Paul Nicholls making way for the success of Tidal Bay in the Hennessy Gold Cup
After retiring the steeplechase champion, Kauto Star, the trainer, Paul Nicholls, is not exactly free. Training another horse that brings back five or more King George Stakes is impossible, but the trainer is keen on laying down plans for his trainees now that the hurdle and chase season is on.
His hope for the Hennessy Gold Cup, scheduled for 1st December at Newbury is the eleven-year-old bay gelding, Tidal Bay. Out of the six outings of the current season, Flemensfirth’s bay gelding has won twice, striking a back-to-back through the last two starts.
He won the Grade 3 Gold Cup Chase on 28th April, 2012 at Sandown Park over three miles, five furlongs and 110 yards. Under the guidance of jockey, D. A. Jacob, the gelding stayed in the rear at the beginning of the race, and then ranked third when the last four furlongs were still to be covered. Making the most impact just near the line, the duo defeated, Roalco De Farges, by the mark of fifteen lengths.
Nearly seven months down the season, the bay gelding kept a firm grip over his winning form. On 3rd November, he bagged the Grade 2 John Smith’s Hurdle at Wetherby over three miles and a furlong.
This time around, the partnership with jockey, Ruby Walsh, proved successful. With the final three furlongs on the horizon, the eleven-year-old became prominent, taking the leaders down, he stayed strong inside the final furlong and set aside the runner-up, Crack Away Jack, by 4 ½ lengths.
The success of the under charge has got the trainer making the most to choose the next best target for him.
The trainer said: "He'll run in either the Hennessy or the Betfair and I'm quite keen on the Hennessy as I think three miles two around Newbury will suit him really well, especially if we keep getting all this rain."
He added: "I haven't spoken yet to Jared [Sullivan] or Chris [Giles] about 'Conti' and it's pointless nominating a target for him or the others at present.”
"Robin Geffen, who owns both the Down Royal winners [Kauto Stone and Cristal Bonu], leaves it up to me and is very good like that. They got back at 6.30 in the morning and travelled back fine, but Kauto Stone needs to be fresh, so I'm not going to rush him."
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