Nicholls Goes High David Nicholls is responsible for five of the 28 runners in the Vodafone Stewards´ Cup at Goodwood on Saturday.And the Thirsk trainer elected to go for high numbers at the draw ceremony for the big handicap yesterday.By the time the 14th name had been drawn out of the hat, Nicholls had secured stalls positions for each of his runners, including favourites Lafi and Gift Horse, who are both priced at 11-2 with totesport.Seven of the last 10 winners of the six-furlong dash have raced from stall 19 or higher, the exceptions being the Group-class performers Pivotal Point (one last year), Harmonic Way (eight in 1999) and Danetime (five in 1997).Merlin´s Dancer was the first out and Nicholls went for 27, his others followed quickly and he chose 28 for Pieter Brueghel, 25 for Colonel Cotton, 23 for Lafi and 19 for Gift Horse.However, he nearly went for a stands side draw for Gift Horse as he explained: 'I was tempted to go low with Gift Horse but I was outvoted.'He´s a real good horse and he´ll be knocking on the door.'Nicholls, who won the race as a jockey on Soba in 1982 and 18 years later as a trainer with Tayseer, added: 'We went high for all of them and we are very happy. We should get a good tow, there looks plenty of pace over there. You´ve got to be where the pace is.'Merlin´s Dancer will go quick and Pieter Brueghel will go quick and the ground might just be that bit better over there.'Fantasy Believer was runner-up 12 months ago from stall 24 and his trainer John Quinn went high again.He said: 'Fantasy Believer was second last year out of 24 and he´s in 20 this time, so you´ve only got eight inside you.'He is well, very well. He ran well at York on Saturday - he showed plenty of spark - but York isn´t his track.'Kevin Manning is coming over to ride in the Group One so he rides Fantasy Believer.'The Malton handler will also saddle Caribbean Coral, who is also drawn on the far side, and he added: 'Caribbean Coral in 24 is grand.'Caribbean Coral is very well. He ran two solid races and then I ran him too quick. He´s been working well in a visor so we are putting a visor on him for the first time.' ? PA Sport
