Bank on Amazing Nicholls

JUST AMAZING can prove

an appropriate winner

for trainer Paul Nicholls

at Uttoxeter today.

Events at the Cheltenham

Festival yesterday are

now etched into racing

history and capped a

memorable season for

the champion trainer.

With Master Minded

having given a stunning

display in the Queen

Mother Champion Chase

on Wednesday, the well

of talent at Nicholls' yard

is, well, just amazing.

That name may not quite

reflect the ability of the

gelding who bears his

name today but he looks

good enough to win the

two-mile six-furlong

handicap hurdle.

This is his first handicap

after four runs in which

he has shown decent

form. On his last start, he

was beaten half a length

by Ambrosinni over a two

furlong shorter trip at

today's track.

That was a decent race

and the extra distance

should prove no problem for Nicholls' contender.

Indeed, I regard it as a

positive. It is also a plus

that Ruby Walsh replaces

the yard's highly capable

but inexperienced

conditional rider Harry

Skelton.

Nicholls has regularly

supplied winners for

punters on Saturdays this

year and he can also win

the bumper at Uttoxeter

with KING FONTAINE.

He was beaten less than

two lengths on his debut

at Sandown last month

when inexperienced yet

looked a future winner

by staying on well.

Nigel Twiston-Davies won

the Midlands National

last year with Baron

Windrush and has

another great chance

with IRISH RAPTOR.