Nicholls maps out plans for stable stars

CHAMPION trainer Paul Nicholls is planning a dual attack on the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day as he outlines new-season aims for his string.

Nine-year-old Clan Des Obeaux ended his campaign with back-to-back Grade One successes in April, taking the Betway Bowl Chase at Aintree and then the Punchestown Gold Cup. He had begun the term in Haydock’s Betfair Chase, where he was second, and lined up as the 85-40 favourite to take a third King George having won the contest in 2018 and 2019. However, he was beaten into third by stablemate Frodon.

“This year his first run will be at Kempton in the King George and we are not going to run him before then because I think he is good fresh, and that Haydock race [Betfair Chase] takes a bit out of him,” Nicholls said. “The idea is to go Kempton, Newbury, Aintree and Punchestown.

“We will try to win a third King George with him and it would be great if he can do that. If Clan runs like he did at Aintree and Punchestown, he would take all the beating.”

Frodon is due to head for the same race but will first travel to Down Royal on October 30 for the Grade One Ladbrokes Champion Chase.

“He had the run of the race in the King George but he keeps surprising people all the time,” Nicholls said. “I might go to Leopardstown with him after Christmas but we will keep all options open. We might enter him in the Gold Cup.” Politologue could bid for a third Tingle Creek in December.

“He is 10 going on 11 but he is still as enthusiastic as ever,” said Nicholls. “He won the Tingle Creek last year but it is looking even stronger on paper this year.

“The other option is to go for the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham as he loves it there and then the Desert Orchid at Kempton. We would then give him a nice break and go fresh to Cheltenham.”