Paul Nicholls Exclusive: Can't wait to get going with plenty of targets ahead

• Paul sets the scene ahead of new NH season

• Plenty of runners this weekend and lots more ready to run

• Trainers' and jockeys' championships on the agenda

I haven't had many runners over the summer but things are about to change this weekend with Chepstow's two day meeting signalling a notable change in tempo.

I can't wait to get going and will be sending a strong team there on both days and will also be busy at Ffos Las on Sunday where Blueking D'Oroux runs in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.

Could give summer jumping a miss next year

I've realised with experience that each year you need to give the yard and all our staff a little bit of a break.

I've never been the biggest fan of summer jumping and this time we only had a handful of summer horses to run.

Looking ahead I'd say that we will run plenty in May at the start of the new season when there are lots of jumps fixtures, then we will probably shut up shop until October.

Geltrack like having a new gallop

We've still been busy over the summer improving and upgrading our facilities, in particular removing the sand surface from our loop gallop and replacing it with Geltrack.

I hated the deep sand for two years because it was either too wet and flooded or too dry.

You learn by your mistakes and it was a mistake to use deep sand. Replacing it has made a big difference because it is like suddenly having an extra gallop available.

One day last week I schooled 32 young horses round there, left handed and then right handed. They love bowling round the loop while getting valuable jumping practise at the same time.

Watch Paul in our Racing...Only Bettor jumps season preview

Quite a few are ready to run

We have 150 horses in full work and quite a few of them are ready after coming back from their holidays early in July. By now they have been in training for 13 weeks.

While we have had two winners Outlaw Peter and Iceo and two more finished second from our last five runners in the last fortnight Chepstow is usually the point when the classier jumps horses start to appear.

We have a beautiful blend of experienced chasers and exciting novices going over fences.

Plus a strong team ready for novice hurdles together with around 30 bumper horses.

I'll give record-equalling 15th trainers' title a go

We ended last season with a record total of prize money for the yard of £3,646,585 and a 14th trainers' championship.

It's too early to be talking about titles at this early stage of the campaign but if I'm in with a chance in March you can be sure I will be giving it a go for number 15 which would equal the record.

Harry has his sights on Jockeys' title

This is the first season Harry Cobden has set his sights on the jockeys' championship. He always said he would like to get to 40 by Chepstow and is currently on 41 so he is on target.

He knows he has a hard task to catch Sean Bowen who has poached a big lead over the summer.

But Harry is riding at the top of his game and we have lots of lovely horses for him to ride in the next seven months so hopefully we will be giving him plenty of winners.

He will be supported by Lorcan Williams, Bryony Frost and long time ally Daryl Jacob who is coming in twice a week and is still as enthusiastic as ever.

It is a case of cracking on now and mapping out a programme for each horse. You can read about the plans for a number of our best chasers and hurdlers below.

Read Paul's Stable Tours exclusively on Betting.Betfair:

- The Chasers

- The Hurdlers

- The Novice Chasers