Paul Nicholls reckons Clan Des Obeaux should be favourite over Champ for huge Saturday clash at Newbury
PAUL NICHOLLS reckons his warrior Clan Des Obeaux should be favourite for the Denman Chase on Saturday – and not Champ.
The two-time King George winner sits behind Nicky Henderson’s star in most markets despite Champ being off the track all season.
And Nicholls – who will also run Secret Investor in the Grade 2 – is having none of it.
The card must pass a Friday morning inspection due to freezing temperatures but Nicholls and fellow trainer Nicky Henderson hope it gets the green light.
Nicholls said: “It’s quite an encounter, it’s a great looking race. Champ won the RSA last year, but where he is at the top of the market is on reputation rather than what he’s achieved at the moment.
“He’s got to go out there and do it now and do it against these Grade 1 warriors like Clan Des Obeaux has been, a two-time King George winner.
It’s a step up for Champ and it’ll be interesting to see on Saturday how he goes.”
Clan Des Obeaux’s King George hat-trick bid came up short on Boxing Day, but his trainer thinks he’s now back to his best.
He added: “It was just one of those races where it didn’t work out for him and he did well to finish even third I think.
“He probably had a harder race than we would have liked at Haydock too before. He seems very fresh and well again now, we’re looking forward to it.
“He looks right back to his best, he’s in good shape. He’s bucking and squealing, he’s feeling good, it’s what you want to see.”
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Heavyweights Nicholls and Henderson will also do battle in the Game Spirit, with superstar Altior the headline act.
Nicholls will run Greaneteen and Magic Saint in an attempt to topple the four-time Festival hero.
Nicholls said: “Our horses are on the upgrade and Altior’s probably not now.
“He obviously was at that level and did very well but he got beaten the last time at Kempton and showed us he is beatable.
“He possibly also showed he might want a little bit further now too. He looked to me at Kempton like he was flat out much of the way, but he ran a mighty race considering, especially as he’s eleven.
“He could be a little bit vulnerable nowadays to these younger horses and that’s always the case when these stars have their heels snapped at.
“But he’s still obviously the one we’ve got to beat. You’ve got to be positive and give it a go, our two are in good shape.”
Greaneteen has the option of the Champion Chase and the Ryanair at Cheltenham and Saturday’s effort will help sway connections one way or the other.
Nicholls also has an eye on Aintree and Sandown’s Grade 1 Celebration Chase for his young gun.
He said: “Greaneteen ran very well in the Tingle Creek last time. This will give us a bit of a guide as to whether we go for the Champion Chase or the Ryanair route.
“Harry Cobden got off him at Sandown and said he might want two-and-a-half but he goes well fresh and he’s in seriously good order. He’ll go well on Saturday.
“I think there’s more to come next year too, he’ll be even better with more experience.”
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Big guns Nicholls and Henderson both hope the meeting can be rescheduled if lost.
Nicholls said: “One of the most important parts of this job is keeping up with the weather and what it means.
“Unfortunately if Saturday is lost then you think where can these races be slotted in? They’re all important races and we don’t need to lose any of them.
“If they go where can they go? Looking at the forecast there are some -5C and -6C around so it’s a big worry.”
Henderson said: “Every year you get the problem at some point, you’re bound to get a freeze up at some point and here we are.
“It’s vital from our point of view that it gets the green light.
“It is absolutely essential, we have got to get runs into Champ and Altior – there’s no doubt about that.
“I pray this weekend can go ahead because we are primed for it. It would start to get horribly close to Cheltenham and if you had anything like a hard race, the time between the two is getting short enough to recover. So it’s fingers crossed.”
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