Festival Watch: Champion Trainer Nicholls travel to Cheltenham in hope but not expectation

  The great and late Kauto Star’s honours board hangs adjacent to the first stable on the right, from where he won the Gold Cup twice and King George VI Chase a record five times, becoming the most successful steeplechaser of the modern era in the process.

There’s an old world charm to Nicholl’s operation in heart of rural Somerset. When winter bites, pupil assistant trainer Harry Derham is out early in the morning gritting the roads, sometimes by shovel when the ‘third-hand machinery’ breaks - as it often does.

Those riding out come wrapped up in their own gear as a succession of lots leave to take on the gallops around a village that lives and breathes racing and the equine triumphs of their famous neighbours.

Nicholls’s days start early and meetings with connections are often held in the snug bar of the Manor House Inn, where Sir Alex Ferguson is rumoured to like the ham, eggs and chips.

It’s all in stark contrast to the multi-million pound Jackdaws Castle operation of Jonjo O’Neill, with its scrubbed and cushioned surfaces, no Jonjo horse ever sees a road, hospitality centre and branding branding everywhere.

Nicholl’s office overflows with old copies of the Racing Post and post-it notes, Jonjo prefers the paperless approach of an upwardly mobile provincial accountants.

On initial impressions these two operations look as far removed as Manchester United and Mangotsfield United but Nicholls has won ten Champion Trainer titles in the last 11 years and leads this season’s standings by nearly £400,000.

Nicholl’s secret in recent months has been a volume approach. His £1.9 million prize money has been generated by 130 wins, second placed Colin Tizzard, his west country rival, has made his prize money from just 50 wins, thanks to the likes of Gold Cup hopes Native River and Cue Card and this year’s hype horse, Thistlecrack, sadly missing from Cheltenham due to injury.

Nicholls is the first to admit this is a season in transition and he has won just one UK grade one race - Irving’s success in Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle last November.

At last year’s Cheltenham he took his tally to 40 Festival winners with three wins but this year’s meeting looks likely to be more challenging.

And you need to go back to the 2002 Festival to find the last time Nicholls drew a blank at Cheltenham, though 2013 and 2014 were uncharacteristically quieter years with just one win.

This is certainly not a year from the vintage of Denman, See More Business, Rock on Ruby or Big Buck's - but the fiercely competitive trainer remains phlegmatic and optimistic.

“We’ve got lots going with chances but not mega obvious chances,” said Nicholls, who expects to saddle nearly 20 horses across the four days of the meeting. “I’m not going to waste shots just because it’s Cheltenham, especially with the trainers’ title up for grabs.

“You look at the hand that Colin Tizzard has then it’s hard not to be jealous, though in a nice way because we’re good friends.

“I’ve been lucky to have horses like Colin has this season in the past and I’ve told him to enjoy it because those days soon end. I’ve had amazing horses and maybe I don’t deserve another ‘horse of a lifetime’ but I’m still searching for it anyway.”

Politologue - racing in famous yellow and red colours of loyal Nicholls owner John Hales - is viewed as the trainer’s best chance this week.

He has enjoyed a solid season but does not boast the most impressive Cheltenham record, unseating jockey Sam Twiston-Davies there on his debut and finishing a distant 20th on his Festival bow in last year’s Coral Cup.

He’s won three races this season but disappointed when beaten at Haydock in January. Nicholls believes he will develop into a ‘proper chaser’ but he’s pitched in against Willie Mullins’s Yorkhill and the diminutive Top Notch in the JLT Novices’ Chase.

“He’s obviously one of our leading chances,” added Nicholls.

“He ran a little too free at Haydock but we put a hood on him for his last race and that kept him relaxed and Sam knows how to keep a lid on him.

“He’s a top jumper and that’ll be a big advantage in a proper race and he’ll love the ground too. He's rated 152 which is a smart mark for a novice over fences, so he’s got every chance.”

Diego du Charmil, who won last year’s Fred Winter Hurdle, is entered for the County Hurdle but Nicholls may still divert him to the richer Scottish Champion Hurdle the following month.

Nicholls has also recalibrated the sights for former Champion Chase winner Dodging Bullets, who hasn’t won since that race in 2015.

After some disappointing runs this season he’s been targeted at the Grand Annual and - if you are a believer in Festival form - then his 151 mark may just appeal.

“He’s struggled but I think this will suit him nicely,” adds Nicholls. “There is no point looking at the big grade ones on current form but he loves to race and he knows how to win around Cheltenham.

“He’s up against a different grade of horse and he’ll enjoy the ground too.”

Sir Alex could tell Nicholls a thing or two about regenerating a team while under constant pressure to win and a horse he part-owns, Arpege D'Alene, could be the chance of the week in the opening day’s National Hunt Chase for amateur riders.

“He’s crying out for a big trip, with loads of runners,” said Nicholls. “It’s the right race for him but he’s quirky, I’m hoping Cheltenham will bring out his best.”

It’s a quote that says it all because for Champion Trainer Nicholls, this year’s Festival is all about hope not expectation.

Sportsbeat 2017