Tag Archive for: Bravemansgame

Nicholls relishing prospects of five-strong National squad

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Paul Nicholls believes five Grand National runners provides him with his strongest team for the Aintree showpiece since winning with Neptune Collonges in 2012.

Despite Nicholls claiming a landmark 50th winner at the Cheltenham Festival, the 14-times champion jumps trainer admits to being a “bit light on winners this year” and trails Dan Skelton in the trainers’ championship by some distance.

But Nicholls insists his focus has been very much on Aintree and especially the National, where Bravemansgame, Hitman, Kandoo Kid, Threeunderthrufive and Stay Away Fay are set to give him a five-way chance in the race.

“We were always going to save a lot for Aintree and we’ve got a bigger team there (than Cheltenham),” Nicholls said at his Somerset yard at Ditcheat.

Trainer Paul Nicholls (centre) with Threeunderthrufive, Bravemansgame, Kandoo Kid, Stay Away Fay and Hitman (left-right)
Trainer Paul Nicholls (centre) with Threeunderthrufive, Bravemansgame, Kandoo Kid, Stay Away Fay and Hitman (left-right) (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“It just suits our horses at the moment and suits the way we do things. The idea is to run horses in the right races.

“We’ve got five horses running in the National and it’s probably the strongest team since Neptune ran.

“You don’t go out thinking you’re going to have so many, but it is exciting.”

Nicholls has no hesitation in naming Kandoo Kid as his best hope for National glory – and not just because the nine-year-old is a grey like Neptune Collonges.

Kandoo Kid finished eighth in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury at the beginning of March, but won the Coral Gold Cup – the Hennessy Gold Cup in old money – at the Berkshire track in November and will have champion jockey Harry Cobden on board.

Kandoo Kid (left) was a good winner of the Coral Gold Cup
Kandoo Kid (left) was a good winner of the Coral Gold Cup (Adam Davy/PA)

“He jumped fantastic around Aintree last year in the Topham and I said to Harry then our two targets would be the Coral Gold Cup and the National,” said Nicholls.

“He jumps well, is very relaxed and has plenty of stamina. He’s got a lot about him and it wouldn’t surprise me if he runs in the Gold Cup one day.

“He’s had a few little setbacks, but he’s gradually kept climbing the ranks. I’ve purposefully not run him because I didn’t want him to go up any more in the weights.”

Skelton’s brother Harry has been booked to ride Threeunderthrufive, a dual Grade Two winner as a novice who underlined his stamina levels by finishing fourth in the 2023 Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

“Dan hasn’t got anything in it and it’d be quite ironic if Harry won and got us £500,000 for winning in the trainers’ championship,” said Nicholls.

“We haven’t run him much this year because we wanted to keep him fresh for Aintree.

“He carried 12st at Ascot the other week and got beat by a nose. He’s in the best shape he’s ever been and it’s the right time to run in the National.”

Leading French-based rider James Reveley will be aboard former King George VI Chase hero Bravemansgame, with rising star Freddie Gingell set to have his first ride in the race on Hitman.

Bryony Frost has the ride on Stay Away Fay, who had an outing in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham to guarantee Aintree qualification but finished a disappointing 11th.

Nicholls said: “He won the Albert Bartlett two years ago and I thought ‘National runner, stays forever’, but he’s got to get back to form.

Bravemansgame was a King George winner in his pomp
Bravemansgame was a King George winner in his pomp (John Walton/PA)

“If Bravemansgame takes to Aintree and jumps well, he’s got a touch of class. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t do well because the one thing he can do is travel.

“Hitman is like Bravemansgame as he always runs over and above his level of ability.

“He hasn’t quite got his head in front for a while, but he won’t be outpaced and will definitely jump for fun.”

Reveley delighted to be offered Bravemansgame National ride

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James Reveley is relishing a potential link-up with Bravemansgame in the Randox Grand National.

Paul Nicholls said during his pre-Cheltenham Festival media event that the three-time French champion jockey was in line for the leg-up aboard the 2022 King George winner, with stable jockey Harry Cobden poised to partner Ditcheat’s main hope Kandoo Kid in the Aintree marathon.

The French-based Brit has become a more frequent visitor to his native UK in recent years thanks to his association with Chantilly training duo Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, with the Yorkshireman set to visit Nicholls’ Somerset yard to put the Bryan Drew-owned 10-year-old through his paces in the coming weeks.

Trainer Paul Nicholls with National hopes Bravemansgame (left) and Kandoo Kid
Trainer Paul Nicholls with National hopes Bravemansgame (left) and Kandoo Kid (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“It’s looking likely (that I will ride him) and I’m going to go over and have a sit on the horse Cheltenham week, all being well,” said Reveley.

“I was very happy to be asked if I wanted to ride him and he’s a top-class horse isn’t he. He’s a King George winner and hopefully he can take well to the track and get into a good rhythm, as we know he has the class and can stay.”

Reveley rode in the Grand National for the first time since 2016 when partnering Patrick Griffin’s Roi Mage to finish an honourable ninth behind I Am Maximus 12 months ago.

Bravemansgame – who is 33-1 with Paddy Power for National glory – would be Reveley’s seventh ride in the race overall but he still has vivid memories of his first, when sent off the 8-1 joint second favourite aboard his father Keith’s Rambling Minster in 2009.

James Reveley winning in owner Bryan Drew's colours at the Dublin Racing Festival in 2024
James Reveley winning in owner Bryan Drew’s colours at the Dublin Racing Festival in 2024 (Damien Eagers/PA)

“I rode in the race last year and it was good because they used to put the National on the same day as a big race-day at Auteuil and I was never really able to look for a ride,” continued Reveley.

“The last couple of years, Auteuil has been a week earlier, which is good for me and it’s great to be able to be part of it.

“My first ever ride in it was Rambling Minster. He was one of the favourites after winning the Grand National Trial at Haydock, but he didn’t quite take to it.

