Nice ground the key for Nicene? Nicene Creed, bought out of Tom Mullins' yard for £175,000 at Brightwells Cheltenham Sale in May 2010, having finished second to the ill-fated Backspin in a Punchestown Festival bumper, has his second start in a handicap today when he lines-up for the Geoff Bellmon 80th Birthday George Clooney Lookalike Handicap Hurdle at Haydock. Of course Menorah also famously switched from Mullins' yard to race in the Whateley colours and Nicene Creed has won twice from five starts since coming under Philip Hobbs' guidance. New Ross-native Tom O'Brien again has the mount on the son of Hernando and significantly the six-year-old gelding is back on his favoured quick surface. In a competitive heat, Nicene Creed doesn't look badly treated from a mark of 123 and his main threats could be Thanks For Coming (Nicky Henderson and Andrew Tinkler) and Los Nadis (Jim Goldie and Richie McGrath).
