Paul Nicholls sends a runner on the 624-mile trip to Hexham and he’s 4/5 there

Somerset-based trainer Paul Nicholls has had winners at most of Britain’s National Hunt courses but doesn’t send runners up to Hexham too often. It’s a 624-mile round trip from Ditcheat so you can certainly understand why. Four of his five runners have managed to win and that gives him an impressive strike-rate of 80 per cent.

He is set to send one runner to the borders track on Wednesday so we’ve assessed his chances of coming out on top. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.

1.51 Hexham

Henri The Second is a useful performer on his day and is set to make his second start over fences here. He remains fairly lightly raced for his ages and his hurdles form stands out here. Winning two of his nine starts over hurdles, he was also a Listed winner in his bumper days.

The son of Saddler Maker absolutely bolted up in a Pertemps qualifier at Sandown last term and that’s arguably the best form on offer. Nicholls’ gelding travelled well throughout and pulled further and further clear as the race developed.

An 8lb rise was probably fair on that evidence and he ran well to finish second in a Grade 3 over the same course and distance after that. It wasn’t to be at Cheltenham after that but the handicapper probably had him in their grasp. The yard’s runners tend to improve over fences and it should be a similar case here.

A rating of 133 leaves him 6lb ahead of the field here and provided he’s equally as effective over hurdles, he should be capable of coming out on top.

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