Hanlon: Hewick in right spot for him at Sandown

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Rachael Blackmore partners Hewick when he attempts to strike at Sandown’s jumps finale meeting for the second year in a row, lining up in the bet365 Oaksey Chase.

Whereas last year John ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s versatile performer was scoring in the handicap feature over three and three-quarter miles, his performances since have earnt him a crack at the Grade Two on the card over a mile less.

The eight-year-old – who famously cost only €850 euros – has gone from strength to strength since his victory in Esher 12 months ago, winning the Galway Plate and American Grand National before running a huge race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, where he was well in it before suffering a fall two out.

Having missed out on a tilt at the Grand National while recovering from his Prestbury Park exertions, Hewick was set to line up in the Punchestown Gold Cup earlier this week before conditions turned against him.

Instead he returns to Sandown for a race where he is 10lb clear of his nearest rival on ratings.

“The race is very suitable for him,” said Hanlon.

“I would have loved to have run him at Punchestown but the ground there is very tacky. I know they’re set to get a drop of rain at Sandown but I was talking to the clerk of the course and he said the ground would be like last year. So if it is on the soft side of good that will do perfectly.

“He was running a cracker in Cheltenham when he fell and I’ve tried to go down the option here of the easier route. I could have gone for the bet365 Gold Cup again, but I would be giving away two stone to everything.

“In this race it is the other way round and the opposition is giving me weight. They have to beat me this time whereas usually it’s the other way round. Take the top horse (Eldorado Allen), he is rated 12lb lower than Hewick, yet has to give him 2lb. I think the race is very suitable for the horse and he is in great form.”

Hewick has been ridden by Jordan Gainford in his six of his last seven starts.

However, with the young Irish pilot on the sidelines with injury, Hanlon has called up an old ally to deputise – having been one of the first to Blackmore’s talents at the fledgling stages of her career.

John ‘Shark’ Hanlon with Hewick during a visit to Shark Hanlon’s yard at Bagenalstown in County Carlow
John ‘Shark’ Hanlon with Hewick during a visit to Shark Hanlon’s yard at Bagenalstown in County Carlow (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

“We have Rachael Blackmore on board and I don’t think there is anything wrong with our jockey booking – we’ve got a great substitute,” continued Hanlon.

“It’s tough on Jordan because Gordon (Elliott) said he was available to go over, so it is very tough the way it has worked out. Hopefully he will be back in the saddle when we get back to Galway or somewhere.”

Kim Bailey’s First Flow and Joe Tizzard’s Eldorado Allen are next best on official figures but the biggest danger to Hewick could be the improving Solo who has seen the form of his Pendil Novices’ Chase victory franked in recent weeks.

The seven-year-old is one of two for Paul Nicholls alongside McFabulous as the champion trainer looks to win this contest for the fourth time in a row.

“Solo won the Pendil Novices’ Chase last time and the form has worked out well – the horse who finished second of Jamie Snowden won last week at Ayr. We’ve kept him fresh for this,” said the Ditcheat handler.

“McFabulous, his last two runs have been disappointing. He didn’t go on the soft ground at Kempton on Boxing Day. He pulled up at Newbury and had an irregular heartbeat for whatever reason, but he’s been fine since. But he has been out of sorts and has to bounce back from that.

“Solo I think will go very well in this, but I think Hewick is the one to beat.”

Topham runner-up Fantastic Lady represents Nicky Henderson, with the field rounded off by Gary Moore’s hat-trick-seeking Black Gerry – a winner of four of his six appearances this term.

“He’s governed by the ground but has done amazingly well this year,” said Moore.

“It won’t be easy for him and he wants soft ground really, but the trip will suit him well.”

Although Black Gerry may be an outsider in the Oaksey Chase, Moore holds a strong hand in the bet365 Select Hurdle with Goshen.

The enigmatic seven-year-old was a good winner of the Ascot Hurdle in November before finishing second to Paisley Park in the rearranged Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton. But he now has a point to prove following some below-par efforts since.

Goshen, ridden by Jamie Moore, goes on to win The Coral Hurdle at Ascot
Goshen, ridden by Jamie Moore, goes on to win The Coral Hurdle at Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“I like to think he has a reasonable chance,” said Moore.

“He hasn’t once been out of the money this year and I’ve done some stupid things with him – I’ve run him over fences twice and run him at Fontwell.

“He won’t be signing off because he will be running on the Flat if we have some soft ground next week, but hopefully he will be out in the field by June and July.”

