Nicholls assesses Unioniste's prospects Paul Nicholls will pay little attention to the statistics as he considers whether to run Unioniste in the Crabbie's Grand National in April. The John Hales-owned grey has only just turned seven and no horse that age has won the Aintree marathon since Bogskar in 1940. Nicholls and Hales claimed the 2012 National with Neptune Collonges and are hoping Unioniste can follow suit after his decisive win at Sandown on Saturday. "John Hales was really excited afterwards as he has had the National in mind for this horse for some time. We'll have to see how the handicapper reacts but given a reasonable mark, I can't see why he shouldn't go to Aintree with a decent chance," he told www.paulnichollsracing.com. "I notice some people are using statistics from the past to suggest he is too young for the race at seven, but I don't pay any attention to that. "Times have changed. Unioniste was running round Auteuil at the age of three and has already set one notable record in becoming the first four-year-old to win the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham. "Like one or two other precocious young achievers I've trained, he had a lean spell before finding his form again. He's grown up now, is very mature for a seven-year-old, shows great enthusiasm and we've always thought he might develop into a National horse." Nicholls' also struck at Sandown with Mr Mole, a horse who has proved tricky in the past but is now firmly on an upward curve with two wins in as many starts this term. "He has always had plenty of ability, jumps really well and has now earned a step up in grade. I will be talking to his owner JP McManus and his racing manager Frank Berry about plans and one race I will be suggesting we target is the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury," said Nicholls.
