Doncaster to be test track for Nicholl’s Unioniste

Even though the John Hales-owned horse managed to win Cheltenham’s big pre-Christmas handicap chase just over 13 months ago, he is still only six years of age and was a battling third in last year’s Charlie Hall behind Harry Topper.

However, Unioniste’s pedigree suggests that he will improve with age – his sire Dom Alco’s progeny also include 2012 Grand National winner Neptune Collonges – and the booking of young conditional jockey Harry Derham for Town Moor is significant.

A nephew to Nicholls, he is one of the up-and-coming riders in the country and he was in the saddle when Unioniste galloped through the Cheltenham mud in December 2012. His weight allowance will enable the horse to carry five pounds less than his allotted 11st 12lb.

Sam Winner is Nicholls’s other major contender but he is more likely to head to Newbury on Betfair Hurdle day next month.

“If the ground stays roughly as it is, and there’s a mixed forecast, Unioniste is almost certain to run and I’ll find something else for Sam Winner in a fortnight, possibly Newbury,” said the former champion trainer. “I’ve just covered all our options by leaving them all in. It can dry up relatively quickly there and you never know what the weather is going to do.

“But my idea is to run Unioniste with Harry (Derham) taking 5lb off and then we’ll run Rocky Creek in the Argento at Cheltenham. We might also run Harry The Viking and Pacha Du Polder, but both of those are weather dependent.”

Nicholls’s trainers’ championship rival Nicky Henderson relies solely on Roberto Goldback. Donald McCain has two to choose from in Kruzhlinin and Our Mick.

Keith Reveley’s Night In Milan was a winner on Town Moor last month, while last year’s Grand National hero Auroras Encore could turn out again for trainer Sue Smith.

The 12-year-old ran with credit in Wetherby’s Rowland Meyrick Chase on Boxing Day, but remains in the grip of the handicapper following his Aintree exploits.

Other leading contenders include Dr Richard Newland’s Mart Lane, the Dan Skelton-trained Baile Anrai and Malcolm Jefferson’s Attaglance. Walkon has been given the option by Alan King, while Time For Rupert could return to fences after trying his hand over hurdles last time out.

The going on the chase track at Doncaster is currently soft, good to soft in places.

As expected the 2012 Stan James Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby heads the entries for the Grade Two Racing Post Lighting Novices Chase – the main support race at Doncaster.

Trained by Harry Fry, a former assistant to Nicholls, Rock On Ruby had been an intended runner on Town Moor earlier this month before being withdrawn because of concerns about the soft ground.

However, Fry will be keen to run the nine-year-old, the winner of his only chase to date, in order to gain some much-needed experience over the larger obstacles ahead of a crack at the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham in March.

“We will be governed by the ground, but Ruby is very well in himself,” said Fry.

“We really need to be lining up on Saturday to have him on course for a crack at the Arkle.

“I was pleased we missed the Doncaster run as the horse we had in that race – Karinga Dancer – was just beaten by the conditions.

“It is a bit of a double-egded sword as we need to get the experience into him, but finding the better ground is tricky. There is a back-up plan, but we would like to run at Doncaster and it is all systems go for the race.”

Another Cheltenham clue could come if the aforementioned Smith runs her highly-regarded Blakemount in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – formerly the River Don.

The initial entries do include Nicky Henderson’s Hennessy winner Triolo D’Alene, the ante-post favourite for the Crabbies Grand National.

However, he is also the headline name among 12 entries for Saturday’s Argento Chase at Cheltenham – one of the last significant Gold Cup trials before the blue riband National Hunt Festival.