Dildar leads off a treble for Nicholls

Paul Nicholls added another juvenile hurdler to his ever-expanding spring collection as not-so-dark horse Dildar made a winning debut under Ruby Walsh at Taunton.

The fact Dildar was just 10-1 with some bookmakers for the JCB Triumph Hurdle would be partly based on his trainer's past performance in the Cheltenham race as well as on the gelding's flashy Flat form in France, but his reputation was on the line in the Bravo Company 40 Commando Royal Marines Novices' Hurdle.

Those odds remained essentially unchanged after he defeated Sew On Target by a length and a quarter, even if he completed the mission decisively enough in the end.

Fourth when a pacemaker in Pour Moi's Derby trial last May, Dildar's main task will be to brush up his jumping as he was a shade hesitant at most of the flights.

Walsh said of the 8-15 favourite: "He was a bit novicey running off the Flat but he'll improve a lot jumping-wise.

"He was careful but jumped the third-last when I asked him and picked up well."

Nicholls added: "It's tacky ground out there and we can get his jumping right at home on better ground.

"He'll need another run so will go straight to the Adonis at Kempton now."

The champion trainer would be taking the same route as with last year's Triumph winner Zarkandar and must now juggle the 2012 intake.

He went on: "This is the only one that needs another run now.

"Hinterland has the option of the Fred Winter, then Ranjaan has that and the Triumph, and there's the Triumph for Pearl Swan.

"There's also the option to run some in the other novice races at Cheltenham and I've got Dodging Bullets to come, who might come here on February 9."

Dildar was the first leg of a Nicholls and Walsh three-timer and was quickly followed up by the 2010 Fred Winter winner Sanctuaire (13-8 favourite).

He had gained an increasingly exasperating reputation over hurdles, being unruly at the start as well as on the gallops, but was a revelation at a different discipline and left his rivals toiling in the Charlie Company 40 Commando Royal Marines Novices' Chase.

"I think that will have done him the world of good both mentally and physically," said Nicholls. "Once he jumps off, he's very obviously a tool. We train him on his own and he was a bit guessy at jumping, but that can improve.

"I did put him in the Arkle but I think he'd be at his best around Aintree. I could run him in the Kingmaker at Warwick now, or find another small race."

Ted Spread went off the 5-4 favourite for the Delta Company 40 Commando Royal Marines Handicap Hurdle, and even if several of his market rivals had not been withdrawn, they would have had their work cut out.

Group class on the level for Mark Tompkins and second to Grumeti on his Nicholls debut at this course a month ago, Ted Spread came up trumps by seven lengths. "Mark was very helpful when I got him and I think the owners just wanted him to go to a jumping yard," Nicholls said.

"It was bad ground last time and I think he can still improve a bit. He might end up in the boys' race at Cheltenham or maybe the County Hurdle."

Neil Mulholland's upturn in fortunes continued after Midnight Chase's valuable victory in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham last weekend as Andrias Guerin guided Hobb's Dream clear at 25-1 in the Alpha Company 40 Commando Royal Marines Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

"It's amazing what a winner can do for you," said Mulholland. I couldn't believe her price. She can come back under a penalty for a 0-95 mares' race here next Thursday."

Venetia Williams' Val Mondo was backed into 9-4 favourite stepping out of novice company in the Command And Logistics Company 40 Commando Royal Marines Handicap Hurdle but was caught out by a determined customer in Charlie Mann's Magic Prospect (9-1).

Williams managed to make amends in the Go Commando Handicap Chase when Renard (3-1 favourite) won.

"I wondered whether he'd still have the pace for two miles as I had been stepping him back up in trip," she said.

"I think that makes our mind up to enter him for the Grand Annual."