Nicholls targets Champion Chase for Sporazene

Lofty plans: Paul Nicholls
14 April 2012

Paul Nicholls has high hopes for 2004 County Hurdle winner Sporazene after the handsome grey leapt to an impressive success in the £25,000 Happy Birthday Sally White Graduation Chase at Exeter.

Fresh from a confidence-boosting success in a similar contest at Kempton, the seven-year-old galloped clear of his three rivals for a convincing victory under Sam Thomas.

The jockey stole a march just before halfway on the 11-4 shot and despite the best efforts of the even-money favourite Mariah Rollins, Sporazene coasted home and scored by 21 lengths.

Nicholls said: "He won his novice chase here but fell the next time and injured himself, which ruled him out for the remainder of the 2004 season.

"Last year I had to run him in the Tingle Creek as there were no options for him, and he fell so we went back over hurdles.

"He has now won two of these races and they will have done his confidence the world of good.

"These graduation races have been the making of him and now he has got experience he could be good enough for a crack at the Champion Chase.

"I have entered him in the Victor Chandler next month but don't know if that would suit him so the Game Spirit might be a more suitable option."

William Hill gave the winner a 33-1 quote for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Chamoss Royale (4-6 favourite) provided Nicholls and Thomas with a double as the mare lugged top weight to victory with a 12-length call over Inch Pride in the EBF/ Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Mares' Only Novices' Chase.

Nicholls added: "She wants three miles really and soft ground is important as she missed last year with leg problems."

Evan Williams' ability to transform disenchanted horses is well known, but even by the Welshman's standards Pole Star's back-to-form effort in the Lady Catherine 40th Birthday Beginners' Chase was outstanding.

Third in the Ascot Gold Cup in 2003, the former James Fanshawe inmate had lost his way over the previous 12 months but won well on his first start for Williams, with Paul Moloney guiding him to a five-length beating of 15-8 favourite Mister Quasimodo.

Williams said: "Like with Sir Robert Ogden, it was important for my first horse for Paul Green to win.

"This is a very talented horse. He came to me after his summer break and has schooled every day since.

"He had spent his whole life in Newmarket so a different environment has done him good.

"His Flat and hurdle form was outstanding. However, I am not getting carried away and we will just take small steps but if he keeps progressing he could be a Royal & SunAlliance Chase horse."

Naunton Brook was cut into 16-1 from 25s for the Coral Welsh National with William Hill after out-jumping and out-staying his rivals in the South-West Racing Club Handicap Chase.

David England partnered the seven-year-old to a front-running success at Hexham last month and repeated the trick when the 11-4 market leader made all.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge really turned the screw after the second-last and readily went clear to pass the post nine-lengths ahead of Kock De La Vesvre, with Keepatem five lengths adrift in third.

The trainer's assistant Fergal O'Brien said: "He is in the Welsh National, but we will have to see how he comes out of this as he has had quite a slog round.

"The ultimate decision will lie with Nigel, but he has done nothing wrong and he does stay well."

Private Be hit the back of the net when Richard Johnson drove the 3-1 shot home by three lengths and two and a half lengths from Hawridge Star and Mith Hill in the South-West Racing Club Handicap Hurdle.

Winning trainer Philip Hobbs said: "He hangs either way depending on which way round he races, but he is probably best going left-handed.

"He could go for another handicap hurdle, but chasing is his future and if we are going to do that this season we shouldn't leave it too long."

Alan Berry partnered his second winner at the track when the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Parkinson obliged by half a length as the even-money favourite in the gg.com Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle.

Berry was handed a one-day suspension on a date to be notified for careless careless riding after the stewards ruled he he failed to take corrective action when his mount hung down the straight.

David Pipe registered a sole success with Saratogane (14-1), with Tom Scudamore producing him late to capture the SIS Mares' Only Novices' Hurdle by a length.

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