'He's the real deal' - Minella Study earns high praise as trainer Adam Nicol plots Triumph Hurdle bid

Minella Study was hailed the "real deal" by Adam Nicol after giving the trainer his first Cheltenham winner and teeing up a festival bid with a dominant display.

The three-year-old followed up his Wetherby win by bounding six and a half lengths clear after the last for Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania. 

He was introduced at 20-1 for the Triumph Hurdle with Paddy Power after the success in the race's JCB-sponsored trial.

Northumberland-based Nicol enjoyed being the underdog, with his challenger 5-1 against odds-on favourite One Horse Town. The former jockey, best known for partnering Lady Buttons, hailed Minella Study as one of the smartest he had ridden.

He will be directed towards the Triumph Hurdle and will likely take in Musselburgh's trial race on January 31 as a warm-up.

Adam Nicol (left) and Ryan Mania after their Cheltenham success with Minella StudyCredit: John Grossick Racing

Nicol said: "He's one of the best horses I've sat on. I think he's the real deal and we've just kept that quiet until now. I loved coming here that it was all about the Harry Derham horse [One Horse Town] and the same at Wetherby [with Ammes].

"We came to find out if he was going to be good enough for Cheltenham and this was going to be a great prep. We'll let the dust settle but the plan would be to come back here in March. We'd have to look at the Triumph and we could go to Musselburgh on January 31 for a trial.

"I thought he looked the winner before the last. He's still as weak as a kitten and he'll be an even better four-year-old."

Albert Bartlett aim

Dan Skelton will work back from the Albert Bartlett with Carlenrig after he scrambled home to win the race's Grade 2 trial.

Highclere Racing's five-year-old stepped forward from his second in a Chepstow maiden hurdle to deny They Call Me Hugo by a short head.

"I'll try to win the spud cup now. I'd love a bronze potato," joked Skelton after Carlenrig was cut to 16-1 (from 66) for his target.

"I think he's got the right constitution and mentality for that race. When he won at Hexham it was almost unraceable but he ploughed on. We won't be too hard on him before it."

The trainer doubled up in the finale when Nurse Susan sprinted clear of Siog Geal to take the 2m4½f mares' handicap hurdle.

Festival focus

Zertakt could look to emulate Haiti Couleurs with the National Hunt Chase under consideration for the 3m1½f novice handicap chase victor. 

Last season's winner went on to win at the Cheltenham Festival after success in this race and Zertakt held off Holokea by a neck to register his first success over fences.

Flying form

The excellent season continued for Richard Johnson's syndicate when Party Vibes won at 12-1 in the 2m4½f mares' handicap chase. It came after the former jockey won TV races at Cheltenham and Sandown with Kikijo.

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