IT used to be the case that Paul Nicholls just won the Greatwood Gold Cup. He was a bit like Tom Dreaper and the Irish Grand National in the 1960s in that way.

Of the 13 renewals of today’s Newbury feature that ran between 2006 and 2019, Paul Nicholls won nine, eight and a half if you are being harsh and only giving Cornish Sett a half for his dead-heat with Horus in 2006.

Nicholls hasn’t won the race since 2019, but there have only been three renewals in that time, and he had the runner-up Tamaroc Du Mathan in 2022. He is still the trainer to be most feared in a race in which he is often multiply-represented.

He fires just one bullet today, and that may be enough, because Kandoo Kid has plenty in his favour.

He was pulled up in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster last time, but that was over three miles and, actually, he travelled well to the fifth last fence. He just wasn’t gaining on the leaders from the fourth last and Lorcan Williams wisely pulled him up.

He should be happier today back over the intermediate trip, and back at Newbury. He has run there twice, he was beaten a neck by Galop De Chasse in a handicap chase over today’s course and distance in early November, and he went back there in early December, to the Coral Gold Cup meeting, and won a valuable handicap chase. He was helped by the fact that the leader that day, Frero Banbou, made a significant mistake at the final fence, but he would have finished a good second at worst to a classy rival even without that error.

Kempton eyecatcher

Heltenham is a danger, he didn’t have a great run through the race at Kempton last week, when he went down by just a half-length to Golden Sun. He was probably on the worst of the ground early in the home straight, and he had to switch towards the outside, and he finished off his race well. He won over today’s course and distance too on his only previous run at Newbury and, if he has recovered from last week’s exertions, he could go well.

But Kandoo Kid is more solid. He ran a big race at Ascot in December when he stayed on to take second place behind Djelo, who could be a lively outsider for the Turners Chase at Cheltenham. He jumped a little to his left that day too, he should be happier going around Newbury. He will have the excellent Harry Cobden for company and, with just five runs over fences under his belt, he has the potential to go beyond his current rating of 140.

Later in the afternoon, Charlie Uberalles looks over-priced in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster.

Off the track for over a year after he won a handicap chase at Perth in September 2022, Dianne Sayer’s horse was pulled up in the Welsh National on his second run back this season, but you can easily allow him that, on heavy ground at Chepstow.

Form boosts

He put that run behind him last time, when he kept on well to finish third in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster. It never looked like he was going to get to Annual Invictus but he kept on well all the way to the line to go down by just over three lengths.

That race is working out well, with the runner-up Forward Plan winning the Coral Trophy at Kempton last weekend and fourth-placed Sail Away running a massive race in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase next time. Even 12th-placed Twoshotsoftequila won a handicap chase at Catterick on Tuesday.

Charlie Uberalles has been raised just 1lb by the handicapper for that run, and that is more than fair. Very soft ground would be a worry, but easy ground should be fine. He was a 50/1 shot for the Great Yorkshire, but he out-ran those odds, and there is every chance that he will out-run shorter odds today.

He obviously goes well at Doncaster, and the slight step up in trip should suit. He is eight, but he is lightly raced and he remains unexposed and capable of progressing now in staying handicap chases.

Kandoo Kid 1.55 Newbury - 1pt win at 5/1 (general)

Charlie Uberalles 3.40 Doncaster - 1pt win at 11/1 (general)