Latest News / Paul Nicholls / 06 October 2011 / 4

The master trainer returns to Betfair as the National Hunt season gets into full swing. Read his insights here every Friday but, until tomorrow, here\'s a quick word from our man and a look at two runners.

'; echo showAtTime($entry_body); ?> Welcome to the 2011-12 National Hunt season on Betfair.

I know it\'s been underway for some time now, and we have actually already achieved our first goal of the new campaign. We set ourselves a target of 20 winners by October 1, and we duly notched up our 20th when Red Harbour won at Fontwell last week.

To my mind, the new season really kicks off at the first Chepstow meeting on Saturday. However, for the first time that I can recall, I will not be there because I am going into hospital for a back operation on Friday.

I have been struggling with a slipped disc for about 10 weeks now - I have always had back issues since a couple of bad falls in my riding days - but had originally planned to muddle through until April when I would get it looked at properly. But I was very sore when I went to Fontwell last week and said to myself that I have got to sort this out as soon as possible.

So I have booked an operation on Friday to try and get it sorted once and for all. Now, I know I am not the world\'s best patient. But I can refute any suggestions that the stable staff got so fed up with me that they made the decision for me to have the op six months ahead of schedule, and offered to pay for it too!

Hopefully, I will only be in hospital for just two nights - but if anyone from RUK and ATR is reading this, feel free to set me up with bedside access to your channels - and I will be back to normal before too long.

I hope so because we are really beginning to get into full swing at Ditcheat, and my aim is to be at Cheltenham next Saturday afternoon.

Our new weekly column starts on Friday night, but here\'s a brief taster of things to come. Here is how I assess the chances of my two runners at Newton Abbot on Friday.

14:55 Newton Abbot

Edgardo Sol

Didn\'t win in seven starts over obstacles in France but ran his best race when second over fences over 2m3f at Auteuil in June. He jumps and goes quite nicely at home, and he should give a very good account of himself off a mark of 128 (less his 10lb 4yo allowance) in this five-runner novices\' handicap chase. I think he will appreciate the better ground here too after running in heavy in France.

15:30 Newton Abbot

King of the Night

Smart bumper performer who won a couple of decent hurdles before running in the Conditional Jockeys\' race at the Festival, where he was still travelling well when falling four out. Was over the top when beating only two home when favourite at Sandown in April. This looks quite a competitive little race but the handicapper has dropped him 3lb since Sandown and he is a horse that goes well when fresh, and loves fast ground, so I am hopeful.

*

Fancy a double bet on Paul\'s Friday pair at Newton Abbot? Click here.

'; echo showAtTime($entry_more); ?> '.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

(4)

1. MK | 06 October 2011

   Hope you're BACK soon Paul. Make sure that the hospital have RUK and ATR!!

2. John | 07 October 2011

   Good luck for the forthcoming season Mr Nicholls. Best wishes for the legends of the yard (would be interested to hear the thinking behind Kauto going for the Betfair Chase and not the JNWine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal). Just finished reading your book too. Very good read. Cheers, John

3. JIMMY | 07 October 2011

   Speedy recovery paul had the same op and you will be back on your feet before you know it good luck

4. geoff anyon | 08 October 2011

   try a belladonna plaster for your disc paul good luck

:

:

:

?

: