Nichols To Spread Some Christmas Cheer?

FRESH off a winning double at Launceston on Monday night, trainer Lynden Nichols will be chasing further success today at Devonport, lining up two strong chances in the Freight Connections Christmas Gift heats (452m).

Nichols was successful with English Opal and No Tickets in consecutive events on Monday night's Launceston program with the first of those, English Opal, scoring at monster odds of 66/1.

Luckily for punters, the Birralee trainer's chances today at Devonport are far more fancied in betting, starting with Sorry Bill in race five, the second of the Freight Connections Christmas Gift heats over 452m.

A solid $1.90 favourite, Sorry Bill, a regally bred son of Barcia Bale and Irisize, strung three consecutive wins together recently at Hobart and Devonport before finishing fourth last time out at Launceston from an unsuitable box five draw.

Back to Devonport today, where he should get a saloon run from out wide in box eight, punters are understandably rallying behind the well-bred type to return to the winner's list.

The second of Nichols' runners rolls around in race eight where Lyncar Lefty takes his place in the fifth and final heat of the Christmas Gift series.

$6 in betting from box eight, the son of Banjo Boy boasts a win and a second from just the four career starts and on the strength of last week's comfortable breakthrough victory at the track and distance, should make his presence felt today.

Hardest to beat in the final leg of the quaddie is the Ted Medhurst-trained Mr. Camacho, the son of Fernando Bale wonderfully placed in this series for the Hall of Fame conditioner.

In the money at 11 of his 19 career starts, Mr. Camacho has recorded a sizzling 25.66 for the Devonport 452 metres and if he posts anything near that today, the $2.60 odds on offer early doors will look rather attractive.

One of the clashes of today's program looms in race nine where Escalated Quick and Reiki Master lock horns over the 452m.

With just the six runners going around in the penultimate event, early markets have the pair at $2 take your pick, making for an absorbing battle between the two talented sprinters.