Nicholls & Ruby land Exeter treble It was Denman Day at Exeter as the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner opened a new building and it was no surprise to see his connections strike on the card. Inchidaly Rock is owned by Harry Findlay and Paul Barber as well as being trained by Paul Nicholls. But despite some smart hurdling form, he is not rated in anything like the same league as his stablemate. As 8-13 favourite for the Bathwick Tyres Taunton Novices' Chase, he did very little wrong and came home 14 lengths clear. Nicholls said: "He's one of those who does nothing at home, but he had a breathing operation in the summer. "He'd go for another one of these first. "He's not going to be tops - he's not big enough - but he's the sort who might run in a Welsh National one day, or end up in the four-miler at Cheltenham." Nicholls and Walsh were not finished yet as Take The Breeze (7-2) quickened right away in the Deloitte LLP Beginners' Chase. This race was over an extended two miles and a furlong and although Nicholls reported in the aftermath that the grey had not been the best at home, he took his fences with ease in competitive action. Taking the lead on his own four from home, he was much too good for Captain Americo and even-money favourite Copper Bleu to score by 11 lengths. Nicholls added: "It's been a good afternoon. He jumped very well and was as fit as a flea. "He schooled outside for the first time last week and he was OK, but made a few mistakes, and he has done a lot since. "Again, I wouldn't know where he went next, but he does love soft ground." The third and final Manor Farm Stables runner of the day, The Minack completed a nine and a half to one treble for Nicholls and Walsh by impressively getting off the mark under Rules in the concluding event. Nicholls said of the well-bred The Minack, a winning 'pointer' for Liam Burke: “He's very green, but certainly the sort you could run in a nice race." Meanwhile Richard Johnson got some compensation for his defeat on Copper Bleu by getting War Of Attrition’s half-brother Fighting Chance home to break his duck on the racecourse proper at the thirteenth attempt in the handicap chase. Richard Lee trains this nine-year-old dual winning ‘pointer.’
