridoto will run in the Plate, while he also passed on a good word for No Drama This End in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper after winning at Warwick.

“Who knows what the form is worth, he couldn’t do any more than win and I think he’s one of the best UK horses. He jumps well already and he’ll have an away day this week. I’d say he’s on a par with Captain Teague (third two years ago) and he’ll run well if it’s soft,” said Nicholls.