Class act ‘Clan’ eyes Cheltenham after Nicholls’ 45,000/1 bonanza

PAUL NICHOLLS believes the best is yet to come from Clan Des Obeaux after the seven-year-old backed up his King George VI success with a polished display in the Denman Chase, boosting his claims for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Clan Des Obeaux – partowned by former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson

– is second favourite with some bookmakers to give Nicholls a fifth win in jump racing’s blueriband event.

Sent off the 2/5 market leader in the hands of Harry Derham, he accounted for Terrefort by 11 lengths at Ascot on Saturday.

“He can’t do more than win and he was very good,” Nicholls told Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme.

Clan Des Obeaux was one of eight winners for the Nicholls stable on a super Saturday that saw Cyrname also produce a personal best in the Betfair Ascot Chase.

However, he will not be part of Team Ditcheat at Cheltenham, as the trainer feels the Ryanair Chase would come too soon and the horse is better going righthanded.

“He puts everything into his races and he’ll be quiet for a week now,” said Nicholls.

“The Ryanair would come too soon, so that’s gone out of the window anyway.”

Nicholls had five winners on the Ascot card and also claimed eight nationwide – with his Grand Sancy taking the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton – as he exceeded his own previous daily best.

Brio Conti could make his next appearance at the top table after surviving a stewards’ inquiry to kick-start the winning spree with a 25/1 surprise at Ascot which concluded with an eight-timer at cumulative odds of 45,863/1.