Nicholls feels Monmiral is up for a Fight

PAUL Nicholls could not be happier with Monmiral as the unbeaten four-year-old bids to become only the fifth horse of his age to win the Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle this afternoon.

Night Nurse is the most famous of the quartet to take this treasured prize at four since its inception in 1969 - the latest being Countrywide Flame in 2012.

Now it is Monmiral’s chance to add his name to an elite list.

He heads to the North East with a perfect record of four out of four since moving to the UK from Francois Nicolle’s stables in France.

However, Nicholls knows it is difficult as horses of his age have to meet their elders on equal terms, while he has to give 7lb to last year’s winner Epatante as mares receive a sex allowance.

Nicholls said: “It is a tough task for four-year-olds in their second season. They don’t get a weight allowance against older horses but he is a talented horse and he is unbeaten.

“Mares get a 7lb allowance and for four-year-olds, it is a hard year for them traditionally. Only four four-year-olds have won the race.

“He does not know that. We have done everything to prepare him right.

“We will learn an awful lot more on Saturday especially and the more rain whiich falls the better for him.”

Nicholls went on: “We did not want to go chasing this year so we are having to run in these races and the run on Saturday will tell us where we end up - whether we go Christmas Hurdle afterwards or whether we step up in trip.

“Saturday is a fact-finding mission but prep wise it has gone great. He looks great and I am hopeful of a very good run.

“I cannot predict he is going to go and win. We just think we have had a great preparation and we will let the horse do the talking.”

Nicky Henderson has been pleased with Epatante as the 2020 Champion Hurdle winner tries to get back on track after she lost her form following her success in this race 12 months ago.

He said: “Aidan Coleman schooled her on Thursday morning and she seemed to be as good as I have ever seen her, jumping-wise, which is important. That is the litmus test with her.

“It is a much better race this year than last. For a start, Sceau Royal is in much better form this year than last and I thought he was very impressive at Wincanton.

“Paul Nicholls’ horse Monmiral could be anything and Silver Streak beat us at Kempton and did not get far in the race last year.

“We don’t know where we are with that one so it is a very competitive race.”