Nicholls takes Kempton Grade 2 with Bullets The profitable festive period for Paul Nicholls continued when Dodging Bullets gave weight and a firm beating to Grandouet in the williamhill.com Novices' Chase at Kempton Park. With Valdez a non-runner the race was effectively a match, but with Grandouet in receipt of 6lb he was sent off the 1-2 favourite and Barry Geraghty attempted to make all. Dodging Bullets moved up ominously down the back straight and outjumped Nicky Henderson's runner at the fourth-last. Daryl Jacob then just made sure he was safe over the final three fences and the 7-4 chance came home 10 lengths clear. Nicholls, fresh from his eighth King George victory with Silviniaco Conti, said: "I've got two really nice novices, and this horse is every bit as good as Hinterland. We recauterised his palate and he has come back a different horse. I really fancied him today, and the Arkle will be his main aim. "I've half an eye on Hinterland going to Doncaster at the end of next month, and this horse could go to Warwick for the Kingmaker, as it gives him a bit more time." Nicholls was completing a quick double, having taken the William Hill iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini Juvenile Hurdle as Vicenzo Mio made a big stride forward from his Cheltenham debut. Sent off the even-money favourite, Jacob's mount made light work of his rivals to win by 17 lengths. The Ditcheat handler said: "He's still a colt and has been very stuffy, but that looked a smart performance. He'll get a trip and the only question about the Triumph is that he seems to like soft ground. "But if he keeps progressing, you never know. I suppose he could run somewhere like at Cheltenham at the end of January."