Thyme Hill was a Grade One winner over fences earlier in the campaign but now reverts to hurdles for Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, while Nicky Henderson saddles both 2018 winner Call Me Lord and the likeable mare Theatre Glory.

Nico de Boinville and Theatre Glory return after securing Listed honours at Warwick
Nico de Boinville and Theatre Glory return after securing Listed honours at Warwick (PA)

The five-strong line-up is complete by Knappers Hill, who was a winner of a handicap last yearat this meeting and has performed adequately when handed some stiff assignments this term.

“If he gets two-mile-five he will go well I think. We have kept him fresh for this,” said Nicholls.

“He ran twice in a week back in February which was a bit too much for him really and then we’ve kept him fresh for this.

“He won over two and a half at Chepstow on debut this season and definitely has a chance. I guess it will be good to soft and that will suit him well.”

Jonbon following Altior route in chasing Sandown glory

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Jonbon has the chance to replicate the achievement of Seven Barrows alumni Altior when he lines up in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown.

Nicky Henderson’s dual Champion Chase winner followed up his Arkle success in 2017 by landing this as a fencing rookie – his first of three victories in the race – and Jonbon will now also attempt to win it as a novice, stepping into open company for the first time.

Although he fell short in his own quest for Cheltenham Festival glory when second behind El Fabiolo in the Arkle, Henderson’s strapping seven-year-old got back on track with a bloodless 43-length success in the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree and now returns to a course and distance he has already tasted Grade One glory at this season.

“He’s come out of the race in Liverpool good and Nicky is really happy with him,” said Frank Berry, racing manager for Jonbon’s owner JP McManus.

“He was very good at Aintree and did everything well and it’s a nice race for him to wind up the season and step into open company. He’s in good form and he will hopefully give a good account of himself. You will know where you stand for the start of the new season and we can take it from there.

“He has the right man training him and he’s happy with him.”

This race has seen no shortage of repeat winners in the past 10 years and another horse looking to follow in the footsteps of Altior is Greaneteen.

Greaneteen, ridden by jockey Harry Cobden, clears a fence on their way to winning the bet365 Celebration Chase last year
Greaneteen, ridden by jockey Harry Cobden, clears a fence on their way to winning the bet365 Celebration Chase last year (Nigel French/PA)

Paul Nicholls has won this race seven times in the past and his course specialist has an impeccable record at the Esher track, winning this the past two years and now searching for a hat-trick on the back of a third in the Champion Chase last time.

“He loves the track and he comes good at this time of year,” said Nicholls.

“He ran very well in the Champion Chase and would have been second if he hadn’t made a horrendous mistake at the top of the hill, which is unlike him.

“He did well to finish third and he seems in good order. He will need to be to beat Jonbon because I think Jonbon is an improving horse. It will be a good race and we think we have quite a nice chance.”

Henry de Bromhead’s consistent Captain Guinness was a place ahead of Greaneteen at Prestbury Park and looks to add to Special Tiara’s 2015 victory for the Knockeen handler, while in fourth at the Festival was Gary Moore’s Editeur Du Gite.

Prior to that the nine-year-old had caused a shock in both the Desert Orchid and the Clarence House and would prove a fitting winner for connections who tasted success in this race with Sire De Grugy in both 2013 and 2014.

“It would be a lovely way to end the year if he could win,” said Moore.

Editeur Du Gite has won both the Desert Orchid and Clarence House Chase this season
Editeur Du Gite has won both the Desert Orchid and Clarence House Chase this season (Nigel French/PA)

“It’s no easy task with Jonbon in there and the two that beat him at Cheltenham. But hopefully the ground will be a bit better for him this time. It isn’t his favourite way round but he’s in relatively good order so fingers crossed.

“He’s had a good year and this would be a nice way to end it. It would be lovely to win it again, it’s a race I like, I think it’s a great race and a great spectacle. We’ll do our best.”

The field is complete by Venetia Williams’ Funambule Sivola, who was an early faller in the Champion Chase but won the Game Spirit on his penultimate start.

Kitty’s Light could be fantastic again for Williams at Sandown

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Scottish Grand National hero Kitty’s Light bids for a rare double in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday.

The seven-year-old is turning out just seven days after providing trainer Christian Williams with back-to-back victories in Scotland’s most prestigious jumps race, with the Ferdy Murphy-trained Hot Weld the last horse to win both races in the same season back in 2007.

