Regent’s Stroll ‘straight in at the deep end’ for fencing debut

Regent’s Stroll has always been seen as an embryonic chaser and Paul Nicholls has no fears about diving straight into deep waters for the Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase at Newbury on Friday.

Unseasonable early-season ground has kept the exciting six-year-old confined to barracks so far this term, but he is now tasked with enhancing the stellar Ditcheat roll of honour in the race, one which includes Denman (2006), Clan Des Obeaux (2016) and most recently Hermes Allen two years ago.

“He’s definitely a chaser and as long as he jumps well, this should be his game,” said Nicholls.

“He’s schooled nicely and we’ve managed to get on grass now it’s rained. He’s been very good at home, but he’s got to go and do it on the track now.

“It’s not like he’s in a beginners’ chase, he’s straight in at the deep end, but then we chucked No Drama This End in the other day and it worked, so we hope it does again.

“I would have loved to have run him in a beginners’ chase a month ago, but we’ve just had to wait for the ground to come right. A couple of the others have had a run and will have that experience edge, but we’re very happy with him and he has to start somewhere.”

Two of Regent’s Stroll’s four victories have come at Newbury, including when impressing on this very card on his hurdling debut 12 months ago.

Only one other victory would follow in a season in which he was highly tried, but having finished the campaign with second in an Aintree Grade One in the spring, Nicholls is hopeful that educational year over timber will have served him well.

He added: “He was a bit mentally immature last year over hurdles and the odd time it didn’t work out, but he ended the season very well at Aintree and learned a lot that day when bowling along and just getting chinned in a Grade One.

“He was always going the right way and hopefully physically he is a bit stronger now so I’m looking forward to running him.”

Among the opposition to Regent’s Stroll is Lambourn handler Jamie Snowden’s Albert Bartlett fifth Wendigo, who saw the form of his narrow defeat to Olly Murphy’s Wade Out boosted when his Worcester conqueror struck at Cheltenham recently.

Murphy is this time represented by Kingston Pride who claimed the scalp of Tripoli Flyer on chasing debut at Perth and has been held back since with this date in mind.

“I couldn’t have him any better and he’ll love a bit of nice ground,” said Murphy.

“He’s been freshened up since Perth and has schooled well. It looks a very competitive race, but I wouldn’t swap him.”

Ben Pauling won this last year with King George hopeful The Jukebox Man and seeks a double with Ascot scorer No Questions Asked, while the in-form Anthony Honeyball saddles Sefton Novices’ Hurdle third Crest Of Fortune after a pleasing chasing bow when second at Cheltenham.

The line-up is complete by Gordon Elliott’s King Of Kingsfield, who is already a Grade Three winner over the larger obstacles but was pulled up at Cheltenham in October.