'Exciting' recruits head Paul Nicholls team on big day at Musselburgh

It is not only Leopardstown where rich pickings have attracted stars. Paul Nicholls sends two "exciting" young hurdlers up to Musselburgh and is surprised that more are not doing the same.

You do not win 13 trainers' titles without being prepared to travel, and among those who have defied the 400-mile trip north from Ditcheat to score at this meeting in recent years are future multiple Grade 1 winners Frodon and Greaneteen.

Greaneteen: won for Paul Nicholls at this meeting in 2020Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"They put a lot of prize-money on and it needs supporting," the reigning champion said. "I'm surprised and disappointed for them that there aren't more runners, they make the effort to put the money on."

Ex-French four-year-old Afadil will face five rivals when he bids to become Nicholls' fourth winner of the £40,000 bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle in ten years, having earned a Cheltenham entry with an easy winning debut over jumps at Taunton last month.

"He won very nicely at Taunton," the trainer said. "He didn't beat much but he couldn't have done any more and he's bound to improve. He's exciting.

"I was going to go for the Victor Ludorum at Haydock in two weeks' time but this is such a good prize it wants supporting and he may still go there. Then if he was progressive, and he'd had three runs, it gives us the choice of either the Fred Winter or the Triumph.

"He could be a really interesting horse, he's in the same mould as Zarkandar who we bought from the same people. Like him, you wouldn't know what you had at home, it's what he does on the track that counts."

Afadil (Harry Cobden, right): made a winning debut over hurdles at TauntonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Huntingdon winner Fils De Roi fell at the last flight in the Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow, having made much of the running, and trainer Fergal O'Brien said: "I think at worst he'd have been fourth.

"He's a lovely horse who's very straightforward and seems in great form. We're hopeful of a good run. We skipped Cheltenham last week because the ground was a bit tacky and this flat track will suit him."

Nicholls is also keen on Toothless, another French recruit, who won by 35 lengths at Fakenham on New Years day.

He has four opponents in the bet365 Scottish Supreme Novices' Hurdle and his trainer said: "He's exciting as well. He's a half-brother to Sceau Royal and won very nicely on his only start for us."

O'Brien gives a hurdling debut to Dancila, a winner from a mile and a quarter to a mile and five furlongs for Jim Bolger, and said: "He was a good Flat horse and came out of a good yard. We've done all we can with him jumping-wise and he's been good at home. It's a hot race but we're looking forward to seeing him run."

Dual Kelso winner Carcaci Castle represents Sandy Thomson, who said: "By today's standards he was a relatively cheap purchase at £22,000 and is looking like a proper bargain. 

"When these young novices win two it becomes much more difficult for them but I have been very pleased with what he has done and I do like this horse."

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