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Paul Nicholls: My bid for National glory

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With the Grand National meeting only a week away, Paul tells us how his runners have been preparing for the Aintree fences and which horses he believes are in with a chance of success.

The fact that I haven't won the Grand National in 60-odd attempts is sure to get plenty of airtime this week, but it certainly doesn't cause me any sleepless nights.

Obviously, it would be great to finally land the big prize, as AP did on Don't Push It last year, but it won't ruin my weekend if we do miss out again.

That said, I am leaving no stone unturned in my bid for victory. And for only the second time we have built a couple of National-type fences here.

We borrowed a lot of spruce from the local point to point to cover two existing fences here, and they have made a nice test for the horses (see accompanying picture). And we schooled a few horses over them this morning.

Niche Market (Harry Skelton; Grand National) schooled with Fistral Beach (Nick Scholfield; Topham). And The Tother One (Ryan Mahon; National), fresh and well, schooled with Ornais (Nick Scholfield; National), and they were followed by Harry on Mon Parrain.

All five jumped really well, but I must admit that Mon Parrain was awesome. The more I see of him the more I like, and am excited by, him. He has three options at Aintree - the 3m handicap, the Martell or the Topham - and I am leaning towards the latter at the moment. But obviously nothing will be decided or finalised until I speak with Mr Cotton.

What A Friend, now second favourite for Aintree, will school over the fences tomorrow with Free World (goes for the Topham) and hopefully he will continue to thrive.

I hope so for the sake of some of the Betfair punters who have backed him at colossal prices for the race. I am told someone has got [680.00] and others have got prices from [600.00] downwards.

Any chance of the trainer getting any of those prices? If not, I may re-route him somewhere else!

On a more serious note, Tricky Trickster, who broke a bone in his neck when falling at Uttoxeter, was x-rayed again yesterday and is slowly going the right way.

But it will be a long recovery and his injury just goes to show the highs and lows of this game.

Just 24 hours before Tricky's fall at Uttoxeter, his owner Chris Giles was in the winners' enclosure at Cheltenham, greeting in his first Festival winner in Zarkandar.

Horse racing can be a very sobering game on occasions and that is why, if come Saturday night we still haven't won a National, I will be disappointed. But nothing more, as long as my horses come back safe and well.

Paul Nicholls / 3 Apr 2011

Paul Nicholls: My bid for National glory

The Industry View RSS / / 03 April 2011 / 2

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The Ditcheat team have constructed a pre-Aintree test for Paul's horses

The Ditcheat team have constructed a pre-Aintree test for Paul's horses

"I am leaving no stone unturned in my bid for victory. And for only the second time we have built a couple of National-type fences here."

With the Grand National meeting only a week away, Paul tells us how his runners have been preparing for the Aintree fences and which horses he believes are in with a chance of success.

The fact that I haven't won the Grand National in 60-odd attempts is sure to get plenty of airtime this week, but it certainly doesn't cause me any sleepless nights.

Obviously, it would be great to finally land the big prize, as AP did on Don't Push It last year, but it won't ruin my weekend if we do miss out again.

That said, I am leaving no stone unturned in my bid for victory. And for only the second time we have built a couple of National-type fences here.

We borrowed a lot of spruce from the local point to point to cover two existing fences here, and they have made a nice test for the horses (see accompanying picture). And we schooled a few horses over them this morning.

Niche Market (Harry Skelton; Grand National) schooled with Fistral Beach (Nick Scholfield; Topham). And The Tother One (Ryan Mahon; National), fresh and well, schooled with Ornais (Nick Scholfield; National), and they were followed by Harry on Mon Parrain.

All five jumped really well, but I must admit that Mon Parrain was awesome. The more I see of him the more I like, and am excited by, him. He has three options at Aintree - the 3m handicap, the Martell or the Topham - and I am leaning towards the latter at the moment. But obviously nothing will be decided or finalised until I speak with Mr Cotton.

What A Friend, now second favourite for Aintree, will school over the fences tomorrow with Free World (goes for the Topham) and hopefully he will continue to thrive.

I hope so for the sake of some of the Betfair punters who have backed him at colossal prices for the race. I am told someone has got [680.00] and others have got prices from [600.00] downwards.

Any chance of the trainer getting any of those prices? If not, I may re-route him somewhere else!

On a more serious note, Tricky Trickster, who broke a bone in his neck when falling at Uttoxeter, was x-rayed again yesterday and is slowly going the right way.

But it will be a long recovery and his injury just goes to show the highs and lows of this game.

Just 24 hours before Tricky's fall at Uttoxeter, his owner Chris Giles was in the winners' enclosure at Cheltenham, greeting in his first Festival winner in Zarkandar.

Horse racing can be a very sobering game on occasions and that is why, if come Saturday night we still haven't won a National, I will be disappointed. But nothing more, as long as my horses come back safe and well.

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  1. Michael | 03 April 2011

    Hi Paul

    Was Graham Regan there for both days of schooling?

    He seems to be running the rule over all your entries and how they are jumping on various blogs.

  2. Neil | 07 April 2011

    Hi Paul.

    Good luck on Saturday, got What A Friend and Niche Market but more importantly hope they come home safe and sound.