Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat Diary: Cobden will ride Monmiral in December Gold Cup

• Isaac Des Obeaux can follow in Clan's footsteps

• Jockey plans exclusive for Saturday's December Gold Cup

• Find out about the new Betfair Beacons on the Exchange

Tragedy struck at Sandown on Saturday when the Paul Nicholls' trained Iceo suffered a fatal injury in the in the Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase. Paul said he and his Ditcheat team were "devastated" and offered his condolences to the owners.

On Friday, Stay Away Fay won at Sandown, cementing his place at the head of the market for the Brown Advisory Novices Chase at March's Cheltenham Festival.

Paul said: "The Brown Advisory is the race we will go for at Cheltenham with him. Before that he may run at Warwick in January or Ascot in February. Warwick in five weeks' time might suit quite well.

"He is a really competitive horse and has come out of Friday's race really well."

Watch Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat Diary

At Aintree on Saturday, Paul had two winners, including Sonigino who stepped up to two-and-a-half miles .

Paul said: "Sonigino is beginning to relax now. He was good at Aintree and will go for the Lanzarote on January 13th."

Liari was also impressive at Aintree and Paul said:

"He is a proper big horse and travelled extremely well on Saturday. He stayed on well.

"He will have an entry for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham but it is unlikely that he will run in it. We will go for the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton with him and then go to Aintree.

"We don't want him to do too much with him this year. He is one for the future."

Isaac could emulate illustrious relation

In his Betfair colmun on Friday, Paul flagged Isaac Des Obeaux as one to watch at the weekend and he duly obliged at Chepstow.

"He is an awesome horse and one of a number of nice hurdlers we have this season. He jumped brilliant and bolted in. Obviously, he is related to Clan Des Obeaux and hopefully Isaac can follow in his footsteps."

Trucker's still got it

Trucker's Lodge won the Betfair London National at Sandown and Paul was full of praise for him.

"What a fantastic horse. At 11-years-old, and after all the battles he has been in, he showed that he is still full of enthusiasm. Everything was right for him - the trip, the ground, the rain - and Freddie Gingell gave him a great ride."

Paul has plenty of horses in a action during a busy week and highlited a couple that may interest bettors:

"I have some nice horses running in the next few days - Knowsley Road should go well at Ffos Las on Tuesday and so should Country Lady at Wincanton on the same day."

Revealed - December Gold Cup jockey plans

Paul arguably saved the big news till last when he revealed jockey plans for this Saturday at Cheltenham's December Gold Cup.

He said: "Bryony frost is going to ride Il Ridoto and Harry Cobden will ride Monmiral.

"I have just schooled them both and both are in good order. Monmiral is a Grade One winner coming back from a wind-op after a few problems and I am looking forward to running him."

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