CHAMPION trainer Paul Nicholls has his troops back on track with two days to go until Cheltenham.
His yard suffered a massive slump in form in January and February, but after bagging yesterday’s £80k EBF Final at Sandown he said: “The horses are back to their best.”
Complete Unknown was an impressive winner of the EBF Final
His rallying cry is music to the ears of British racing fans ahead of a Festival in which Irish-trained runners are expected to dominate.
If it’s not to be a repeat of last year’s 23-5 humiliation in the favour of Ireland, Nicholls and his squad need to play their part.
His main hope is top novice chaser Bravemansgame, who is a leading contender for the Brown Advisory Chase on Wednesday.
He has several interesting runners elsewhere at the meeting, and he heads to Cheltenham with a spring in his step after Complete Unknown’s (11-1) Sandown romp.
Nicholls said: “I always like to break the £2 million prize-money barrier before Cheltenham if we can, and that win has tipped us over the edge.
“It’s not a bad achievement considering we had those few weeks where the horses were quiet.
“It definitely fills you with confidence winning a nice race before the Festival, and the horses are flying now.
“The Cheltenham team worked this morning and they are all in great nick, so hopefully the good run continues.
“Complete Unknown is a nice progressive horse and he has won well. We will find another race for him before the end of the season.
“Knappers Hill hated the ground, I wish I’d waited for Cheltenham with him.”
But if ever there was a reminder of just how daunting a task British horses face next week, it came 35 minutes later in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup.
The sole Irish runner in the 22-strong field Suprise Package bolted up at 20-1 for trainer Peter Fahey, and he will now attempt to follow up in Friday’s County Hurdle.
Fahey grinned: “Cheltenham has been the plan with him but we knew we would probably need to win this to get into the County.
“He came here fit and well and did it very easily. Hopefully he gets in the County now and he’s in the same form next week.”
Paddy Power halved his odds (10-1 from 20-1) for the County, and he should make the cut under a penalty for this success.
