Paul Nicholls (horse racing)
Encyclopedia
Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer
with stable
s at Ditcheat
, Somerset
. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money. To date, he has trained over 1500 winners, won four Cheltenham Gold Cup
s and has been crowned British jump racing Champion Trainer
four times.
, Alveston
before leaving at 16 to take up work in a local point-to-point
yard. He turned conditional in 1982 under the tutelage of Josh Gifford
before joining David Barons as stable jockey in 1984. It was with Barons that Nicholls was most closely associated during his riding career. The pair enjoyed numerous big race successes, including back-to-back wins in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury
with Broadheath in 1986 and Playschool the following year. Playschool was subsequently made favourite for the 1988 Cheltenham Gold Cup
but was pulled up before the 20th fence. Barons attributed Playschool's lacklustre performance to doping but his claims were never substantiated. Following an injury sustained in 1989, Nicholls retired from the saddle having ridden a respectable 133 winners during a seven year career.
, Nicholls began his training operation at Manor Farm, Ditcheat, in stables rented from local dairy farmer Paul Barber. Starting with just 8 horses, his first winner soon followed, the appropriately named Olveston
, owned by Nicholls' father and named after the South Gloucestershire
village in which he was raised. A steady climb up the training ladder followed, with Nicholls' first grade one success coming with See More Indians in the Feltham Novices' Chase
at Kempton
in 1993. However, it was the 1999 Cheltenham festival that saw Nicholls' breakthrough into jump racing's elite, winning three of the most prestigious steeplechases in National Hunt racing. Nicholls enjoyed a memorable meeting, collecting the Queen Mother Champion Chase
with Call Equiname, the Arkle
Chase with Flagship Uberalles and the Gold Cup with See More Business
. However, it was not until the end of the 2005-06 season that Nicholls was finally crowned Champion Trainer for the first time, his eventual coronation coming after a long struggle for supremacy with multiple champion Martin Pipe
.
The appointment of the great Irish rider Ruby Walsh
as stable jockey has undoubtedly strengthened Nicholls' hand in the big races. Their major successes include the Queen Mother Champion Chase
with Azertyuiop (2004) and Master Minded
(2008 and 2009), consecutive wins in the King George VI Chase
with Kauto Star
(2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) and the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Kauto Star in 2007 and 2009. Walsh rode two more Nicholls trained horses, Big Buck's and American Trilogy, to respective wins in the World Hurdle
and Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle
at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival
. Denman (horse)
won the 2007 and 2009 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse
. Nicholls' finest hour came in the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup where he saddled the first three horses home: in finishing order, Denman (ridden by Sam Thomas), Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges
. Despite his achievements at Cheltenham, the Aintree Grand National remains the only major British staying chase to elude Nicholls. In recent years, Nicholls' dominance has extended across the Irish Sea
and his horses have plundered Ireland's most valuable jumping prizes with increasing regularity. Some commentators have speculated that Nicholls is attempting to become British and Irish champion trainer simultaneously, although Nicholls has denied this, telling the Irish Times "It'll never happen. I'm not chasing it and I was misquoted about chasing it". http://www.irishtimes.com
Nicholls is renowned for being approachable and media-friendly. He writes a popular column on Betfair
and his frank and honest opinions are well respected by members of the racing public. His hegemony over British jump racing looks sure to continue for years to come, despite fierce competition from the powerful Nicky Henderson
and Alan King
stables. In December 2008, Nicholls trained his 50th grade one winner when Master Minded (ridden by AP McCoy) won the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown
.
, particularly rose growing. He is also an avid supporter of Manchester United, whose manager Sir Alex Ferguson
has several horses in training with Nicholls.
In November 2009, Nicholls starred alongside Kauto Star in a short film to promote Somerset, commissioned by inward investment agency Into Somerset
.
