Trainer Paul Nicholls on King George VI Chase winner Bravemansgame’s chances at Haydock, and four other horses at Ascot as he hopes Blueking D’Oroux will relish the step up to 2m3f

• Trainer Paul Nicholls reveals insight into Bravemansgame ahead of Haydock
• The 61-year-old favours Bravemansgame’s chances in the race on Saturday 
• Nicholls also has a quartet of horses riding at Ascot on Saturday afternoon

Trainer Paul Nicholls will be hoping to see his horses succeed on Saturday during racing action at Haydock and Ascot. 

Nicholls, 61, has King George VI Chase winner Bravesmansgame running in the 15:00 race at Haydock, while a further four of his horses will be racing at Ascot that same afternoon. 

Here, Betfair ambassador Nicholls outline his opportunities during the day. 

Paul Nicholls talks about Bravemsansgame ahead of Haydock, alongside four Ascot entries

Nicholls believes Bravesmansgame has a ‘first rate chance’ in the 15:00 race at Haydock 

Haydock 

15:00 – Bravemsansgame

He is in top order, never better and full of himself at the moment. He was bucking and squealing in the schooling arena on Thursday morning, turning himself inside out. 

He has definitely come on a lot since the Charlie Hall at Wetherby which was rather like a racecourse gallop, then he made a mistake at the last fence and got a big tired late on. 

He is older now and probably just needed that first run of the season, he has won at Haydock before and the drying ground on a flat track will suit. 

Daryl Jacob won a Grand National for me and loved him when he rode him on Monday morning. 

After watching Bravemansgame and Pic D’Orhy work brilliantly together on Thursday my head lad Clifford Baker said that we have never had the pair of them in better shape. 

Bravemansgame is the clear top rated horse in this Grade 1 race and has a first rate chance.

It’s a coin toss between Bravemansgame (pictured) and Pic D’Orhy for his chance of the day 

Ascot

12:20 – Farnoge

We’ve given him time because he’s highly promising and he rewarded our patience with a tidy success last month at Newton Abbot on his debut over hurdles which was a bit of a penalty kick. He has come on for the run, is a lot sharper now, will appreciate this step up in trip and has a solid chance.  

13:30 – Pic D’Orhy

I’ve always believed in this horse who never stopped improving last season and looks fantastic. This Grade 2 race has been his target from the moment he came back from holiday early in July. He is fit to run for his life, his work with Bravemansgame on Thursday was eye-catching and drying ground at Ascot is a big plus for him. We don’t think he was at his best when he was beaten by Shiskin at Ascot in February as he’d had a few races before that and things could well be different this time.

14:05 – Blueking D’Oroux

He is highly progressive, a different horse since we gave him a wind op last season. I loved the way he won at Cheltenham last month and he will relish the step up in trip to two miles, three furlongs. While he has a bit to find on official ratings I’m expecting a big run from him.

The Grade 2 race on Saturday has always been Pic D’Orhy’s target from the moment he came back in July

15:50 – Regents Stroll

He is an interesting prospect by Walk In The Park out of a mare closely related to Denman. Regents Stroll goes nicely at home and I’d put him in the same league as our recent bumpers like Kap Boy and Touquet. He is ready to start, should be competitive and like all of our bumper horses on debut will benefit from the experience.

Best chance

It’s a toss of a coin between Bravemansgame and Pic D’Orhy, and I just favour Bravemansgame, 15.00 Haydock, who is absolutely bouncing at the moment. 

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