Slow start for Nicholls, Derham a trainer to follow and Menzies shows the way in Ireland - three things we learned this week

Three key takeaways from this week . . .

Paul Nicholls endures slow start

Punters may be more encouraged than usual to take on the Paul Nicholls yard after the 14-time champion trainer drew a rare blank from his 12 runners at Chepstow.

For the first time since Chepstow amalgamated a pair of separate fixtures into a two-day meeting in 2015 to mark the spiritual beginning of the jumps season, Nicholls walked away without a winner.

Going back further, it was the first time since 1997 that Nicholls did not have a winner at either the track’s mid-October fixture or on Persian War Novices’ Hurdle day.

This year, he was denied the opportunity to have a runner in that Grade 2 by a late setback for ante-post favourite Teeshan. 

Paul Nicholls: no winners at Chepstow but don't expect the slow start to last longCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The highly regarded point-to-point and bumper winner perhaps could have been the one to restore normality, although in the longer term it may prove no bad thing for Nicholls to have missed this engagement with a horse expected to take high rank among his novice hurdlers this season.

It seems clear a portion of his stable is in need of the run at this early point of the core season, although there were still some eyecatching performances, notably Farland in the 2m novice hurdle on Friday. He should improve for a step up in trip as the season progresses.

Nicholls hasn't recorded a winner since August, but that covers a traditionally quiet September and expect him to come back firing by the end of the month.
Sam Hendry

Derham to enjoy a breakthrough campaign?    

Harry Derham is operating at a 24 per cent strike-rate since taking out a licence and the Berkshire-based trainer could be set for a breakthrough season.

Washington – Derham’s only runner at Chepstow’s two-day jumps season opener – was backed into 8-11 from 7-4 for the 2m handicap hurdle on Friday’s card and justified the support with a narrow success.

Officially rated 129 at his peak and with form that includes a close third behind subsequent Graded chasers JPR One and Datsalrightgino in a novice hurdle at Cheltenham, Washington looked potentially well treated making his debut for Derham off a mark of 118.

Harry Derham: struck at Chepstow on Friday with WashingtonCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Having travelled through the race powerfully, the eight-year-old found plenty for pressure to fend off the challenge of the useful Gin Coco. Washington’s neck success should not warrant a substantial rise in the weights and he looks the type to rack up a sequence – with the Greatwood Hurdle next month a possible target.

Another Derham runner expected to be at the Cheltenham November meeting is Imagine, a €320,000 purchase from the Caldwell dispersal sale in February. A Grade 2-winning novice chaser for Gordon Elliott last season, Imagine is set to make his stable debut in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The progressive Brentford Hope, who has produced form figures of 116132112 for Derham, and highly touted Queens Gamble are other notable horses for the stable, and it could pay to follow their runners as the jumps season gets going in earnest.
Joe Eccles

Menzies Irish exploits show risk should be taken more often

It has become commonplace seeing Irish-trained winners in Britain, whether at major festivals or run-of-the-mill midweek fare, yet runners heading the other way over the Irish Sea are still few and far between.

Rebecca Menzies showed just what can be achieved on Friday at Downpatrick, where she saddled two winners from four runners, including in the closing 2m7½f handicap chase which she sponsored in recognition of her longstanding owner John Wade.

Edgewell, representing both trainer and owner in the Rebecca Menzies Racing 40 Winners And Counting For John Wade Handicap Chase, hadn't won in ten previous starts, including in the equivalent class over fences in Britain, but he jumped well and pulled 14 lengths clear for a comfortable success.

The six-year-old had earned just £1,214 for Menzies before Friday, but pocketed €5,900 for that success, while Boomslang, having to give weight away on his chasing debut despite being rated less than or similar to his nearest rivals over hurdles, made it two wins from 15 starts 30 minutes earlier, scoring by seven lengths and netting €6,490.

Menzies's initiative to seek out winnable races paid off and should be applauded. With prize-money at the lower levels in Britain a constant worry, maybe this will encourage more trainers to take a risk and explore options further afield.
Harry Wilson

Read these next:

Simon Crisford on Cesarewitch fallout: 'I'd imagine there are a lot of disgruntled punters out there - it's a complete mess' 

Five horses to follow from Chepstow's jumps season opener - including a Kim Bailey chaser with a link to Chianti Classico 

Alphonse Le Grande prevails in photo-finish but 33-1 shot could be disqualified after rider breaks whip rules 

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