Nicholls The Master Trainer

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is in scintillating form of late with 16 winners from his last 42 runners, a strike rate of 38%. However he could not find a winner today at Kempton with 3 of his 4 horses finishing second. Nakai was well beaten by Duc Du Regniere and more notably the Arkle hope Imsingingtheblues getting beaten odds on by a horse who had been off the track for nearly two years. He looked as though he had nothing extra to give and was beaten by a better horse on the day, can he bounce back? I'm not so sure. 

In the 1-05 novices hurdle at Kempton today the front two Shalone and Tataniano pulled a mile clear ahead of the rest of the field. Shalone battled on gamely to win for Alan King, the front two could well be worth following in similar events and handicaps considering how far ahead of the rest of the field they were. 

Ashwell absolutely demolished the field in the 3 mile chase finishing 29 lengths clear of Urban Tiger and could be one to defy a rise in the weights to score again. Or Bleu scored in the Beginners Chase at Bangor, and gives a boost to Straw Bears form, who is meant to run on Sunday at Fontwell or Cheltenham. He looks a likely winner. Nenuphar Collonges scored again on his reappearance and won well under Choc Thornton. 

Cheltenham's Open Meeting soon and some stars should come out for that, should be very exciting and we could even see some festival contenders!