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On the evidence we’ve seen so far, Kalif du Berlais certainly has the tools for this – but Cheltenham in mid-December is likely to ask for a polished performance if he’s to confirm that Paul Nicholls’ change of plan was the right call.
Kalif Du Berlais runs out the final Grade 1 winner of the Randox Grand National Festival under an excellent @CobdenHarry and on a good week for the @PFNicholls team pic.twitter.com/g9CxFoyMKR
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 5, 2025
The rethink came after the Haldon Gold Cup, where hopes were high and the market suggested plenty, but Kalif Du Berlais could only finish fourth, beaten a fair margin. Ambitions of mixing it with the pure two-mile speedsters in Grade 1 company were swiftly placed back on the shelf, with Nicholls opting instead for a more patient route: time to mature, a step up in trip, and a go at a valuable handicap to rebuild momentum.
And there’s reason to believe the December Gold Cup might suit him perfectly. His New Year’s Day win at Prestbury Park reads well – nearly ten lengths clear of Vincenzo while giving weight away, and his jumping that day had the sort of fluency that marks a proper chaser in the making. A longer trip should play to a pedigree laden with two-and-a-half milers, and the handicapper’s decision to leave him on 156 keeps the assignment challenging but not insurmountable.
Nicholls has trodden this path before. Clan des Obeaux and Frodon learned their craft in handicaps before stepping back onto the big stage, and both were around the same developmental point when they hit this race. If Kalif Du Berlais is to follow that blueprint, the December Gold Cup becomes more than just a target – it becomes a litmus test. A bold show would say the rethink was shrewd; a win might re-ignite the Grade 1 conversation.
Of course, this won’t be straightforward. It’s exactly the type of race where hardened handicappers, rising stars and potential top-notchers collide. A field with depth could expose any lingering greenness, but equally, it could be the making of him.
So can he justify the rethink? He can – but he will need to look every inch the horse Nicholls has always believed he is. A performance with purpose, travel, and a kick up the hill will be required. Do that, and the road back to the top table opens right up.
A fascinating watch awaits.
December Gold Cup
£130,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 127y, Class 1
23 entries
Going:
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 1141-4 Kalif Du Berlais 5 12-0 Paul Nicholls
2 133-73 Matata 7 12-0 Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
3 5PP3-3 Ga Law 9 11-12 Jamie Snowden
4 11311- Jagwar 6 11-6 Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
5 /20F-1 Colonel Harry 8 11-6 Jamie Snowden
6 52P-11 Twinjets 8 11-6 Paul Nicholls
7 312-11 Panic Attack 9 11-5 Dan Skelton
8 17-419 Riskintheground 8 11-3 Dan Skelton
9 1342-5 Imperial Saint 7 11-1 Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
10 608-52 Martator 8 10-13 Venetia Williams
11 807-28 Il Ridoto 8 10-13 Paul Nicholls
12 1212-2 Vincenzo 7 10-11 Sam Thomas
13 5-2214 Will The Wise 6 10-11 Gavin Cromwell
14 2118-4 The Kalooki Kid 7 10-11 Nicky Richards
15 54PP-P Tahmuras 8 10-7 Paul Nicholls
16 6415-P Es Perfecto 10 10-5 Alan King
18 51P-33 Hoe Joly Smoke 7 10-3 Dan Skelton
19 1136-2 Leader In The Park 7 10-2 Ben Pauling
20 123-12 Royal Jewel 6 10-1 Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
21 151-68 Hunter Legend 8 9-13 Venetia Williams
22 -1U422 Kim Roque 5 9-11 Joseph O'Brien
23 7PP034 Glengouly 9 9-7 Faye Bramley
NR -77200 Moon d'Orange 7 10-5 John C McConnell NON RUNNER
