Nicholls sets new personal best with Perth Festival victory

Paul Nicholls beat his best ever tally of winners for a single season as Threeunderthrufive gave him his 172nd victory of the campaign at Perth.

The Ditcheat handler, who will be crowned Britain's champion National Hunt trainer for a 12th time when the season comes to a close at Sandown on Saturday, equalled his previous record of 171 when Samarrive struck gold at Kempton on Monday.

And while he did not saddle any runners on Tuesday, he moved onto the 172-winner mark by landing yesterday's Listed feature on the first day of the three-day Perth Festival.

Unbeaten in his first three starts over hurdles before finishing sixth in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival last month, Threeunderthrufive was a 15-8 chance for the British EBF William Hill Gold Castle "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.

After travelling well for much of the three-mile contest under Adrian Heskin, the six-year-old pulled clear in the straight and passed the post with nine and a half lengths in hand over Castle Rushen.

What makes the trainer's achievement particularly impressive is the fact that the season did not get under way until the start of July, rather than late April, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Nicholls, whose figure of 171 winners was achieved in the 2016-17 season, said: "You always want to better what you've done and to get the record in a short season is really good. It's been a 10-month season, rather than 12 months, so it's a good effort by everybody."

Meanwhile, Pistol Whipped, representing the powerful Nicky Henderson stable, shoulders top-weight in the Thank You Phil Nelson River Tay Handicap Chase at Perth today. The Lambourn raider recently landed the Sussex Champion Chase at Plumpton for Nico De Boinville, who is on board again.

Henderson doesn’t send many horses to Perth, but during his career he has enjoyed eight winners from 65 runners at Britain’s most northerly race track.

Opposition to Pistol Whipped includes Defi Sacre who was fourth over hurdles at the 2019 Perth Festival for his trainer Richard Hobson.

Henderson and De Boinville also team up in the William Hill Scoonieburn Handicap Hurdle with recent Exeter winner Steal A March, owned and bred by The Queen.