“It was back in the day when they were really stiff fences and he just gave one or two a bit of a rub and lost his confidence and I ended up pulling him up.

“It was a good experience because I was quite young at the time and all the media attention was quite eye-opening.”

Nicholls excited to have some ‘nice chances’ of National success

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Paul Nicholls is optimistic that the Randox Grand National might reignite the career of Bravemansgame after his “real racing weight” allocation for the big marathon was revealed.

The 10-year-old has nine victories on his CV, including two Grade One titles over fences in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase and the King George VI Chase – both contests held at Kempton.

He has not won since the latter victory on Boxing Day 2022, though he was notably second on his next start to Galopin Des Champs in the 2023 running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The bay’s mark has begun to slide in recent years and some beaten efforts this term have seen him allocated 11st for the Aintree showpiece, a burden Nicholls feels will be competitive come April.

“He dropped 2lb for Saturday (when third in the Denman Chase), so he’s 11st now – that’s a real racing weight for him and as a Grade One winner, that’s just the job. We are pleased with that.

Ladbrokes Christmas Festival – Day One – Kempton Racecourse
Bravemansgame winning the King George at Kempton (John Walton/PA)

“I’ve had this in mind for him for a while because obviously he’s regressed a little bit from his Grade One level, but he’s still a King George winner. He’s been running well this year without really firing and this might just spark him up. We’re looking forward to it.

“He’ll go straight to Aintree now. He’s come out of Saturday very well.”

Nicholls, who hit the jackpot with Neptune Collonges in 2012, has five horses entered in the famous steeplechase, as Hitman (11st 1lb), Threeunderthrufive (10st 12lb), Kandoo Kid (10st 11lb) and Stay Away Fay (10st 9lb) join Bravemansgame in being possible contenders for the highly valuable steeplechase.

The trainer added: “We haven’t had anything suitable for a good few years, so it’s nice to have some horses with nice chances. It’s conceivable that they could all go there.”

Of Hitman, who was second in the Denman Chase on Saturday and sits 20th on the Aintree entries list at present, Nicholls said: “That’s about what we expected and I’m looking forward to running him. He’s been running well of late and he’s run well in some really big races, so that’s perfect.

Newbury Races – Saturday February 11th
Hitman during last season’s Betfair Chase (Tim Goode/PA)

“He’s in on Saturday (the Ascot Chase) but we’ll make a decision on that on Thursday. Obviously, he only ran on Saturday, so I’ll just see what declares and see how he is. But if he runs on Saturday, then he’ll go straight to Aintree.”

Threeunderthrufive is also a possible for the Scottish Grand National and his spring destination could be determined by his run in the Swinley Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

“He runs on Saturday at Ascot and then we’ll make a plan as to whether we run him here (Aintree) or whether he goes to the Scottish National. I’ve got to decide on that one,” said Nicholls.

“He definitely runs on Saturday and he’s a possible. I know Max (McNeill, owner) would like to run him in it, so he’s definitely a possible. We just wouldn’t want the ground too soft.”

Kandoo Kid was the winner of the Coral Gold Cup on his last outing and was also third in the Topham around the Grand National course last year, two pieces of form that could combine to give him a real chance in the big one.

Coral Gold Cup Day – Newbury Racecourse
Kandoo Kid en route to Coral Cup victory (Adam Davy/PA)

“He’s a Coral Gold Cup winner and he went round Aintree last year – I’d be very happy with that weight,” said Nicholls.

“He might go to Kempton next Saturday (for the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase) – I need to discuss it with the owner. I wouldn’t run him on very, very soft ground. It’s that option or March 1 at Newbury, where he likes it, just over two and a half miles just to give him a day out. It’s possible he’ll run but it’s not essential.

“Straight after the Topham, I said to the owner there are two targets next year – the Coral Gold Cup and then the Grand National. So, we’ve done one part of it and it would be nice if we could do the other. He’s got a nice profile for it.”

Stay Away Fay carries the lowest weight of all the Nicholls-trained entrants and still requires one further start over fences to make him eligible for the race.

“He’s got to qualify yet. He’d need to have another run, so I’m planning on getting another run into him over fences before March 18. He could even go to Cheltenham,” the trainer said.

“We’ve just got to get him back right because we haven’t had him right yet.”

Nicholls: Denman looks ideal race for Bravemansgame before Aintree

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Bravemansgame is set to be Grand National-bound after he goes for gold in the Denman Chase at Newbury.

The choice of Harry Cobden from two representatives of Paul Nicholls, the 10-year-old is a fixture in the biggest staying chases, and while he has not got his head in front since winning the 2022 edition of the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, it was only Galopin Des Champs that stopped him taking the Cheltenham Gold Cup a few months later.

His latest run was in the Christmas showpiece, where he was eighth to Banbridge, having previously been second in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and then third in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

“Bravemansgame had two hard races earlier in the season and I don’t think he was quite at his best at Kempton where he paid the price for chasing the free-running Il Est Francais,” Nicholls said in his Betfair blog.

Bravemansgame winning the 2022 King George VI Chase
Bravemansgame winning the 2022 King George VI Chase (John Walton/PA)

“I’ve freshened him up since then, taken off the blinkers and am fitting a tongue tie at the suggestion of Harry Cobden. This looks an ideal race for Bravemansgame’s final start before the Grand National.”

Nicholls also saddles the Freddie Gingell-ridden Hitman, a horse very familiar with the William Hill-sponsored feature, finishing runner-up for the past two seasons.

“He is extremely consistent and so hard to place because he gets no help from the handicapper. He ran another cracker when an excellent second under top-weight at Ascot last time,” Nicholls added.

“He arguably ran a career best chasing home Shishkin 12 months ago and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see him go close again.”

Hitman (white colours) ran a fine race 12 months ago in finishing second to Shishkin
Hitman (white colours) ran a fine race 12 months ago in finishing second to Shishkin (Adam Davy/PA)

Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law is bidding to get his head back in front as he steps out of handicap company.

