'We're flying' - Paul Nicholls silences form doubts with sparkling Wincanton five-timer

Paul Nicholls silenced any concerns over the form of his stable in decisive fashion with a 125-1 five-timer, and the delighted trainer described his string as "flying" heading into the winter.

The 14-time champion repeated the haul for this day achieved in 2018 and a dominant display from Rubaud in the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle in particular served as a potent reminder of the strength of his team. The six-year-old had to concede 6lb to his two rivals Brentford Hope and Aspire Tower but sauntered clear to record back-to-back wins in the race.

Sorceleur kicked off a fine day for the Ditcheat yard when becoming the sixth horse to win in consecutive days after Friday's easy win at Exeter, before Ben Bromley scored on Beau Balko in the conditionals' handicap chase and the Richard Barber Memorial Mares' Handicap Hurdle was won in good style by the well-backed Larchmont Lass.

Larchmont Lass (right): part of Paul Nicholls' five-timerCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The two handicap winners had improved significantly from their first run of the season and Nicholls, who also won the bumper with Swingin Safari, said: "It was always going to happen.

"Some of the horses were needing it a bit and I don't know why they kept their condition more so than I've ever known before. It's just a different approach this year. Some people have been getting stuck into it early and it'll be interesting to see who lasts the season the longest.

"It's nice to have five winners, we've done that before on this day. We're flying along now. All the way I've had a higher strike-rate than Dan [Skelton], we've just had one or two who have needed it. We're not chasing anything now, we've got lots of nice horses to run and I don't want to push them."

Rubaud's victory is likely to be his final start over hurdles, with Nicholls to turn his attentions to chasing, and he is expected to make his debut over fences in the Wayward Lad at Kempton on December 27, the launchpad for Cyrname seven years ago.

"He's a fantastic horse and is improving," the trainer added. "We'll go chasing now. He's a brilliant jumper, he's a big, scopey horse and that's his future now.

"We'll go to Kempton for the Wayward Lad but if we found a beginners' chase we could look at that. He'll be brilliant when we go chasing. He's a horse for the future for races like the Tingle Creek."

Rubaud: won the Elite HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Horaces Pearl went on to win at Grade 2 level at Aintree after scoring in the bumper and Swingin Safari looks to have a bright future after battling well to win by a neck for Harry Cobden, who partnered four of the Nicholls winners.

"He's a nice horse, we were a little worried about the ground," the trainer said. "He's been a bit backward at home and was green but he's a lovely horse and will need a bit of time."

Thrilling finish

Dan Skelton will focus on a spring campaign with Boombawn after he rallied late to deny gutsy front-runner Soul Icon in the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices' Chase.

The seven-year-old picked up in the straight to touch off the leader, who had jumped superbly, by a neck. It opens up further Graded-level options in the latter stages of the season, including the Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton on February 22.

"I'm stopping short of calling it top-class form but for horses that like that ground it's got to be a good race," said Skelton. "The second has worn his heart on his sleeve but some days you win sometimes you lose.

"We'll see what happens, the Pendil could be the starting point. He can't have a bad season as he's just won a £75,000 race."

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