Tidal Bay with an all new agenda awaiting
The champion trainer, Paul Nicholls, has finally held a firm grip on the reigns of the season and is planning to accelerate his success rate. His runner-up of the Hennessy Gold Cup Chase, Tidal Bay, brought him the Grade 1 Lexus Chase on 28th
December, 2012 at Leopardstown over three miles. Right after the success of the Nicky Henderson trained, Bobs Worth, in the Hennessy Cup, the connections of the second and third place holders had the Lexus in their minds.
Third in the Hennessy, First Lieutenant, missed the Lexus Chase by an almost negligible mark of a head, while riding with jockey, Bryan Cooper.
Ground conditions have been the foremost concern for all the connections this season, and the same applies to the future targets of the 2012 Lexus winner.
The trainer has sidelined a highly unique combination of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and the John Smith’s Grand National.
The champion trainer told At The Races: "He'll have an entry for the World Hurdle and for the Gold Cup. The ground will play a big part in it. I'll obviously have a big chat with Mr Wylie and see what is the right thing to do."
He added: "The ground would want to be soft at Cheltenham for him to run in the Gold Cup. It's the quickest track, I think, and it's not necessarily his cup of tea.”
"If the ground was testing, yes it would be. If the ground is like what it normally is in March, on the good side, then we have the option of the World Hurdle.”
The eleven-year-old bay gelding has been declared the third favourite for the World Hurdle according to the betting trends that have recently set in.
The trainer is highly excited about the prospect of racing Tidal Bay at both the spectacles and is convinced that he is the only horse who is capable of landing both the events provided the ground conditions stay up to the mark.
With the retirement of, Kauto Star and the premature exit from the season of the mighty Big Buck’s, Tidal Bay just may be the key for the unprecedented success of Paul Nicholls’ stable.
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