RACING
PAUL NICHOLLS celebrated the return to racing following last week’s equine flu outbreak in spectacular style – with a 45,863-1 eight timer.
“I’ve saddled seven winners in a day before but never eight – it’s been a brilliant day,” said Nicholls. “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 conceal his desire to take the title back from Nicky Henderson.
After Cyrname ran his rivals ragged in the Betfair Ascot Chase under Harry Cobden, Nicholls made clear his intention to become top dog again.
When asked: “Why not run
Cyrname in this country, rather than his intended target, the Punchestown
Gold Cup, to help you land another trainers’ title?”
Nicholls (right) remarked: “Don’t worry, we have plenty of ammunition for that!”
More immediately, Nicholls has his eye on a fourth Cheltenham Gold Cup after Clan Des Obeaux put in a faultless dress rehearsal in the Betfair Denman Chase.
“He could not have done it any better,” said Nicholls after Cobden dismounted from the gelding in the winners’ enclosure.
“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 on him to get him to perfection for Cheltenham.”
Cobden, 20, yet to ride in the Gold Cup, shared Nicholls infectious enthusiasm.
“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 to 6-1 from 8-1 with Paddy Power and 8-1 to 7-1 with Betway.
Nicholls cleaned up with Clan Des Obeaux, Cyrname, Worthy Farm, Brio
Conti, Quel Destin, Magic Saint, Grand Sancy and Silver Forever.
But he had to settle for fourth with Getaway Trump in the Betfair Hurdle won by Al Dancer. This was very much a family affair as the gelding was trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by his son Sam.