Tchico Polos gives Paul Nicholls early boost in trainers' title race

Paul Nicholls, the champion jumps trainer for the last four seasons, showed just how hard it will be wrest the title from his grasp over the coming months when sending out a one-two in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter today. While Nicky Henderson looks to have a team assembled for the season which should at least inject some interest into what has become a one-sided contest in the past couple of years, Nicholls retains considerable depth in his yard, not to mention an outstanding stable jockey in Ruby Walsh. However, Walsh's mount Tchico Polos, a well-backed 3-1 chance, had to dig deep in the final strides to hold off the veteran Twist Magic, who was giving the winner 20lb, and the margin of victory was just half a length. "When I heard the commentator saying that Twist Magic was coming, I thought 'Jeez, I'm on the wrong one,' but we just had enough in hand," Walsh said. The winner is now likely, according to Nicholls, to step back up in trip, while next month's Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown is the target for Twist Magic, who has won that race twice before. "They must have gone a strong gallop because this horse [the winner] normally bowls along and Ruby said he was flat to the boards," said Nicholls. "Twist Magic has run a blinder on his first run, and if he hadn't walked through the fourth-last he might have gone very close. This was Tchico Polos' Gold Cup. He's going to be the sort of horse to run in those good conditions races now and it might be worth taking him to Ireland." Henrietta Knight, trainer of third-placed Somersby, seemed pleased enough with the performance but it was one that still poses questions about what the ideal conditions are for last season's Arkle Chase runner-up. Having jumped and travelled well in the early stages, seemingly appreciating the kamikaze pace set by Herecomesthetruth up to the point where he ran out and crashed through the wings of the eighth fence, Somersby made a mistake at the fourth-last and seemed to lose confidence afterwards, although he kept on steadily throughout the closing stages. Knight suggested that a rematch with Twist Magic in the Tingle Creek could be on the cards, but it would not be a surprise for a different plan to emerge. He is a horse with considerable talent, but a step back up to two and a half miles would surely put less strain on his jumping.