'We've only got one bullet but I wouldn't swap him' - Adam Nicol gearing up to take on might of Ireland with Minella Study

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Adam Nicol wouldn’t swap his Cheltenham hope Minella Study for any other juvenile in Britain as he targets a breakthrough festival winner with his first runner at the meeting.

The four-year-old, who has won both starts over hurdles since joining Nicol, was due to have his final prep for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Musselburgh last Saturday. However, due to conditions at the track, the Northumberland-based trainer has instead opted for a schooling day in a fortnight's time.

He said: "I thought about running him at Haydock in the Victor Ludorum, but if the Irish lads are talking about their runners having had a hard race on that deep ground at the Dublin Racing Festival, I don’t want to go and run mine even closer to Cheltenham.

“He’s a very clean-winded horse and takes no training, so the plan is a trials day at Musselburgh on February 18 or 19, which is like a schooling day. If that doesn’t happen, he'd have a gallop round Kelso after the Morebattle meeting on the 28th."

Minella Study clear of the rest at Cheltenham in DecemberCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

After winning the Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby, Minella Study landed the Triumph Trial at Cheltenham’s December meeting by six and a half lengths and has been given a mark of 139.

“The stats don’t lie," he said. "His form is working out well with Winston Junior and Matiwo. I wouldn’t swap him, especially against the British juvenile runners we’ve seen.

“He’s got a bit of class about him, a spark, and he’s improving from one week to the next."

The course-and-distance winner is a 14-1 shot for the Triumph and is set to line up against strong Irish opposition, headed by the Willie Mullins-trained Narciso Has, Proactif and Selma De Vary. 

Nicol added: “Narciso Has got solid form and if he gets a clean run round, it’s going to take a lot of luck to beat him. However, when I looked at the sectionals from Cheltenham, our lad gained six and a half lengths from two out to the line. He’s got a good cruising speed and can quicken off it.

“I’ve only been training for five years and it’s very competitive. We're only going there with one bullet but we’re certainly going there with some ammunition – anything can happen."

Minella Study working on Bamburgh beach in January Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

First-time owners Malcolm and Carol Humble have struck gold with Minella Study, who was sourced by bloodstock agent Marcus Collie, also responsible for finding Wise Eagle for the yard.

Nicol said: "Marcus went to see him in person and said, 'this is the perfect racehorse.’ I thought that was quite a statement but I realised he was right.

“Malcolm and Carol were on their 25th wedding anniversary when he ran on the Flat first time out for us, then their first time at the races as owners was when he won the Wensleydale. The scary thing is, there will be disappointment at some point, but they’ve been spoiled a little bit.

“We’ve had a lot of publicity and new horses off the back of it. Wise Eagle has been doing that for us for the past few years and this is our new flagbearer."

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