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
with stable
Stable
A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals...
s at Ditcheat
Ditcheat
Ditcheat is a village and civil parish south of Shepton Mallet, and north-west of Castle Cary, in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. The parish of Ditcheat incorporates three hamlets: Wraxall, Alhampton and Sutton.-History:...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money. To date, he has trained over 1500 winners, won four Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
s and has been crowned British jump racing Champion Trainer
British jump racing Champion Trainer
The Champion Trainer of National Hunt racing in Great Britain is the trainer whose horses have won the most prizemoney during a season. The list below shows the Champion Trainer for each season since 1945-46.-----See also:...
four times.
Early career
The son of a policeman, Nicholls was educated at Marlwood SchoolMarlwood School
Marlwood School is a comprehensive secondary school located in Alveston, South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England.It is situated on the B3561 on the outskirts of the south-west of the village.-Grammar school:...
, Alveston
Alveston
Alveston is a commuter village of roughly 3000 people about south of Thornbury, South Gloucestershire and approximately north of Bristol, England. Alveston is twinned with Courville sur Eure, France. It has two hotels, a variety of small shops, several parks and fields, two churches and a...
before leaving at 16 to take up work in a local point-to-point
Point-to-point
Point-to-point or point to point may refer to:Computing* Point-to-point construction, an electronics assembly technique* Point-to-point * Point-to-Point Protocol , part of the Internet protocol suite...
yard. He turned conditional in 1982 under the tutelage of Josh Gifford
Josh Gifford
Josh Gifford is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was a four-time Champion Jockey, riding 642 winners in his career....
before joining David Barons as stable jockey in 1984. It was with Barons that Nicholls was most closely associated during his riding career. The pair enjoyed numerous big race successes, including back-to-back wins in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
with Broadheath in 1986 and Playschool the following year. Playschool was subsequently made favourite for the 1988 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
but was pulled up before the 20th fence. Barons attributed Playschool's lacklustre performance to doping but his claims were never substantiated. Following an injury sustained in 1989, Nicholls retired from the saddle having ridden a respectable 133 winners during a seven year career.
Achievements
Nicholls took out his trainers' licence in 1991, having served a two year apprenticeship as assistant trainer to Barons. In response to an advert placed in the Sporting LifeSporting Life (newspaper)
The Sporting Life was a British newspaper published between 1859 and 1998 that was best known for its coverage of horse racing. Latterly it has continued as a multi-sports website....
, Nicholls began his training operation at Manor Farm, Ditcheat, in stables rented from local dairy farmer Paul Barber. Starting with just 8 horses, his first winner soon followed, the appropriately named Olveston
Olveston
Olveston is a small village and larger parish in South Gloucestershire, England. The parish comprises the villages of Olveston and Tockington, and the hamlets of Old Down, Ingst and Awkley. Alveston became a separate parish in 1846...
, owned by Nicholls' father and named after the South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire is a unitary district in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, in South West England.-History:The district was created in 1996, when the county of Avon was abolished, by the merger of former area of the districts of Kingswood and Northavon...
village in which he was raised. A steady climb up the training ladder followed, with Nicholls' first grade one success coming with See More Indians in the Feltham Novices' Chase
Feltham Novices' Chase
The Feltham Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
at Kempton
Kempton
Kempton is the name of several places:*Kempton, Shropshire, a village listed in the Domesday Book, located in south Shropshire, England*Kempton, Tasmania, a township in Tasmania, Australia*Kempton, Dublin, an estate in Dublin, Ireland*In the United States:...
in 1993. However, it was the 1999 Cheltenham festival that saw Nicholls' breakthrough into jump racing's elite, winning three of the most prestigious steeplechases in National Hunt racing. Nicholls enjoyed a memorable meeting, collecting the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
with Call Equiname, the Arkle
Arkle
Arkle was a famous Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. A bay gelding by Archive out of Bright Cherry, his grandsire was the unbeaten flat racehorse and prepotent sire Nearco. Arkle was bred at Ballymacoll Stud, County Meath by Mrs. Mary Alison Baker of Malahow House, near Naul, County Dublin...