The nine-year-old has two big Cheltenham handicap successes to his name and was placed at Grade Two level last season when runner-up in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown on his final run of the campaign.

He returned this season in good form to finish second again at Chepstow, and was subsequently runner-up for a third consecutive time when handing over his title in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

A return to Cheltenham for the December Gold Cup followed, but he was out of luck when carrying plenty of weight, finishing ninth.

Providing the ground does not deteriorate, he will now be returned to Grade Two level, with Gavin Sheehan in the saddle.

Snowden said: “He’s had a good season, second in the Paddy Power, which made it three straight seconds after good runs in a Grade Two at Sandown and two nice handicaps, prior to slightly disappointing last time.

Ga Law at Cheltenham
Ga Law at Cheltenham (Nigel French/PA)

“We just felt he was carrying decent weights in handicaps, so we should probably chance our arm back in a Grade Two again.

“It’s a shame we’ve got a penalty for winning that race on Trials day last year but he comes in here in good order, although he wants good ground, or better ground, so I hope the ground does dry up a bit and it’s decent ground at Newbury – if it’s not, then we won’t be running.”

Venetia Williams’ Djelo has been in good form this term with a second-placed run in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in November.

He then won the Peterborough Chase ahead of Protektorat by a good margin a month later and subsequently lined up for the Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor, where the form was reversed and he came home a well-beaten second.

The Denman is somewhat uncharted territory for the seven-year-old, who steps up to a two-mile-seven-furlong trip for the first time.

Howden Christmas Racing Weekend – Day One – Ascot Racecourse
Djelo and Charlie Deutsch (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s come back from Windsor all right. To be honest, the original idea was the Game Spirit, but 20 minutes before closing, I had a look at the entries and then had a look at the Denman and I thought ‘blimey, he needs to be in that as well’,” Williams told Sky Sports Racing.

“At the end of the day, it’s only a furlong further than the Fleur De Lys. He disappointed in that race, but it’s only a couple of furlongs further than the Peterborough, so we’ll see.

“It’s a step in a new direction for him and there’s few races for them at this time of the season. If you want to give them another run before the middle of next month (Cheltenham), there’s few races to choose from.”

2024 King George VI Chase Trends

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Staged each year on at Christmas on Boxing Day at Kempton racecourse, (Tuesday, 26th December) the King George VI Chase is the highlight contest on the festive racing calendar.

With star names like Desert Orchid, One Man and, more recently, Kauto Star, who won the King George Chase a staggering five times, amongst the household names to land this decent pot then the 3m Grade One race never fails to attract the best longer distance chasers in training, while it’s also seen as a good guide to that season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Trainer Paul Nicholls has won the King George VI Chase a remarkable 13 times and is sure to have a few big chances again in 2024. While last year we saw a dramatic end with Hewick coming with a storming late run to get up in the cloding stages for Ireland.

We take a look back at recent winners and highlight the key stats to take into the 2024 renewal – this year run on Boxing Day, Thursday Dec 26th - Can trainer Paul Nicholls win the race for a 14th time?

Past King George VI Chase Winners

2023 - Hewick (12/1)
2022 - Bravemansgame (11/4)
2021 – Tornado Flyer (28/1)
2020 - Frodon (20/1)
2019 - Clan Des Obeaux (11/2)
2018 – Clan Des Obeaux (12/1)
2017 – Might Bite (6/4 fav)
2016 – Thistlecrack (11/10 fav)
2015 – Cue Card (9/2)
2014 - Silviniaco Conti (15/8 fav)
2013 – Silviniaco Conti (7/2)
2012 – Long Run (15/8 fav)
2011 – Kauto Star (3/1)
2010 – Long Run (9/2)
2009 – Kauto Star (8/13 fav)
2008 – Kauto Star (10/11 fav)
2007 – Kauto Star (4/6 fav)
2006 – Kauto Star (8/13 fav)
2005 – Kicking King (11/8 fav)
2004 – Kicking King (3/1 fav)
2003 – Edredon Bleu (25/1)
2002 – Best Mate (11/8 fav)

Note: The 2005 renewal was staged at Sandown Park

King George VI Chase Trends

20/22 – French (14) or Irish bred (6)
18/22 – Had raced within the last 5 weeks
18/22 – Had won a Grade One chase before
18/22 – Had won over 3m or further (fences) before
18/22 – Aged 8 or younger
17/22 – Finished in the top three last time out
17/22 – Placed favourites
16/22 – Returned 9/2 or shorter in the betting
16/22 – Officially rated 167 or higher
13/22 – Had won a race over fences at Kempton before
12/22 – Won last time out
11/22 – Winning favourites
11/22 – Aged 6 or 7 years-old
11/22 – Trained by Paul Nicholls (13 times in all)
10/22– Ran in the Betfair Chase (Haydock) last time out
8/22 – Won by a previous winner of the race
4/22 – Won by an Irish-based yard (only 5 in the last 38 runnings)
Paul Nicholls, the Tizzard yard and Nicky Henderson have trained 16 of the last 18 winners between them (11 Nicholls, 2 Tizzard, 3 Henderson)
Trainer Willie Mullins has only won the race twice (2021 Tornado Flyer and 2001 Florida Pearl)
The average winning SP in the last 22 years is 6/1

 

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John Dance charged with nine offences in ‘serious’ fraud probe

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John Dance has been charged with nine criminal offences in “one of the most serious and largest frauds ever investigated” by the UK’s financial regulator.

The former leading owner is accused by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of transferring more than £64 million from client accounts of a wealth management firm to fund his “lavish lifestyle” and business interests, including horseracing and a nightclub, between 2014 and 2023.

He was principal partner at WealthTek LLP, formerly known as Vertus Asset Management LLP, a prominent sponsor within racing, and also owned multiple Group One winner Laurens and previously co-owned Bravemansgame, the runner-up in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Dance “laundered the proceeds of his criminality through his personal and business bank accounts”, the FCA alleged.

