NICK GETS LIFT ON COMEBACK
PAUL NICHOLLS continued his precheltenham hot streak when San Benedeto gave jockey Nick Scholfield a comeback winner in Newbury’s Greatwood Gold Cup.
Scholfield, who fractured a leg in a schooling accident last month, drove the eightyear-old to a two-andhalf-length supremacy for his third victory in the William Hillsponsored feature.
Nicholls, landing the race for the eighth time, said: “Nick’s had a bit of a tough time lately with an injury and this was his first winner back.
“The horse has run ordinary all season.
“We changed things for him, kept him fresh and this was a perfect race for him.
“Sometimes horses like him, on the fringe of graded races, are better off in handicaps. He’s been amazing, he won six one year including a Grade 1 and he will go to Aintree now for the Topham Chase.”
Nicholls’ Gold Cup hope Clan Des Obeaux was in action on the Ditcheat gallops yesterday, and the 10-time champion said: “He did three times up the hill this morning, he looks fantastic and we’re very, very happy with him.”
But he dismissed rumours that Frodon is to be re-routed from the Gold Cup on March 15 to Cheltenham’s Ryanair Chase the previous day.
Richard Johnson missed his five remaining rides after taking a fall from Tapaculo at the final flight of Newbury’s opening The Peter O’sullevan Charitable Trust H.O.P.E. Programme Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle.
The champion jockey, due to ride defending champion Native River in the Gold Cup, said: “I landed on my back and I’ve got some bruising.”