Williams was dealt a devastating blow recently when his five-year-old daughter Betsy was diagnosed with leukaemia, and the Welsh handler was unsurprisingly emotional in the Ayr winner’s enclosure following Kitty’s Light’s deserved big-race success north of the border.

“It was a wonderful day. It’s been a tough few weeks for my family and friends, Kitty’s Light has been a flagship horse for the last few years and going into the race winning Scottish National would have been a massive boost, so it was very emotional for everyone,” he said.

“We’re just lucky enough to be involved in the sport and see the joy that horses can bring. This was just one situation there at the weekend, what the horse did to pick everyone up, and it’s all down to Kitty’s Light. It was a wonderful, emotional day.”

Kitty’s Light has been a fantastic servant to his connections, placing in numerous big races prior to this season, including in the last two renewals of the bet365 Gold Cup.

He snapped a near two-year losing streak in the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February and having chased home stablemate Win My Wings in the Scottish National last April, went one better with a typically game performance under his regular partner Jack Tudor.

Jockey Jack Tudor (left) and trainer Christian Williams celebrate after Kitty’s Light's Ayr triumph
Jockey Jack Tudor (left) and trainer Christian Williams celebrate after Kitty’s Light’s Ayr triumph (Jane Barlow/PA)

Williams admits only time will tell if those exertions will take their toll just a week later, but is happy to the roll the dice with a horse who is somewhat out of the ordinary.

He added: “The horse seems very well and came out of the race very well. You never really know until you run, but Jack is riding him and he knows the horse better than anyone – he’s in the right hands.

“He loves this type of ground and loves this time of year. We haven’t ridden him out much this week, but we let him out in the field on Sunday and he galloped off like a lunatic.

“It’s obviously brave running him, but we’ve had the horse since he was a yearling and he is a freak really. If you saw him he’d be the last horse you’d pick out for a four-mile chase, but he defies all that.

“The way he comes out of a race is freakish – you could nearly run him in the next race. I don’t know if he’s got big lungs or a big heart, but he’s different to any other horse we’ve run.”

Williams feels Kitty’s Light should already have a bet365 Gold Cup victory under his belt, having been narrowly denied after a controversial finish in 2021.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Enrilo passed the post in front, but having hung badly left in the closing stages, impeding Kitty’s Light in the process, he was demoted to third.

However, as Potterman split the pair in second, he was awarded the race, with Kitty’s Light promoted from third to second but again having to make do with minor honours.

“Paul Nicholls felt he should have won the race when the result was reversed and we felt we should have won the race,” said Williams.

“We think his name should be on that winner’s board, so hopefully we can get it up there on Saturday.”

Frodon and Bryony Frost will team up again at Sandown
Frodon and Bryony Frost will team up again at Sandown (Niall Carson/PA)

On the day he will be crowned champion trainer for a 14th time, Nicholls saddles three runners in his bid for a fourth bet365 Gold Cup success, with popular top-weight Frodon joined by Enrilo and Broken Halo.

“Broken Halo has won the Grand Military and Royal Artillery in his last two starts but this is altogether a tougher race. He’s not without an outside chance, but I think the other two – Frodon and Enrilo – have a real chance,” explained Nicholls.

“Frodon ran very well the last day in a handicap at Kempton. He was flat out all the way then stayed on strongly up the straight and I just thought this would be a lovely race for him. I’m sure he will run well and he likes Sandown.

“The distance is unknown territory but he got three-and-a-quarter in the Badger Ales staying on strongly. Sandown is the sort of track you can freewheel from the top of the hill down and round the back and I think he will get a trip – I think he’s wanting it now.

“Enrilo won the race two years ago but got demoted. He’s been a tad disappointing since, but he has dropped to a nice mark and I would say this is as good form as we have had him in for a long time.”

Other leading contenders include Harry Fry’s Revels Hill, Ben Pauling’s recent course scorer Mucho Mas and the Evan Williams-trained Annsam, who has previously won at Kempton and Ludlow this season.

“It’s a big step up in trip, a very competitive race and there’s a few horses who are very well-in at the weights,” said Williams.

“I think Ludlow was important for us really. Obviously we went up in the weights, but that is almost an irrelevance as it was important to ride him in a different way and it worked out well.

“I was very keen to come and have a go at Saturday. At the end of the day this was a plan and getting there after a good prep is the main thing.”

Love Envoi flying the flag for Britain on final day of Punchestown

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Love Envoi bids to take the Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle crown back to Britain for the second year in succession on the final day of the Punchestown Festival.