The FCA said this included the transfer of £723,000 to buy six racehorses, including Bravemansgame in 2019, and £806,500 in 2014 and £3.9 million in 2020 “to purchase residential and commercial property”.

The 50-year-old also faces three additional charges of dishonestly misrepresenting WealthTek’s regulatory permissions to facilitate his alleged fraud, the FCA said.

WealthTek LLP is currently in special administration, a legal process used to manage insolvent financial firms.

Approximately 84% of affected clients are expected to be fully compensated, according to the FCA.

Therese Chambers, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: “This is one of the most serious and largest frauds we have ever investigated.

“We allege that over a period of many years Mr Dance diverted millions of client funds for his own benefit, telling lies and forging documents to cover his tracks.

“We know this has been a worrying time for people who had their investments caught up in WealthTek and we have tried to keep everyone updated as best we can, given the criminal nature of the offences under investigation.

“We’re pleased that clients are now seeing their assets returned.”

Dance has been released on bail to appear at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on January 3 2025.

He faces three counts of fraud by abuse of position, three counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of converting or transferring criminal property.

The FCA case opened 21 months ago in March 2023.

Nicholls hoping blinkers can spark Bravemansgame improvement

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Paul Nicholls is banking on the application of blinkers to reignite the fire in Bravemansgame, as the 14-time champion trainer goes in search of a seventh victory in Saturday’s Betfair Chase at Haydock.

While the Ditcheat handler admits his latest Merseyside challenger is “not in the same league” as his four-time Haydock hero Kauto Star, he perhaps can be compared more favourably to Silviniaco Conti, who first struck Betfair Chase gold in 2012 before regaining his crown two years later.

It is fast approaching two years since Bravemansgame last tasted victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton and he will make the journey north with something to prove after coming up short in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby for the second consecutive season three weeks ago.

Owner Bryan Drew celebrates winning the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase with Bravemansgame
Owner Bryan Drew celebrates winning the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase with Bravemansgame (John Walton/PA)

With stable jockey Harry Cobden instead heading to Ascot, Sam Twiston-Davies will partner Bravemansgame for the first time this weekend and the race sponsors rate him as something of an outsider at 14-1 – odds Nicholls feels could be value if the headgear has the desired effect.

“Bryan (Drew) who owns him was quite keen for Sam to ride him, so that’s ideal. Sam has ridden us lots of big winners and it’s good to have him,” he said on a Jockey Club-organised Zoom call on Thursday.

“He’s straightforward to ride and he has blinkers on for the first time. Harry’s thoughts after Wetherby were that some headgear might help him and he’s worked nicely in them and schooled nicely this morning, so we’re hoping that will bring out some improvement in him.”

Kauto Star bounced back from being pulled up in the previous season’s Gold Cup when bringing the house down with a fourth Betfair Chase success in 2011, while Silviniaco Conti was sporting first-time cheekpieces when improving from a Charlie Hall Chase defeat when notching his second win.

Nicholls also points to how much blinkers improved See More Business when he claimed Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in 1999, but he appears more hopeful than confident that Bravemansgame will do the same.

He added: “It’s quite an open race and I’m just hoping the blinkers bring out some improvement in him. I remember when we put them on See More Business for the first time and he actually won the Gold Cup.

“If they just sharpen up Bravemansgame and improve him a little bit, you never know. I do think he’s quite a generous price.

“He’s no Kauto Star. With all respect to Bravemansgame he’s a good horse, but he’s not in the same league as Kauto. He won four Betfair Chases and like all horses he had a few ups and downs in between and when we got him back right he was good.

Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls
Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls (Adam Davy/PA)

“Bravemansgame has been running in all the top races and isn’t getting any younger, but he’s working nicely at home and looks fantastic.

“He’s had some hard races ever since he was second in the (2023) Gold Cup and that was one hell of a hard race. Once you’ve had a few hard races and he’s been at the top table for a long time, life doesn’t get any easier.

“His record speaks for itself and he’s won all those good races, but you could say he’s just a little bit below the top grade.”

Although Nicholls would be happy for an ease in conditions at Haydock, which appears almost certain with significant rain forecast for Saturday, he does not want the ground to go too far the other way.

“There is rain forecast and it doesn’t sound like the ground is going to be too bad, but if it was heavy he definitely won’t run. If it’s good to soft or something like that we’ll be there,” he said.

The trainer is keen to get Saturday and a likely third tilt at the King George on Boxing Day out of the way before making firm plans for the rest of the year, but a Grand National challenge has been mooted as a possibility.

He added: “We’ve already discussed it and he will have an entry in the National, but we need to see where his handicap mark lies after his next two runs really.

“The plan is to run here and then go to the King George and he does like Kempton. We’ll make a plan for the spring after that, but I’d be very keen to enter him for the National.”

Coral Gold Cup option open for Bravemansgame

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The Coral Gold Cup at Newbury could come under consideration for Bravemansgame after he was beaten into second place on his return to action in the Charlie Hall Chase on Saturday.

Having won the Wetherby feature in 2022 and filled the runner-up spot 12 months ago, the Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old was a hot favourite to make a successful start to his campaign in West Yorkshire, but was unable to reel in The Real Whacker.

Nicholls admits he was expecting better and could now drop his charge back into handicap company and potentially fit him with headgear at Newbury on November 30.

“I think he ran a good race, he just wasn’t good enough on the day. No excuses, really,” he said in his Betfair Ditcheat Diary on Monday.

“He was ready, he’d been away. Just because some of ours have needed the run, it didn’t apply to him. He was well ready.

“I’ll a chat with Bryan (Drew, owner). It might be we’ll have to think of something different now with him. He’s in the Coral Gold Cup, which is an option. It’s a race I always thought might suit him as it can often suit the classier horses with a bit more weight.

“Harry (Cobden) was half wondering whether he put everything in on Saturday, whether he wants a pair of blinkers on just to sharpen him a little bit. He’s had some hard races over the years, and just whether he’s just thinking about it a tad, I don’t know.

