Clan-tastic feat PAUL’S 45,863-1 EIGHT-TIMER

PAUL NICHOLLS celebrated the return of racing after the equine flu lockdown with a spectacular 45,863-1 eight-timer.

The Ditcheat maestro had previously managed seven winners in a day but went one better yesterday.

He said: “It’s been a brilliant day. I was mad keen to race last week as the horses were looking so well.

“But it’s great to be back and, as you can see, they are in great form.”

Nicholls, the champion trainer on 10 occasions, could not hide his hunger to regain the title from current champ Nicky Henderson.

After Cyrname ran his rivals ragged in the Betfair Ascot Chase under Harry Cobden, Nicholls made clear his intent to become champion.

He was asked: “Why not run Cyrname in this country rather than his intended target, the Punchestown

Gold Cup, to help you land another trainers’ title?”

He replied: “Don’t worry, we have plenty of ammunition for that!”

More immediately he has his eyes on a fourth Cheltenham Gold Cup after Clan Des Obeaux put in a faultless dress rehearsal for next month’s contest when capturing the Betfair Denman Chase.

“He could not have done it any better,” said Nicholls. “I was a bit nervous because you don’t want anything to go wrong this close to Cheltenham. “That will have done him the world of good and it is now about putting the finishing touches to get him to perfection for Cheltenham.

“He’s jumped brilliantly and the confidence is high with him. I can’t wait to go to Cheltenham with a massive chance. Kauto Star was seven when he won his first Gold Cup and this horse is the same age, so we are very much where we want to be.”

Cobden, 20, who is yet to ride in the Gold Cup, shares Nicholls’ infectious enthusiasm for Clan Des Obeaux.

“He had a good bit left,” he said. “He’s improving all the time and I didn’t want to find out exactly what was left today – we’ll save that until March.”

The gelding was cut from 6-1 to 8-1 with Paddy Power and 8-1 to 7-1 with Betway.

Nicholls cleaned up across three meetings and as well as Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname, his other six winners were Worthy Farm, Brio Conti, Silver Forever (all Ascot), Quel Destin at Haydock, and Magic Saint and Grand Sancy at his local track, Wincanton, with the latter winning the Kingwell Hurdle.