Unsurprisingly the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One has been dominated in recent years by Willie Mullins, with the champion trainer landing seven of the last 10 editions.

However, Nicky Henderson’s Marie’s Rock ensured victory went to the raiding party 12 months ago and Love Envoi is rightly the hot favourite for Saturday’s renewal, having finished best of the rest behind the brilliant but now retired Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The seven-year-old’s trainer Harry Fry has a good record at Punchestown, with dual Champion Stayers Hurdle hero Unowhatimeanharry among several previous winners for his team at the Festival, and the Dorset handler has high hopes of adding to his tally this weekend.

He said: “Love Envoi arrived safely on Thursday morning, Punchestown has been a lucky festival for us and we’re looking forward to taking our chance.

“She ran a great race at Cheltenham. We’re obviously taking on horses she beat that day, but we’re not taking anything for granted.

“She’s going to have to turn up and run her race. Hopefully she has a good chance.”

Harry Fry is looking forward to running Love Envoi at Punchestown
Harry Fry is looking forward to running Love Envoi at Punchestown (John Walton/PA)

With Love Envoi’s regular partner Jonathan Burke sidelined by a broken arm suffered in a fall in the Grand National at Aintree, Fry had booked Mark Walsh to take over in the saddle.

However, Walsh is now required to partner Epatante for his retaining owner JP McManus, meaning Danny Mullins instead comes in for the plum ride aboard the market leader.

“It’s been a bit of a jockey merry-go-round, but in the end we’ve managed to get Danny Mullins, with Johnny sadly on the sidelines. Hopefully it all goes well,” Fry added.

The Henderson-trained Epatante, who was third behind stablemate Marie’s Rock last season and has spent much of the current campaign chasing the shadow of Seven Barrows superstar Constitution Hill.

She was, however, a long way behind Love Envoi at Cheltenham and has since finished a well-beaten fourth in the Aintree Hurdle.

“She’s been a little disappointing recently, but it will be her last run of the season so we’ll see how she gets on,” said McManus’ racing manager, Frank Berry.

“She has to come back to her best form to have a chance.”

The home team is headed by the Mullins trio of Echoes In Rain, Brandy Love and Shewearsitwell, who finished fourth, fifth at ninth in the Mares’ Hurdle and therefore need to find improvement.

“Echoes In Rain could be a difficult ride over two and a half miles but ratings-wise, she would look the one for that, with Love Envoi the biggest challenge,” said Mullins.

Echoes In Rain is one of three declared runners for Willie Mullins in the Mares Champion Hurdle
Echoes In Rain is one of three declared runners for Willie Mullins in the Mares Champion Hurdle (Niall Carson/PA)

“In the same race, Brandy Love would probably prefer to go left-handed but I think she’ll improve a good bit on her Cheltenham run.”

The Gordon Elliott-trained Queens Brook split Love Envoi and Echoes In Rain when third at the Festival and is also in the mix once more.

Elliott said: “She’s been great since Cheltenham. She’s had a good season and ran a terrific race at Cheltenham in a top-class edition of the race.

“She’s in great order and we’re looking forward to running her.”

John McConnell’s outsider Anna Bunina, third when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr last weekend, completes the line-up.

Mullins appears to hold all the aces in the final Grade One of the meeting – the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.

Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau are the clear standard setters after finishing first and second in a one-two-three-four for Mullins in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

“We haven’t missed much with Lossiemouth season – Christmas, Dublin Racing Festival, Cheltenham. That’s a lot on a filly and she’s not the biggest filly in the world but she has a huge constitution so hopefully, we ask for just one more day,” said the Closutton handler.

Willie Mullins at Punchestown earlier this week
Willie Mullins at Punchestown earlier this week (Brian Lawless/PA)

“There’s no reason to say that she won’t give it. She’s just so laid back, I don’t think racing or anything fazes her or takes too much out of her. She’s really top class.”

Mullins also fields Cinsa and Zarak The Brave, with the latter considered no forlorn hope on what is his first appearance since finishing second to Lossiemouth in a Grade Three at Fairyhouse in December.

Mullins added: “I think Zarak The Brave is a nice type. He showed a lot and then got a colic during the season and we had to put him to one side, but he’s a horse to keep an eye on.”

Luca Morgan hoping to continue momentum after picking up conditional title

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Luca Morgan has the support of Ben Pauling and his parents to thank as he prepares to lift the 2023 champion conditional trophy at Sandown on Saturday.

