Nicholls expects Cyrname to be Ascot Storm trooper
PAUL NICHOLLS is confident Britain’s highest-rated jumper Cyrname can lift the pressure on his shoulders by striking gold in the Betfair Ascot Chase for the second year in succession.
Having floored Altior at Ascot in November’s Christy 1965 Chase on his return, Cyrname had to settle for second best when upped to three miles behind stablemate Clan Des Obeaux in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.
With the Johnny de la Heyowned eight-year-old reported to be firing on all cylinders at home, however, 11-time champion trainer Nicholls is convinced he can restore his lofty reputation on Saturday – reverting back to the two-mile-five trip he is unbeaten over in three starts at the track.
He said: ‘When you have an odds-on favourite there is always pressure on you – because you want to get the right result and you don’t want to let anyone down.
‘He is coming back off an underwhelming run in the King George, and the pressure is on me to get him back right, but he is showing me all the right signs.
‘He worked very nicely on Saturday morning, so he is bang on schedule. All the rain we have had won’t do him any harm at all.’
Assessing potential opposition to Cyrname, who is 8-15 favourite with the race sponsors to defend his crown, Nicholls believes it could be Nigel Twiston-Davies’ recent course-and-distance scorer Riders Onthe Storm who gives his charge most to think about on Saturday.
He said: ‘It was a good race last year – because you had Waiting Patiently, Politologue, Aso and Fox Norton in it – and it does look a weaker race this year.
‘Nigel Twiston-Davies’ horse is on fire and is improving – and you don’t know how much improvement there is. He is the only other one I can really see improving.”
Although Cyrname holds entries in both the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase at next month’s Cheltenham Festival, Nicholls warns he is unlikely to take up either engagement.
He said: ‘If he runs on Saturday and gives himself a hard race it would be too close to Cheltenham – and it would be more likely we would think of another plan, perhaps Aintree or Punchestown.