It’s been a tough period for 14-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls. The Ditcheat handler has seen some of the finest National Hunt thoroughbreds imprint their hooves on the Somerset yard, but the days of the likes of Kauto Star, Denman, Master Minded, Big Bucks and Silviniaco Conti continue to fade into distant memory.
He’s undoubtedly the victim of his own success, as his protégé Dan Skelton continues to cement his place as Britain’s training powerhouse, and it couldn’t have been easy for Nicholls to see another of his former horses for the de la Heys, Pic D’Orhy, win the Charlie Hall Chase for Skelton, while his own pair finished in the bottom two.
There’s a growing consensus that his horses can go unbacked, but we mustn’t forget that he very rarely begins October with a bang, and he shouldn’t be written off this month.
You would have to go back to 2005 to find a year in which November wasn’t one of Paul Nicholls’ top two months for winners.
Success in November for Nicholls is largely down to geography, as the yard is based near Wincanton, Taunton and Exeter, which stage a combined six meetings throughout the month. Wincanton has been one of his most successful tracks, particularly at the Badger Beers meeting.
The yard has won 11 renewals of the Badger Beers Chase, and it generally targets the Elite Hurdle and the Rising Stars’ Novices’ Chase on the card too. Unfortunately for Nicholls, it may be slightly different this season, as the track has had to cancel this weekend’s meeting due to the firm ground it has endured throughout the year, but its key contests have been moved elsewhere, so it’ll be interesting to see whether Nicholls sticks to the tried and tested regime.
The Rising Stars’ has been rescheduled for Aintree this weekend, and Paul Nicholls has entered No Drama This End. The Walk In The Park gelding looked a typical Ditcheat star last season, with four hurdle victories including the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle. He’s also been entered for the three-mile Future Stars Chase on the Friday at Aintree, which is normally staged at Exeter. Nicholls has won that race in five of the last eight years, and whichever of the two contests No Drama This End runs in, he’ll no doubt be primed.
Horses to follow in November
Rubaud
Rubaud has a record of 1111 in November, albeit three of those wins came in the Elite Hurdle. He’s not been entered for the rescheduled renewal, but he has been for the Haldon Gold Cup, a race Nicholls often targets, and Rubaud’s recent spin over hurdles should put him spot on for this.
Stick To The Board
Stick To The Board was a beaten favourite on his hurdling debut at Chepstow last month, shaping as if needing the run given how flat-footed he appeared once the pace lifted. That’s still a promising debut, and I’d suggest we’ll see him up in trip towards the end of the month, provided the ground turns soft.
Tutti Quanti
Tutti Quanti was sent off the warm favourite when expected to win comfortably on his chase debut, but he did far too much in front and was collared late on. It was a pleasing debut against rivals with experience in that sphere, and it would be surprising to see him falter a second time.
The Final Word
The Getaway gelding The Final Word was sent off favourite for his bumper debut two years ago, though he finished down the field in a race won by Sober Glory. He raced twice over hurdles that season, finishing third on both occasions, but also displayed issues with his wind.
He returned from 618 days off the track last week and shaped as if needing the run, but it was still a pleasing effort, and given his form behind French Ship, he could be well handicapped if going down that route this month with the cobwebs blown off.