Based with Pauling in Naunton Downs, near Cheltenham, the 22-year-old has finished comfortably clear of Harry Kimber – but at 5 foot 11, he never expected to be a jockey taking the quantity of rides he has, as his height prevents him from making the lighter weight required to partner lower-ranked horses.

“It (championship) feels great, it’s not something I ever thought I’d do so it’s a nice surprise and I’m pleased I’ve done it,” he said.

“We had a good summer and managed to keep it up through the winter.

Global Citizen and Luca Morgan in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Chase at Cheltenham
Global Citizen and Luca Morgan in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Chase at Cheltenham (Tim Goode/PA)

“I didn’t have any targets or ambitions as such. I’ve always been one of the taller lads and at the same time heavier, so having loads of rides and loads of winners numerically wasn’t going to be my bag.

“I’ve had so much support from Ben that it balanced out. I’ve managed to ride plenty of winners for Ben and for Michael Scudamore and a couple of other trainers.”

Morgan does not come from an equestrian background – but that did not prevent him and his brother Beau, also employed by Pauling, from pursuing a career in racing after early experiences at riding schools and in the hunting field.

He said: “From a young age I was interested in going to have riding lessons, I was quite small then but I kept going and my mum and dad were really supportive and ended up getting me my first pony.

“Then I went into pony racing and that was that. Beau started riding a lot later than me at about 14. He used to take the mick out of me for riding horses but we had a little hunter at home and he had a little spin on her one day and learnt to ride in about 10 minutes. Next thing you know, he wanted to come and ride out and now he’s up at Ben’s doing what I did a few years ago.

Luca Morgan at Worcester
Luca Morgan at Worcester (David Davies/PA)

“Me and Beau are quite competitive, but we haven’t ridden against each other that much yet. We both rode a couple of days ago at Kempton, he was second and I was fourth so he’s winning at the moment, but I’m sure I’ll ride against him soon and put the record straight!”

Morgan considers winners ridden at Cheltenham, his local track, to be the peak of the season so far, but also particularly enjoys the chance to ride any horses owned by his mother, Georgia Morgan.

“There have been some highlights, I’ve ridden three Cheltenham winners and they’re pretty special at the time. I get a real buzz out of riding good horses on good days and I’ve been lucky enough as a conditional that Ben’s put me up on good horses on good days,” he said.

“Mum owns a few horses, she’d always have one or two. we’ve got Twig who has done quite well and I won on at the start of the season. I always like riding a winner for mum in her colours. My mum and dad were so good and helped me out so much when I was young.”

Luca Morgan's brother Beau aboard Twig, who is owned by their mother
Luca Morgan’s brother Beau aboard Twig, who is owned by their mother (John Walton/PA)

Morgan has been riding without a claim since January and has not found it to be too much of a hindrance, something he hopes will continue into the new season and he looks to reach the ultimate goal of riding a Cheltenham Festival winner after coming close aboard Martin Pipe runner-up No Ordinary Joe at the meeting this year.

Morgan added: “I think it could be positive, I lost my claim in January and it gets harder after that, but I’d been riding for a few seasons and it took me a while to lose it. Now I’ve fully lost it I think I’m experienced enough to ride without it, things haven’t gone too badly since January so if I can keep that up I’ll be pleased.

“To ride a Cheltenham winner any time of the year is brilliant but with a Festival winner, I’ve hit the crossbar a couple of times – I’ve been in the winner’s enclosure but never at the number one. That would be a dream come true if one day we could do that.”

Brian Hughes only looking forward after banking third championship

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Brian Hughes is preparing to thrust himself straight into another title bid ahead of being crowned champion jockey for the third time on the final day of the season at Sandown on Saturday.

The Northern Irishman first claimed the title at the end of 2019-20 season and while he was defeated by Harry Skelton the following year, he regained the trophy at the end of last term.

This campaign’s 164 winners (before racing on Friday) falls some way short of last year’s total when Hughes reached and passed the significant milestone of 200 winners ridden in a season – joining Peter Scudamore, AP McCoy and Richard Hughes in a small band of riders to have done so.

Lost fixtures due to challenging weather conditions and a slight dip in the form of his mounts are the possible causes for the lower number this term, but Hughes’ relationship with trainer Donald McCain continues to provide plenty of success for both parties.

