One of racing’s best trainers had endured a scarcely credible barren spell until Harry Cobden’s fine frontrunning rideHow the mighty had fallen. A 13-times British champion trainer who had saddled the first home in 46 Festival races including four Gold Cups, six Champion Chases and one Champion Hurdle before Thursday’s card got under way, Paul Nicholls might have been forgiven for wondering if he would ever again welcome one of his charges back into the winners enclosure during the annual March festivities at Cheltenham.Given all his previous successes, masterminded in partnership with the help of household names such as Kauto Star, Denman, Frodon, Big Buck’s and Flagship Uberalles, among others, by his own remarkable standards one of the best trainers...
Paul Nicholls’s horses are in exceptional form and Hermes Allen posted an impressive front-running success at CheltenhamEven by the standards of a 13-times champion, Paul Nicholls’s horses are in exceptional form at present and Hermes Allen, a £350,000 purchase to run in Sir Alex Ferguson’s colours after winning an Irish point-to-point, extended the trainer’s record this November to 17 wins from 32 runners with an impressive front-running success in the Grade Two Ballymore Novice Hurdle here on Friday.Hubrisko, a rare runner for Willie Mullins at Cheltenham’s November meeting, was sent off favourite for the card’s feature event, but while he travelled well enough until the turn for home, the five-year-old could not respond as Hermes Allen skipped further clear in...
Paul Nicholls can land prestigious Ayr prize before being confirmed as Britain’s jumps champion trainer next weekendPaul Nicholls will be confirmed as Britain’s champion trainer over jumps for the 12th time at Sandown next weekend and he can secure another big prize with Soldier Of Love (3.35) in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Sunday.Like Vincente, who gave Nicholls his first win in this race in 2016, the eight-year-old is still a novice and while he was pulled up on heavy going at Cheltenham in November, he was highly progressive on better ground earlier in the campaign. Related: Talking Horses: champion jockey race heats up at Scottish National meeting Continue reading...
A few things have gone wrong since Paul Nicholls’s star beat Altior at this track in 2019 but Saturday’s race should suitPunters are bound to feel a little queasy when faced with the prospect of taking odds-on about Cyrname (3.35), bearing in mind that Paul Nicholls’ star has let his supporters down three times out of four since his famous defeat of Altior. He had an unhappy experience in last year’s running of the Ascot Chase, falling at the last when already beaten and taking his time to get up, and was pulled up in the King George when last seen. Related: Talking Horses: Royale Pagaille owners told to target Gold Cup Tips by Chris Cook Continue reading...
The 11-times champion trainer discusses possible plans for his horses, including big names newly arrived from IrelandAmid all the Covid-related talk of racehorse owners cutting back and getting out of the game, Paul Nicholls’s stable is bucking the trend. New boxes having been added there this summer to house the many animals he has been sent.“We’ve just built up a bit of extra capacity,” the 11-times champion jumps trainer told the Guardian during a pre-season tour of his Ditcheat stable, where the strength in depth of equine talent gives him an obvious chance of a 12th title. “We’ve got 150 in work and Will Biddick is doing some pre-training for us down the road at Alhampton. So some days we’re...