Equinties - Ascot & York Saturday

Gm Equinauts

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HEADLINE ROUNDUP

NICHOLLS HIT

Are the wheels falling off the Paul Nicholls bus?

It’s a sad thought to have, but the last few seasons performance combined with the recent fallout with Malone, have meant minds have leaned towards this idea, and yesterdays news did nothing to help.

Neil and Alfie Smith have taken away KABRAL DU MATHAN, FARLAND, and SINNATRA from Ditcheat in favour of Dan Skelton, while Gordon and Su Hall have taken GINNY’S DESTINY, ACT OF INNOCENCE, and DON’T TELL SU to Nicky Henderson.

Rough times for the 14-time champion UK jumps trainer!

So, why has this happened? Well, firstly, we think it’s good to mention that this story has probably been blown out of proportion slightly. It’s not like the horses leaving are FRANKEL. Nicholls is probably happy to see the back of them leaving stables empty for new recruits.

But Paul needs to get better.

He needs to start training the big winners again and bringing in bigger and better horses.

CALDWELL POTTER and KALIF DU BERLAIS did a good job of saving his bacon at the end of last season, because without them winning Grade 1s, the only Grade 1 that Nicholls would have won last season would have been PIC D’ORHY in the Ascot Chase.

It’s a worrying time heading into the 2025/26 Jumps season, it is certainly a worrying scene in Ditcheat but we know Paul will be back.

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