Hughes aboard Minella Drama at Aintree
Hughes aboard Minella Drama at Aintree (Mike Egerton/PA)

Hughes said: “It’s good to be champion again. Plenty of hard work. We didn’t get to the number we did last year, but we’ll try harder next year!

“We missed a lot of days racing with bad weather, and you’d have to say the horses weren’t running as well as they were the season before, even though they haven’t been running badly.

“We get on great, Donald’s a brilliant trainer. He’s got a great team and a bunch of loyal owners who have supported the yard and me through that.

“It’s great, I enjoy riding Donald’s horses and we’ve had a lot of success throughout the past couple of seasons. Hopefully we’ll have a few more successful seasons to come.”

Hughes also puts forward his agent Richard Hale as a key figure in his career, with the leading northern-based agent doing a sterling job in balancing all of the champion’s riding commitments for the various stables he is connected to.

Hughes at Doncaster
Hughes at Doncaster (Mike Egerton/PA)

“That’s Richard Hale’s job, I have little to do with that,” Hughes said of the organisation of his rides.

“I just play dumb and he sorts it all out! He keeps all the balls in the air and luckily it works, we’ve done it for a few years now and he keeps everything going forwards. ‘I don’t know, speak to Richard’ – that’s my party line!

“He’s been my agent for the last 18 years – he’s a friend as much as an agent. I put total trust in him and what he puts me on, I ride. We never have any problems.”

Though a constant on northern and midlands racecourses, Hughes is occasionally absent on some of the sport’s biggest days of racing as he will opt to take a ride with a winning chance at a smaller meeting rather than partner an also-ran in a higher-profile race.

This is an approach that has been numerically successful for the rider and he does not see the merit in taking outside rides with slim chances when there are better opportunities elsewhere.

Hughes holding the trophy last season
Hughes holding the trophy last season (Nigel French/PA)

“Everyone wants to ride the big-race winners and win the competitive races and it’s not that I don’t want to. Donald buys a lot of horses and we’re hoping to drop on a couple of good, Graded horses,” he said.

“If you don’t ride for the people who have them, it makes it fairly hard to get on them.

“I want to be competitive and ride winners, I don’t want to be there for a social runner. When I’m not going to be competitive somewhere, I won’t go. If I’ve got a good ride I’ll be there in a heartbeat.

“I go where I’m required to go, that’s my job. I’m not looking at anyone with envy. Wherever you’re going you want to be competitive, if you can’t get on any good rides then it’s sort of pointless to go.”

At 37 Hughes considers himself to be in the autumn of his career and it is that motivation that will push him to hit the ground running throughout the summer to try to bank more winners in pursuit of a fourth title this time next year.

Sedgefield Racecourse – Tuesday April 19th
Brian Hughes at Sedgefield (Nigel French/PA)

“We’ll start and try to get winners on the board. We’ll just just keep rolling on, I don’t have many years left to ride so I’ve got to ride while I can,” he said.

“I’m 38 in June, 40 is not going to be far away. It doesn’t seem like any time at all since I came to England in 2005.

“There’s not many jump jockeys go on much past 40, maybe early 40s but on the Flat they go to 50. I just don’t want to take anything for granted.”

Nicholls so proud of Bravemansgame – and says more to come yet

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Paul Nicholls has expressed his pride in Bravemansgame, whose season ended with a gallant third in the Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday.

Always held in the highest regard by the Ditcheat handler, the eight-year-old started his campaign at Wetherby with a comeback win in the Charlie Hall, which was soon followed by completing Nicholls’ long-term goal and winning the King George at Christmas – a victory that put him in the picture for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Although Galopin Des Champs proved too tough a nut to crack at Prestbury park, his runner-up effort cemented his position as Britain’s number one staying chaser and provided the champion trainer with his best finish in the blue riband since Denman and Kauto Star placed behind Long Run in 2011.

He faced a Cheltenham rematch with Galopin Des Champs for his final assignment of the season at the Punchestown Festival – again playing a central role in another thrilling Grade One contest.

“I was mighty proud of him,” said Nicholls, speaking on a media call with Great British Racing.

“It was a fantastic race, he jumped brilliantly and everything went to plan. He quickened up to the second-last and as I was watching him head off up the straight, I couldn’t see him getting beat.

“He just lost a bit of momentum at the last and Harry (Cobden) was mortified as you probably saw from his interview – but I said to him, ‘If you fired him at it and fell you would have kicked yourself’. The stride just wasn’t there and it just cost him a chance of winning.”