“I must admit I thought he’d win on Saturday, albeit the winner is a really smart horse.”

Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls
Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls (Adam Davy/PA)

Bravemansgame has contested the King George VI Chase at Kempton in each of the past two seasons, triumphing two years ago and finishing best of the rest behind Hewick last term.

On a possible third tilt at the Boxing Day showpiece, Nicholls added: “It’s not ruled out. On Saturday’s performance he’d have to improve a fair bit to win a King George, but he might well do.

“I’ve got to discuss it with Bryan and we’ll make a plan. As I said, he’s in the Coral Gold Cup and we might have to think away from the box really and do something different with him.

“He’s come out of the race well and ate up and everything Saturday night, so we’ll just see.”

Nicholls delighted with Wetherby ground for Bravemansgame

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Paul Nicholls expects drying conditions to bring out the best in Bravemansgame as he looks to regain his crown in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.

The nine-year-old was a comfortable winner of the West Yorkshire showpiece two years ago en route to striking gold in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, but last season he had to make do with the silver medal in both races, with a runner-up finish in Haydock’s Betfair Chase sandwiched in between.

While some members of his Ditcheat string have looked in need of a run this autumn, Nicholls believes Bravemansgame is fit enough to do himself justice on his seasonal debut.

Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls
Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls (Adam Davy/PA)

“It’s totally different ground to 12 months ago, when it was basically heavy ground. He ran a good race (last year), he just blew up from the back of the last,” the Ditcheat handler told Betfair.

“We think we’ve taken a different approach this year, as we wanted him ready for this, rather than trying to leave a little bit of improvement for the Betfair Chase. I don’t think we’re going to go for the Betfair Chase this year, unless the ground happened to be fast.

“He’s in good shape. He had an away-day and worked very nicely with Ginny’s Destiny about 10 days ago. His schooling is good and we cauterized his palate in the summer. There’s lots of positives, but the most important thing is the ground.”

While Nicholls is pleased with the prospect of a sound surface for Bravemansgame, his former assistant Dan Skelton has decided against running his Cheltenham Festival winner Grey Dawning.

Last season’s Turners Novices’ Chase victor does hold an alternative engagement in the Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle on Sunday, but again his participation will be ground dependent.

Conflated in action at Leopardstown
Conflated in action at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Conflated is one of two Irish-trained contenders, along with the Mouse Morris-trained French Dynamite.

Trained by Gordon Elliott, the 10-year-old Conflated is a familiar figure in the division who has two Grade One titles to his name, in the Irish Gold Cup and the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

He has also been placed in several top-class contests, including finishing third in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and looks to get his season up and running after parting company with Jack Kennedy at the first fence in the BetVictor Chase at Punchestown two and a half weeks ago.

“He was unlucky first time out, he just clipped a heel and came down, but at least he finished the course (riderless) and in a way he sort of had a run,” said Eddie O’Leary of owners Gigginstown House Stud.

“I hope that means something – he had a decent gallop! He goes to Wetherby because he’s far better off left-handed, so we hope he has a clear round and hope for a bit of luck.”

Mouse Morris with French Dynamite following his recent victory at Punchestown
Mouse Morris with French Dynamite following his recent victory at Punchestown (Brian Lawless/PA)

French Dynamite was triumphant in last month’s BetVictor Chase and bids to provide Mouse Morris with back-to-back Charlie Hall wins following the success of Gentlemansgame 12 months ago.

Morris said: “French Dynamite came out of Punchestown in great order.

“He won nicely the last day. He had race fitness on his side, but it was a good performance and opens up a few more doors for him in terms of distance.

“I am trying to get him qualified for the Grand National, so hopefully he can finish in the first four at Wetherby. On his run the last day, he should be competitive, and I can see him running a nice race.”

More locally trained is Patrick Neville’s The Real Whacker, conqueror of Gerri Colombe in the 2023 Brown Advisory and tried in the very best company since. He ran in the Kerry National at Listowel in September, but unseated his rider at the 10th obstacle.

Neville said: “The Real Whacker goes into the Charlie Hall in great form.

“We were disappointed at Listowel, as we had him fairly ripe for the day. We will never know what would have happened, but it looked like he was going to run a good race.

“We are looking forward to Saturday, as the ground will be to our liking. It looks a fair line-up, but we are happy enough to take them on.”

Bravemansgame will bid to regain Charlie Hall trophy

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Bravemansgame and Gerri Colombe are two of the star names among 13 entries for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Bravemansgame has made his seasonal debut in the West Yorkshire feature in each of the past two seasons, winning impressively in 2022 but finding Irish raider Gentlemansgame too strong 12 months ago.

He was well beaten in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Aintree Bowl in the spring, but is reported to be in rude health ahead of his return this weekend.

“We’re running Bravemansgame at Wetherby on Saturday in the Charlie Hall. He had an away-day last week with Ginny’s Destiny and went very nicely,” Nicholls told Betfair on Monday.

“The ground looks like being ideal for him, as opposed to last year, and we’re very much looking forward to him running on Saturday.”

Gordon Elliott has entered the Gold Cup runner-up and Bowl winner Gerri Colombe, although he is widely expected to bid for back-to-back victories in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on the same day.

Mouse Morris (left) with French Dynamite after winning at Punchestown earlier this month
Mouse Morris (left) with French Dynamite after winning at Punchestown earlier this month (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Cullentra House handler could instead saddle Conflated, while Mouse Morris – triumphant last year with Gentlemansgame – may be represented by French Dynamite.

Shark Hanlon’s King George hero Hewick is another possible Irish raider, while the home team also features Jeremy Scott’s Dashel Drasher, Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning, Iroko from Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s yard and the Patrick Neville-trained The Real Whacker.

Flegmatik (Skelton), Hang In There (Emma Lavelle), Sam Brown (Anthony Honeyball) and Thunder Rock (Olly Murphy) are the other hopefuls.

