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Nicholls happy with Regal Parade

by setanta.com staff , 01 September 2010

David Nicholls feels that Regal Parade will be a contender in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.


The Pivotal gelding won last year's Group One contest and the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.

Aiden O'Brien's Starspangledbanner is the probable favourite following victories in the Golden Jubilee and July Cup, but Nicholls insists his six-year-old has a good chance of another Group One triumph.

"They'd be as much worried about me as I am about them. You don't win two Group One races by being a slow donkey. He's the best horse I've got in the yard at the moment.

"We didn't pay a lot for him but that's of no importance. We'll have just paid the VAT on Starspangledbanner compared to what we paid for Regal Parade.

"If we get beaten, we get beaten, but it won't be because we're not trying our best."

Nicholls is hoping the ground stays good, good to soft in places at Haydock.

"One of the biggest factors from his win last year and at Deauville was that he needs a bit of juice in the ground," Nicholls continued.

"I wouldn't go as far to say he needs soft conditions but he very much appreciates being able to get his toe in. If it's fast he'll run alright but when he needs to pick them up they run away from him, but when it's good to soft they slow down and he kills them at the end.

"He's in good form anyway and we're looking forward to it."

Nicholls will race Regal Parade at Longchamp on Arc weekend.

"After Saturday he'll go back to France for the Prix de la Foret the day before the Arc over seven furlongs. With the ground sure to be soft he'll go there and that'll be it until next season."

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