Bravemansgame (left) jumps the last before finishing third in the Punchestown Gold Cup
Bravemansgame (left) jumps the last before finishing third in the Punchestown Gold Cup (Brian Lawless/PA)

He went on: “It was the end of a very, very hard season. I know he hadn’t run that many times, but we had obviously trained him quite hard and targeted races and got him really fit for them, so I was pleased by the way he looked on Wednesday and with how he ran.

“He’s run a mighty race and he’s run mighty all season. He’s won a Charlie Hall, a King George and then finished second in a Gold Cup – he ran very well in that race against some very good horses.”

Nicholls now has plenty to look forward to next season, where he believes Bravemansgame will be just hitting his peak and where over the next few seasons his achievements could see him join the Ditcheat immortals.

“He’s been fantastic and I’m sure there is more to come from him,” continued the champion trainer.

“He’s only an eight-year-old and if you go back to the days of Denman and Kauto I don’t think they reached their peak until they were nine and 10 so hopefully we have a bit more to come.

“It’s exciting to have a horse like that and we’re really looking forward to next season. He has come out of the race at Punchestown well. He’s going to have a holiday now and then we’ll target a race in the autumn before he goes to Kempton again.

“He’s right up there with Clan Des Obeaux and Silviniaco Conti who won King Georges and Aintree Bowls and things like that. They were good horses. I think he’s right up there with the very best, if not going to turn out to be the best, but the next two years will determine that. He’s done very well and is going the right way.

“For any of those horses to achieve what Kauto achieved is near impossible because he was such a high-class horse and a once-in-a-lifetime horse. But Bravemansgame is carrying the flag for us and we’re very proud of him.”

Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls during a visit to Manor Farm Stables
Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls during a visit to Manor Farm Stables (Adam Davy/PA)

While winning the King George is almost par for the course for any Nicholls-trained staying chaser, Bravemansgame’s second in the Gold Cup has given the champion trainer optimism he could now have the horse to provide him with a fifth victory in the Cheltenham Festival feature.

He said: “Clan and Conti couldn’t got at all at Cheltenham and a lot of horses can’t perform at Cheltenham and I think next year if we ran in the Gold Cup we would probably ride Bravemansgame with a bit more restraint.

“We were right on the front end and there to get shot at and he probably just ran out of petrol a little bit.

“He jumps well and it might be we just need to take our time a little more with him and see if he can improve a few lengths – that’s all we need to do.”

For now though, Bravemansgame will spend his summer being carefully watched over by his master trainer in the paddock once used by some of the best champions in National Hunt history.

“I’ve got a paddock ready for him and Pic D’orhy in front of my house and they will go there together,” added Nicholls.

“At one time I would have Big Bucks, Master Minded, Kauto and Denman in that field – that was an amazing foursome to look at every day. It’s now probably half the size but those two will go out there and I will enjoy looking at them every day.”

Heavy rain leads to Sandown abandoning Friday card

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Friday’s high-profile Flat fixture at Sandown had to be abandoned after heavy rain left the course unfit for racing.

The Esher track was due to stage a two-day meeting, with Saturday’s end-of-season jumps fixture preceded by a quality card on the level.

Derby and King George hero Adayar was due to make his return in the Group Three bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes, while several colts had the opportunity to stake a Derby claim in the bet365 Classic Trial.

The Group Two bet365 Mile was also set to take place, but Sandown’s clerk of the course Andrew Cooper called a precautionary inspection for 7am late on Friday evening and ultimately had no option but to call off proceedings.

He said: “We had just under 12 millimetres of rain here on Thursday, the bulk of which arrived from 6pm onwards. Once that set in, that was when we triggered the precautionary inspection.

“I wouldn’t say the rain wasn’t forecast, but things took a turn for the worse at that sort of time, having previously been looking reasonably OK.

“We looked just after 7am this morning and unfortunately after just under half an inch of rain, in Flat racing terms, it’s left the track very patchy, with false patches in places you frankly can’t avoid.

“The jumps racing on Saturday won’t be an issue, but in Flat racing terms the inconsistency of the ground is quite dramatic in some places after that rain and it wasn’t fit for purpose.”

Sandown's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper
Sandown’s clerk of the course Andrew Cooper (Simon Cooper/PA)

Cooper confirmed no inspection is planned ahead of the bet365 Gold Cup meeting on Saturday and is hopeful the key Flat races lost from Friday’s card will be rearranged.