Chase with Flagship Uberalles and the Gold Cup with See More Business
See More Business
See More Business was a top-class National Hunt chaser in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He won the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup as well as the 1997 and 1999 King George VI Chase. He was trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Mick Fitzgerald in two of those races...
. However, it was not until the end of the 2005-06 season that Nicholls was finally crowned Champion Trainer for the first time, his eventual coronation coming after a long struggle for supremacy with multiple champion Martin Pipe
Martin Pipe
Martin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....
.
The appointment of the great Irish rider Ruby Walsh
Ruby Walsh
Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...
as stable jockey has undoubtedly strengthened Nicholls' hand in the big races. Their major successes include the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
with Azertyuiop (2004) and Master Minded
Master Minded
Master Minded is a French bred National Hunt racehorse presently trained in Great Britain by Paul Nicholls.- Early Days in France :...
(2008 and 2009), consecutive wins in the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
with Kauto Star
Kauto Star
Kauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England....
(2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) and the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Kauto Star in 2007 and 2009. Walsh rode two more Nicholls trained horses, Big Buck's and American Trilogy, to respective wins in the World Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
and Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle
Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle
The Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
. Denman (horse)
Denman (horse)
Denman is an Irish bred National Hunt racehorse sired by Presenting. Known as The Tank, Denman is widely known for his great rivalry with Kauto Star for the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
won the 2007 and 2009 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps...
. Nicholls' finest hour came in the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup where he saddled the first three horses home: in finishing order, Denman (ridden by Sam Thomas), Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges
Neptune Collonges
Neptune Collonges is an French Thoroughbred racehorse, born to sire, Dom Alco and dam, Castille Collonges. He is owned by John Hales and is trained by Paul Nicholls...
. Despite his achievements at Cheltenham, the Aintree Grand National remains the only major British staying chase to elude Nicholls. In recent years, Nicholls' dominance has extended across the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
and his horses have plundered Ireland's most valuable jumping prizes with increasing regularity. Some commentators have speculated that Nicholls is attempting to become British and Irish champion trainer simultaneously, although Nicholls has denied this, telling the Irish Times "It'll never happen. I'm not chasing it and I was misquoted about chasing it". http://www.irishtimes.com
Nicholls is renowned for being approachable and media-friendly. He writes a popular column on Betfair
Betfair
Betfair is the world's largest Internet betting exchange. The company is based in Hammersmith in West London, England. Since Betfair was launched in June 2000 it has become the largest online betting company in the UK and the largest betting exchange in the world. Betfair claim to have over 3...
and his frank and honest opinions are well respected by members of the racing public. His hegemony over British jump racing looks sure to continue for years to come, despite fierce competition from the powerful Nicky Henderson
Nicky Henderson
Nicky Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer twice.Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near Lambourn, Berkshire...
and Alan King
Alan King (horse racing)
Alan King is a British racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at Barbury Castle stables near Wroughton, Wiltshire....
stables. In December 2008, Nicholls trained his 50th grade one winner when Master Minded (ridden by AP McCoy) won the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown
Sandown
Sandown is a seaside resort town and civil parish on the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight, England, neighbouring the town of Shanklin to the south. Sandown Bay is the name of the bay off the English Channel which both towns share, and it is notable for its long stretch of easily accessible...
.
Personal life
Away from racing, Nicholls has a keen interest in horticultureHorticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
, particularly rose growing. He is also an avid supporter of Manchester United, whose manager Sir Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
has several horses in training with Nicholls.
In November 2009, Nicholls starred alongside Kauto Star in a short film to promote Somerset, commissioned by inward investment agency Into Somerset
Into Somerset
Into Somerset is the inward investment agency for the county of Somerset, England. - Into Somerset website It works with local authorities, other economic agencies and private sector partners, to encourage business relocation to Somerset....
.