The fine art of the Cheltenham prep-run is on the minds of Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden as they prepare Clan Des Obeaux for Saturday’s Denman ChaseThe fine art of the Cheltenham prep-run is on the minds of Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden as they prepare Clan Des Obeaux for Saturday’s Denman Chase at Newbury. They would like to win, of course, but the big target for their surprise King George hero is a further five weeks down the line and they are keenly aware of the risk they’re taking with the horse’s Gold Cup chance just by lining up this weekend.“You don’t want them at their best but you want them fit enough to do themselves justice,” said Nicholls,...
‘It gives me an opportunity to spread my wings,’ says jockey who has given up his post as Paul Nicholls’s main riderSo, as it turned out, Paul Nicholls’s first few runners of the new jumps season were ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, despite their sort-of split that was announced on Friday. Twiston-Davies has decided to go freelance but both sides say he will continue to ride for the Ditcheat yard, though Harry Cobden has now been named as Nicholls’s first jockey. Related: Enable’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe odds drift after training setback Related: Horse-racing doping scandal: eight found guilty of taking part in Aquanita 'conspiracy' Brighton 2.00 Upavon 2.30 Haylah 3.00 Prezzie 3.35 Black Caesar 4.05 Archimento 4.35 Captain Kissinger...
The champion jumps trainer gave a lengthy assessment of his various possible runners at Cheltenham next monthHere’s a summary of what the champion jumps trainer said about his main contenders for the Cheltenham Festival when he met with the media yesterday. He estimated that he would have about 18 to 20 runners but is mindful that there is plenty of prize money elsewhere in what’s rest of the season and won’t run a horse for the sake of it if he thinks there might be a decent chunk of money to be picked up elsewhere. Continue reading...