Nicholls has big hopes for a fourth Gold Cup

PAUL Nicholls holds an extremely strong hand with Greaneteen and Hitman as he looks to win a fourth Betway Haldon Gold Cup in the last seven years.

Nicholls has used today’s Grade Two handicap at Exeter as a starting point for plenty of his good two-mile chasers down the years, with none other than Kauto Star - who was beaten into second by Monkerhostin in 2005 among a host of quality horses to have run in the race.

Greaneteen was successful 12 months ago but since he went on to go close in the Champion Chase and then beat Altior at Sandown, he is now 17lb higher in the weights. The Tingle Creek is his big early aim at the start of December.

“Greaneteen won the race last year, and we’d planned that for a little while,” said Nicholls. “He progressed really well throughout the season - he was only beaten a couple of lengths in the Champion Chase and then won the Grade One at Sandown at the end of the season, beating Altior.

“He’s now rated 168 - which is a bit different from this time last year. He’s in good shape.

“I’ve always used this race as a bit of a stepping stone to the Tingle Creek with the better horses. Politologue and Kauto Star ran in this before going on to Sandown. There’s nothing much else for them before the Tingle Creek.

“He always needs a run for him to compete at the very highest level. He’s always a bit fresh and keen first time, so he needs a run (to knock that out of him), and this is the perfect race.”

Nicholls has never been afraid of running his Grade One winners in handicaps, and thinks it is valid route.

“I don’t know why others don’t run Grade One winners in handicaps - but with him, there aren’t many options for a run before the Tingle Creek,” he added.

“Cheltenham (Shloer Chase) is close enough, and this is great timing to the Tingle Creek.”

Nicholls has made no secret of the regard in which he holds Hitman, who maybe did not quite reach the expected heights last season and has since had a breathing operation.

While Hitman holds an entry in this month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, a good run at Exeter could put him in the Tingle Creek frame.

“At the moment he’s got 17lb to find with the top horse, so he’s got to improve,” said Nicholls. “He wants to be winning this if he’s going for the Tingle Creek, but this will tell us a lot about where we go afterwards. It will be very informative.”