RACING

MITCHELL RECEIVES BREAK

Jockey Andrew McNamara with his mount The Listner and trainer Nick Mitchell (left)

Sunday November 8,2009

By Chris Goulding

NICK MITCHELL received the perfect break every young trainer needs when The Listener gave him his biggest success of his two-year career when taking some notable scalps at Down Royal yesterday.

If that was not enough to flag-up his ability, Ellerslie George endorsed the Dorset trainer’s ability when striding home to victory in the Badger Beer Chase at Wincanton.

Mitchell, a capable rider on the the south west point-to-point circuit before embarking on a training career, only has a handful of horses at his yard in the delightfully named village of Piddletrenthide in Dorset.

The young trainer, like so many in the area, is overshadowed by Paul Nicholls but yesterday he showed that he is more than capable. This is the time for Mitchell to sell himself and enhance his stable strength.

Nicholls, the champion trainer of last year, was also triumphant at Down Royal and Wincanton.

Hercomesthetruth took the novice chase Nicholls won last year with Noland. At Wincanton, Celestial Halo showed that he is again a serious contender for the Champion Hurdle when taking the Elite Hurdle.

"I'm very impressed because we had left plenty to work with," said Nicholls.

"I was a bit nervous as you can't gauge how they will improve from four to five. That surprised me to be honest, but he's obviously come on a lot physically.

"He'll go to Cheltenham now (for the Boylesports International) then have a break, and one race before the Champion."

Celestial Halo, second to Punjabi in last season’s Champion, is 10-1 with Hills to take the crown this season.

Nicholls is upbeat about Denman returning to his best after a below par season due to a heart problem.

The winner of the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup will gallop before racing takes place at Exeter on Tuesday.

This is something he did before winning the Hennessy Gold Cup two years ago.

The Hennessy, which takes place at the end of month at Newbury, is again on the agenda.

He again will be burdened with top weight but I cannot see that stopping this relentless galloper.

When he is on song, there is not a horse in the country, and that includes Kauto Star, who can lay-up with him.

Kauto Star became the first horse to triumph in the Cheltenham Gold after defeat in the race. I believe Denman can emulate him come March next year.

In the opening race in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita last night, Frankie Dettori came with a perfectly timed run to take the prize on the John Gosden trained Pounced.