“The outlook is dry and there shouldn’t be any problems of significant nature on the jumps course. There is certainly no issue in terms of the racing going ahead,” Cooper added.

“I would think those discussions will kick in (regarding rescheduling Friday’s races). The British Horseracing Authority will lead on that as ultimately they’re their Pattern races.

“They are important races at this time of the season, so I’m sure every effort will be made to reprogramme some if not all of the Group races.”

Anthony Honeyball on the mark at Punchestown yet again

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Anthony Honeyball made another successful raid on the Punchestown Festival when Kilbeg King finished with plenty of gusto to land the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle.

The Dorset-based handler has a stellar record when sending travellers to the Kildare track, winning with Sully D’Oc AA in 2021, before saddling Lilith to strike 12 months ago and he was on the mark with his first runner at the meeting this time around.

There was €29,500 on offer to the winner in this fiercely competitive three-mile hurdle, but there was never any doubt the prize-money was heading home with the Potwell Farm handler once Aidan Coleman forced his way to the front, the duo pulling four-and-a-half-lengths clear of the runner-up Lets Go Champ.

Honeyball was thrilled to add to his tally at Punchestown and said: “We’ve been very lucky here. We brought him here nice and early, he got here on Monday.

“We weren’t sure if he was good enough but we felt that he’d run his race.

“Aidan gave him an absolute peach. He had to scrap a bit to get him out and once he got out he cut loose.

“He had quite a hard race at Newbury when finishing second and we thought we’d wait then until Punchestown. We love coming here and it’s a 0-145.

Kilbeg King and connections after winning the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle
Kilbeg King and connections after winning the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (PA)

“It’s worked out well. We got him fresh and they have been very good to us here and we had a few canters on the course. It does horses good after a long season.

“I think the better ground was probably a help as well although he’s a heavy topped horse and it wouldn’t want to be any quicker than this.”

There was no joy however for Lilith in the defence of her Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Handicap Chase crown, with the eight-year-old well held in third.

El Fabiolo strolls to victory to follow up Arkle success

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El Fabiolo maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a bloodless victory in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The winner of the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown in February before downing Jonbon and justifying favouritism in the Cheltenham Festival equivalent, Willie Mullins’ six-year-old was sent off the 1-4 favourite to complete his novice chasing campaign in style.

Prone to hitting the odd fence, El Fabiolo got his jumping errors out the way early on this occasion before producing a professional round of fencing and he travelled smoothly in second in the hands of Paul Townend as Dysart Dynamo cut his usual bold sight from the front under Danny Mullins.

In a matter of strides El Fabiolo breezed alongside his stablemate approaching the second last and the result was soon a simple formality as having picked off Dysart Dynamo with ease, Townend kicked clear on the run to the last before coasting home for a facile 11-length success.

Mullins has now won this Grade One contest eight years in a row, while this was his 10th victory overall in the two mile event.

Meanwhile the performance from El Fabiolo was enough for the gelding to be made Betfair’s 6-4 favourite for next year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.

“I was wondering about four out had Danny stole a march but Paul said the minute he pulled his lad out and said go he just lit up underneath him,” said Mullins.

“He was a bit ring rusty over the first few fences.

“He looks all over a two-miler. He can go up in trip and I’d have no problem going two and a half as he’s nice and relaxed.

El Fabiolo and connections after the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase
El Fabiolo and connections after the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (PA)

“He’s improving all the time but the way he does things over two miles he may stay at that. Paul is all the time pulling him back to keep the lid on him.”

On Dysart Dynamo, he added: “Dysart Dynamo doesn’t know when to give up and that might even be his downfall. It was great to see him getting up at Cheltenham, he got a horrendous fall but he got up, shook himself and he’s been fine since.”

Mullins trains 16 horses for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and all 15 that have run this season for the Closutton handler have found the scoresheet. The final horse, Readin Tommy Wrong, will attempt to complete the clean sweep when he is due to run at Ballinrobe next Tuesday.

Mullins, who earlier won the Pigsback.com Handicap Chase with 11-4 favourite Dinoblue and the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle for a third time with Klassical Dream (3-1 joint-favourite), made it four for the day when Ballyburn (10-11 favourite) won the JP & M Doyle (C & G) Flat Race impressively.

“It was a real good performance. Once again he pulled very hard but once Patrick (Mullins) got him down to gallop he picked up well,” said Mullins.

“To run away from a nice field of bumper horses, that’s nice for Ronnie (Bartlett, joint owner with football agent David Manasseh) for next season.”