Cobden confident Bravemans can up his game for Gold Cup challenge

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Harry Cobden is expecting Bravemansgame to peak at the right time, as the duo try to turn the tables on Galopin Des Champs in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Paul Nicholls’ star staying chaser jumped the last matching strides with Willie Mullins’ big-race favourite in the blue riband 12 months ago, but it was Galopin Des Champs who pulled out extra in the lung-busting run to the line, with Cobden and Bravemansgame having to settle for a silver medal.

The 25-year-old jockeys’ championship leader is fully aware the defending champion is the one to beat again this week, but is confident Bravemansgame is capable of getting involved in the shake-up and can massively outrun his current odds of around 16-1.

“His preparations have gone very well and he’s schooling well at home,” said Cobden.

“He feels great and worked brilliantly at Kempton last week. I’m very much looking forward to the Gold Cup and I thought he was a big price when I looked at it.

“Obviously, Galopin Des Champs is the horse to beat and I would never say Galopin Des champs isn’t, because on his day, he is definitely the best horse in the race.

“It was no fluke what he did last year and he’s been brilliant on many other occasions, so we have got to step up and we’ve got a bit to find, or we are hoping he is not at his best. But I do think he has a massive chance.”

Bravemansgame was prominent throughout last season’s Gold Cup, while Paul Townend received plenty of plaudits for the way he smuggled Galopin Des Champs into the race and eliminated any lingering stamina doubts.

Ladbrokes Christmas Festival – Day One – Kempton Racecourse
Harry Cobden celebrates winning the 2022 King George VI Chase aboard Bravemansgame (John Walton/PA)

Cobden has pondered whether it may be worth a change of plan for the Bryan Drew-owned gelding’s second crack at Gold Cup glory – and with Galopin Des Champs himself ridden more enterprisingly this season, it could now be team Ditcheat who play cat to Closutton’s mouse.

He continued: “I could possibly ride him a little differently and maybe we follow him?

“I don’t know and we’ve still got a few days to work it out and discuss it with Paul, and if he turned up and finished in the first three, we would be delighted. But we will be riding him to win the race rather than go out to run well.”

The nine-year-old had to settle for second best three times in a frustrating first half of the season for connections and was last seen narrowly failing in the defence of his King George title, as the fast-finishing Hewick flew home to snatch victory.

However, Cobden feels three runs in a short space of time were a contributing factor to his Kempton reversal and that a fresher Bravemansgame promises to be a whole different proposition in Friday’s showpiece event.

“The thing many people forget is he had a hard race at Haydock only 28 or 29 days before that and that took a lot out of him,” he went on.

“He didn’t have the best preparation in the world for the King George and Paul is well aware of that, he would be the first to tell you. I know we can get him better than when he ran at Kempton. He’s had lots of time, he’s fresh, he’s well and he’ll run his race.”

Although missing out on the Festival’s biggest prize in 2023, Cobden walked away from his week in the Cotswolds with two winners courtesy of Stage Star and Stay Away Fay.

Stay Away Fay en route to Festival glory 12 months ago
Stay Away Fay en route to Festival glory 12 months ago (Steven Paston for the Jockey Club/PA)

Both are back seeking a repeat, with Stay Away Fay another Ditcheat inmate tasked with taking on a short-priced favourite from Mullins’ all-conquering string when going toe-to-toe with Fact To File in Wednesday’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

“There’s not many runners in it, but I think it will be competitive,” added Cobden.

“Fact To File looks a class horse and we’re dropping back into novice company after running in the Cotswold Chase.

“I thought the prep run in the Cotswold Chase was a brilliant experience for a young horse and he didn’t have a massively hard race. Paul said he would improve from that fitness-wise.”

Jockey Harry Cobden has an exciting book of Cheltenham Festival rides
Jockey Harry Cobden has an exciting book of Cheltenham Festival rides (Nigel French/PA)

It will be far from Cobden’s busiest Cheltenham Festival ever, but the jockey is excited about some of the quality he has to look forward to among his book of rides.

He nominated Fred Winter candidate Liari as a potential Nicholls dark horse, while Ginny’s Destiny and Captain Teague are two other top-quality operators Cobden can look forward to from the champion trainer’s Cheltenham squad.

The four-time Festival winner has also picked up some exceptional outside rides which include Ben Pauling’s Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle hope Handstands – whom he partnered to Sidney Banks success at Huntingdon – and handicap fancies Theatre Man and Libberty Hunter.

He is also poised to maintain the ride on Emmet Mullins’ Stayers’ Hurdle contender Noble Yeats after steering him to victory in the Cleeve Hurdle last month, ironically a mount title rival Sean Bowen has partnered six times in the past, including in last year’s Gold Cup and Grand National.

Noble Yeats and Cobden (orange/brown silks) in action in the Cleeve Hurdle
Noble Yeats and Cobden (orange/brown silks) in action in the Cleeve Hurdle (Nigel French/PA)

He said: “I haven’t got the rides of Paul Townend and I wouldn’t have the shorties he has, but it looks to be an exciting book of rides and there will be lots of lads in the weighing room that would love to be on them, so I am very grateful.

“I’m hoping to ride Noble Yeats in the Stayers’ and although it won’t be the busiest week I’ve ever had, there will be 12 or 13 good rides with chances and if I can nick one winner I will be very pleased.

“I’m looking forward to riding Theatre Man in the Plate for Richard Bandey, he will have a good chance and is a great spare to pick up. I will also be on Libberty Hunter for Evan Williams in the Grand Annual and I thought he was relatively unexposed compared to some of the others in the field.

“Liari would be the best handicap chance of Paul’s, I would have thought. I know he has top-weight but he could be a horse that is still improving. He has done nothing wrong and is three from three, it will be a big ask to win the Fred Winter off that weight, but he is a very nice horse.”

Nicholls expecting poignant Cheltenham Festival after loss of Keagan Kirkby

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Paul Nicholls knows this year’s Cheltenham Festival will be a poignant place with Keagan Kirkby “up there watching us” after the jockey’s tragic death last month.

