MY BRAVEHEART IS BATTLE READY
Nicholls taking Denman route to glory
PAUL NICHOLLS feels confident Bravemansgame has the experience he needs to go and land the Ballymore Novices Hurdle.
The six-year-old is the leading 9/2 home hope for the day two cracker against the might of the Irish challenge.
Willie Mullins’ Gaillard Du Mesnil and Henry De Bromhead’s Bob Olinger are fighting at the top of the market alongside the Nicholls charge in a clash which could provide a Festival highlight.
Bravemansgame hasn’t been sighted this year since running up a hat-trick prior to the calendars changing.
His only defeat this term came back in October when pipped by Soaring Glory, who has stormed into the Champion Hurdle picture.
On his absence in 2021, the champion trainer has revealed it’s all part of the plan hatched by his boss and big-race jockey Harry Cobden to follow the same route as a mighty past hero did.
Denman, trained and owned by the same connections, had a similar preparation before finishing second to Nicanor five years ago ahead of his Gold Cup glories over the biggest obstacles.
Nicholls, right, won’t make ability comparisons at this stage of the youngster’s fledgling career but is happy to take him down the same path as the late legend.
He said: “He had four runs up to and including Christmas when he won the Challow, so we’ve just decided to keep him fresh.
“Denman had four runs before he ran in the race and I didn’t think he needed to run again. He’s very fit. Physically, he just keeps on improving.
“Basically, he’s gone down the same route. Denman won the Challow, this lad won the Challow. Physically, he’s the same type - a big, scopey horse who will make a chaser.
“If ever he was as good as Denman, we’d be delighted. I’ve never said he’s as good, we all dream he might be.”
Later on the Wednesday, Nicholls also has Politologue, below right, aiming to defend his crown in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The 10-year-old faces an enormous challenge with Mullins’ outstanding odds-on hotpot Chacun Pour Soi rated a banker of the week for the Irish.
The champion, who won the
Tingle Creek earlier this season, will have plenty of punters creeping about his attractive each-way price of 9/1.
Nicholls said: “Chacun Pour Soi looks nearly unbeatable on his run at Leopardstown [Dublin Racing Festival]. He has got to act at Cheltenham which is a slightly different track. That’s the only thing I can see.
“Politologue’s level of form, he always gives his all and is a genuine and tough horse. This will be his sixth Festival, which is amazing really.
“He’s fairly simple to train, he loves his work. It’s just a case of getting him cherry ripe on the day. If Chacun Pour Soi turns up in top form he’s going to be really hard to beat but you never know at Cheltenham. Politologue does like the track, that’s a big plus.”