'He's the apple of my eye and the sky's the limit' - Paul Nicholls set to unleash exciting chase prospect at Carlisle on Monday

Paul Nicholls has his string in flying form and the 14-time champion trainer unleashes the exciting Kalif Du Berlais at Carlisle today. The Grade 2 winner faces three rivals in the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Graduation Chase (2.00) and here we profile the four-year-old . . .

• Paul Nicholls stable tour: ‘I’m sure there’s lots more to come from him - some of his work last season reminded me of Master Minded’ 

Who is he?

An impressive winner over hurdles at Compiegne last October, Kalif Du Berlais was sent off the 4-5 favourite for a juvenile hurdle at Kempton on his British and stable debut in January and justified the support with a seven-and-a-half-length success. Owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason, John Hales and Peter Done, the son of Masked Marvel supplemented his Kempton win when landing the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle over the same course and distance a month later, after which Nicholls described him as "a smart prospect – one of the nicest we've had for a long time to go chasing".

Kalif Du Berlais (right): battled to success in the Adonis HurdleCredit: Mark Cranham

Connections chose to bypass the Triumph Hurdle with Kalif Du Berlais and he was next seen in the Grade 1 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree's Grand National meeting in April. Sent off the 9-2 third-favourite, he led the five-runner field through the early stages of the race before being outpaced from two out by leading juveniles Sir Gino and Kargese, although he did manage to rally for third close home.

Kalif Du Berlais: chased home Sir Gino and Kargese at AintreeCredit: Edward Whitaker

What they say

Talking to the Racing Post in his stable tour earlier this month, Nicholls said: "He’s always been the apple of my eye and looks to have summered particularly well. As a model, he’s as fine a chasing prospect as you're likely to see. He was bought as a future potential Gold Cup horse, so we never saw him as a Triumph Hurdle sort. That said, he still showed a high level of form as a juvenile, winning the Grade 2 Adonis before being put firmly in his place by Sir Gino and Kargese in the Grade 1 Anniversary Hurdle, being not surprisingly outpaced by that top-class pair. 

"I want to be chasing before too long. We went over fences with Kauto Star, Clan Des Obeaux and Frodon as four-year-olds, and I don’t see any point hanging around over hurdles with a horse who is already crying out for fences. He’s one of a number of fine chasing prospects we're lucky to have this season and I think the sky’s the limit for him."

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Who does he face?

With an official mark of 135 Kalif Du Berlais is the lowest-rated runner in this afternoon's 2m graduation chase (2.00). Cheltenham Festival winner Unexpected Party tops the ratings as he bids for his first win since the Grand Annual in March. The Dan Skelton-trained nine-year-old trailed home last of five in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree on seasonal debut last month and now takes a significant drop in grade. 

Unexpected Party: Cheltenham Festival winner is among the opposition to Kalif Du BerlaisCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Gavin Cromwell bids for another successful British raid with Path D'Oroux. The seven-year-old belatedly got off the mark at the 11th attempt over fences when claiming a novice chase at Cheltenham's October meeting, albeit he was made to work hard to justify 8-15 favouritism on what were favourable weight terms. 

Path d'Oroux (centre): winner at Cheltenham last timeCredit: John Grossick

The field is completed by the Nicky Richards-trained Nells Son, a nine-year-old who took a handicap chase over course and distance last October. He disappointed at Ayr when last seen in April though, and comes out worst at the weights here carrying 11st 11lb, the same as the eight-pound higher-rated Unexpected Party. Path D'Oroux carries 11st 7lb, while Kalif Du Berlais runs off 10st 6lb – making him best in at the weights.

Spotlight verdict

The four-year-old Kalif Du Berlais won a Grade 2 over hurdles at Kempton in February and can exploit the 8lb age allowance on his chasing debut. Paul Nicholls has very high hopes for him over fences. On ratings Unexpected Party and Path d'Oroux are the likeliest dangers but Nells Son has an excellent reappearance record and this course-and-distance winner could be a value forecast option.
Ben Hutton

Kalif Du Berlais14:00 Carlisle

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Jky: Harry Cobden Tnr: Paul Nicholls

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