Kirkby, a popular member of Nicholls’ Ditcheat team, died in a fall while riding at a point-to-point in Kent on February 4.

The 25-year-old was laid to rest on Tuesday with mourners in the Somerset village bedecked in the blue and white of Kirkby’s beloved Bristol Rovers.

Champion trainer Nicholls described Kirkby at the service as the “ultimate star player” and that his death had left “a big hole in that team”.

Paul Nicholls (right) holds the Cheltenham Gold Cup with part owner Paul Barber and Denman
Paul Nicholls (right) holds the Cheltenham Gold Cup with part owner Paul Barber and Denman (Barry Batchelor/PA)

It has been a painful time for Nicholls following the death of Paul Barber, owner of his first Gold Cup winner See More Business in 1999, and part-owner of Denman, the 2008 champion.

Nicholls said: “It’s been tough from the day Keagan died but everybody has knuckled down and worked hard. Everyone is thinking of Keagan.

“It’s been a tough year for me, losing Mr Barber at the start of the season. It’s been quite hard not having him about this season and then losing Keagan.

“But the team have rallied together, everyone has worked hard and helped each other. It’s a young team and it’s been quite tough for a lot of them, but everyone has kept the winners flowing and we will all be looking forward to Cheltenham.

Stay Away Fay is a leading hope for Nicholls at the Festival
Stay Away Fay is a leading hope for Nicholls at the Festival (Adam Davy/PA)

“I know Keagan will be up there watching us. He loved Cheltenham and anything to do with horses.

“He used to ride Blueking D’Oroux, Afadil, Firefly who won two days after he died, that was quite a poignant winner and he loved the game.”

This year’s Cheltenham Festival marks the 25th anniversary of Nicholls’ breakthrough into jump racing’s elite.

Flagship Uberalles got the ball rolling in the Arkle that year, Call Equiname landed the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and See More Business rounded it off with Gold Cup glory.

Nicholls’ team indeed partied like it was 1999 and, a quarter of a century on, he is two winners from reaching a Cheltenham milestone.

Captain Teague
Captain Teague is another Grade One hope for Nicholls (Adam Davy/PA)

“When you start off as a trainer, you always want Cheltenham winners,” said Nicholls.

“I think it was eight years I’d been training and I hadn’t had a Cheltenham winner. Then I had three in a week, so that was a good week.

“Flagship Uberalles won the first day so I remember we went down the pub on the night, had a bit of a party and thought we’d best enjoy it.

“The next day Call Equiname won the Champion Chase so we repeated that and thought ‘we can’t believe this’. Then we won the Gold Cup the next day and I think I stayed there for a week!

“It was amazing, just amazing – you pinch yourself because you can’t believe it has happened.

“That kickstarted everything for us really and I hadn’t thought about it being 25 years ago. I think I’ve had 48 winners now, so it would be nice to get the 50.”

Ginny’s Destinys
Ginny’s Destiny has won three races in a row at Cheltenham (Adam Davy/PA)

Nicholls is sending a streamlined squad into action at Cheltenham with quality rather than quantity appearing to be his Festival strategy.

Ginny’s Destiny, unbeaten in his last three starts over fences at Cheltenham, is a big hope for the Turners Novices’ Chase and Stay Away Fay – a Festival winner in last season’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – is a real contender for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Last year’s Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame is aiming to go one better in the main event, while Stage Star and Hitman are contenders in the Ryanair Chase. Captain Teague and Teeshan could also excel on the Gloucestershire course.

Nicholls won his fourth Gold Cup in 2009 when Kauto Star won his second.

He accepts life has become more difficult at Cheltenham because of Ireland’s firepower and the strength in depth that Irish trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott possess.

Bravemansgame
Bravemansgame will represent Nicholls in the Gold Cup (Adam Davy/PA)

“It’s always hard to win at the Festival, it’s always competitive,” said Nicholls.

“You’re up against Gordon and Willie’s battalions, it’s got harder, but it’s all about having the right horses.

“We’ll probably have a dozen runners over the week, but they’re horses with chances. I’ve learnt over the years you want a small, select team of horses that have chances.”

Nicholls had a Gold Cup one-two-three with Kauto Star (left), Denman (centre) and Neptune Collonges
Nicholls had a Gold Cup one-two-three with Kauto Star (left), Denman (centre) and Neptune Collonges in 2008 (Barry Batchelor/PA)

On the prospect of replicating past glories, Nicholls said: “In those days we had Kauto, Master Minded, Denman, Big Buck’s, Celestial Halo.

“We had the right horses and with the right horses, you can compete. Like in any team sport, you need the right players.

“It’s a surreal feeling when you walk into the winner’s enclosure when you’ve won the Gold Cup, there’s nothing else like it.

“It’s unbelievable and that feeling drives you on and makes you want to do it again.

“They were amazing horses, but you have to move on and find the next generation, which hopefully we are.”

Bravemansgame primed for Gold Cup assignment

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Last year’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame is approaching his peak in his bid to go one better.

While he is among the outsiders this year having failed to win in three outings, trainer Paul Nicholls believes he has valid excuses for all those reverses.

As he is a horse who tends to go well fresh, Nicholls has not run him since the King George on Boxing Day and is hoping a gallop around Kempton on Tuesday will put him spot on for his big date in just over a fortnight.

“He got beat in soft ground at Wetherby first time out and we then went to the Betfair Chase, again in testing ground, en route to Kempton, so I didn’t have a lot of time to get him right for Kempton,” said Nicholls.

Bravemansgame (orange) put up a brave defence of his King George title
Bravemansgame (orange) put up a brave defence of his King George title (John Walton/PA)

“To be fair to him, at Kempton he ran a really good race and in my view him and Shishkin would have been first and second. (Harry) Cobden has got his opinion and Nicky (Henderson) will have his opinion but I don’t think there’s much between him and Shishkin to be honest.

