CLAN IN GOOD NIC
Nicholls lines up Aintree big guns
PAUL NICHOLLS, seeking a second victory in Saturday’s Randox Grand National with Yala Enki, starts the National meeting at Aintree tomorrow saddling the favourites in all three Grade One races.
Nicholls was without a winner at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, but saddles Clan Des Obeaux in the Betway Bowl, Monmiral for the Doom Bar Hurdle and Betway Aintree Hurdle contender Mcfabulous.
Nicholls believes the first-time cheekpieces will enable Clan Des Obeaux to return to form.
“I just think cheekpieces might just sharpen him up a bit,” said Nicholls. “The other day I thought he should have won at Newbury, but Secret Investor just outbattled him.
“To be fair, he has had a lot of hard races, but he has stayed sound through it all. He probably looks after himself a little bit, so a bit of headgear might just focus him a bit more.” Both Mcfabulous and Monmiral, like Clan Des Obeaux, skipped Cheltenham to enable them to come to Aintree as fresh horses.
Nicholls also trains Red Rum favourite Getaway Trump.
Tiger Roll, controversially taken out of the National as connections believed he had too much weight, takes his chance in the Bowl along with 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River.
Following Richard Johnson’s decision to retire on Saturday, Tom O’brien will partner Thyme Hill for Philip Hobbs in Saturday’s Ryanair Stayers Hurdle at Aintree.
This will be the first high-profile ride for O’brien in his new role as principal rider for Hobbs now that his stable jockey has left the stage.
The contest will be a decider between Thyme Hill and his old sparring partner Paisley Park. From two encounters the score is one all.
Chase