“He still got interfered with when Shishkin had his hiccup, if that hadn’t happened he still probably would have won but then he got stopped dead, and then still picked up and galloped all the way to the line.

“Harry thought he ran a solid race, I still don’t think we had him at his best because of the circumstances in the autumn. He’s right back there now, he looks great, Harry schooled him on Tuesday and he jumped good.

“He’s going to Kempton tomorrow for a little away day when he’ll work with Captain Teague but I’m very happy with him now. I think 20-1 is a massive each-way price. When I look at some of the horses ahead of him in the betting, I think he’s great value.”

Paul Nicholls with Stage Star
Paul Nicholls with Stage Star (Adam Davy/PA)

Another of Nicholls’ big hopes this year is Ryanair Chase contender Stage Star, winner of the Turners Novices’ Chase last year.

He began the season with a fine weight-carrying performance to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup but pulled up on New Year’s Day in very soft ground and he has not run since.

“Stage Star won the Turners last year and goes for the Ryanair. He needs to be fresh, he needs to be right and he’s not the easiest in the world to train as he has a few little issues but when he is right, he is very good,” said Nicholls.

“He won the Paddy Power Gold Cup off top weight very nicely indeed, even though he made a horrific mistake at the last, he galloped all the way to the line.

“I wish now I hadn’t run him on New Year’s Day obviously, but it didn’t work out. The ground had gone testing, he had top weight, he made a couple of mistakes and I don’t think he was quite at his best, but I was struggling to find any option in this country to get a run into him because he has to go left-handed.

“He’s had a few little issues, he’s had lots of physio and he’s back where we want him now, he doesn’t need an away day because he goes well fresh.

“Hitman will also run in the Ryanair but Pic D’orhy will go straight to Aintree. He’s a very smart horse, undoubtedly, and I think Banbridge deserves to be favourite (for the Ryanair) based on his defeat of Pic at Kempton.

“Hitman was third last year and is no forlorn hope. He ran well the other day when he wasn’t fully wound up but he jumped the second last upsides Shishkin.”

Nicholls: Straight to Cheltenham now with Bravemansgame

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Bravemansgame will now skip the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury and head straight for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls had mooted after his good effort in defence of his King George crown the nine-year-old could take in the Grade Two contest, where he would have clashed with Shishkin once again.

However, the Ditcheat handler has decided he does not need to run last year’s Gold Cup runner-up again and will freshen him up in an attempt to go one better than last year in the blue riband.

“Bravemansgame is having a little break and we are definitely going straight to Cheltenham now,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“We had been talking about going to the Denman Chase, but we’re not going to do that.

“I spoke to Bryan (Drew, owner) in depth and Clifford (Baker, head lad) and we’re going to go straight to Cheltenham so he’s having an easier little time, along with Stage Star, who’s come out of his Cheltenham race fine. I don’t want to get on with them too soon.”

Nicholls also confirmed Hermes Allen on course for the Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown on February 3, while Rubaud will run in either the Unibet (International) Hurdle at Cheltenham next week or the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on February 17, rather than carry top-weight in the Betfair Hurdle.

Denman Chase ‘a possibility’ for Gold Cup hopeful Bravemansgame

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Paul Nicholls has raised the possibility of Bravemansgame contesting the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury next month en-route to a second tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The nine-year-old had to make do with the runner-up spot in his bid for back-to-back victories in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, with Nicholls of the belief he may have held off the fast-finishing Hewick had he not been hampered by Shishkin’s exit two fences from home.

Last season Bravemansgame headed straight from the King George to the Gold Cup, in which he finished second to Galopin Des Champs, but admitted in his latest ‘Ditcheat Diary’ instalment with Betfair that he is having a change of heart as how best to approach the blue riband this time around.

“He’s come out of the race very well actually, he’s had an easy time and has kept his condition this year better than ever before,” said the champion trainer.

Paul Nicholls and Bravemansgame
Paul Nicholls and Bravemansgame (Adam Davy/PA)

“There’s lots of debate going on about who would have won and I think if Shishkin and Bravemansgame hadn’t got in a bit of a muddle, it would have been really interesting. He (Bravemansgame) definitely showed signs he’s coming back to his best and I think it would have been very close.

“I was going to go straight to Cheltenham and I haven’t spoken to Bryan (Drew, owner), but I’ve spoken to Clifford (Baker, head lad) and I said ‘look, every time we went to the Gold Cup with Kauto Star or Silviniaco Conti or Denman, we always ran in the Denman Chase en-route to Cheltenham’.

“I just thought why not change tack a little bit and rather than being too hard on him at home, keep him nice and fresh and have a look, possibly, at the Denman Chase and then go on to Cheltenham.

“The Denman Chase is a possibility, I’m not saying it’s definite, but we could try to do something different with him and train him a little bit differently.”

Bravemansgame is one of two Gold Cup entries for Nicholls along with star novice Stay Away Fay.

Stay Away Fay was a Sandown winner before Christmas
Stay Away Fay was a Sandown winner before Christmas (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Nicholls expects the latter to stick to novice company at the Festival at this stage, although that could change if he takes his chance and impresses in the Cotswold Chase on Festival Trials Day.

He added: “He’s very unlikely to run in the Gold Cup, I just put him in that because we were in the Cotswold Chase.

“He’s on schedule to run possibly in the Cotswold Chase, or the Reynoldstown is the other good option for him, and if you’re not in it (Gold Cup) you can’t run.

“Let’s just see how we run on our next start. I don’t think I’ve ever run a novice in the Gold Cup, but novices have won it, so it is possible.

“Last year’s winner (Galopin Des Champs) looks the one to beat – he looks head and shoulders above everybody else – but has he improved that much from when he beat Bravemansgame seven lengths last year?

“In that race the other day in Ireland (Savills Chase), he looked good, but I can’t believe he’s that far in front of all the others. Maybe he is, but we’ve got to keep all our options open.”