Tag Archive for: Paul Nicholls

Cheltenham hero Stage Star aiming to post another winning performance

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Stage Star bids to give members of the Owners Group another memorable day by supplementing Cheltenham Festival success with victory in the opening race of the Grand National meeting at Aintree on Thursday.

More than 3,000 people paid just £59 for a share in the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old, who was a Grade One-winning hurdler last season and is four from five over fences to far this term.

Only a handful of his lucky owners were able to join him in the parade ring before and after his front-running victory in last month’s Turners’ Novices’ Chase, but many more proudly raised their mauve and black scarves around the hallowed winner’s enclosure, ensuring Stage Star received one of the loudest receptions of the week in the Cotswolds.

Similarly joyous scenes can be expected on Merseyside if he can follow up four weeks later in the Racehorse Lotto Manifesto Novices’ Chase – and Nicholls is in confident mood.

Paul Nicholls celebrates Stage Star's Cheltenham success
Paul Nicholls celebrates Stage Star’s Cheltenham success (Tim Goode/PA)

“I was blown away by the way he won the Turners at Cheltenham. He has plenty of boot, travelled well, jumped for fun and was going clear at the finish,” the champion trainer told Betfair.

“The extra week since the Festival is a big plus for Stage Star who seems in top order and worked really well on Tuesday morning.

“Everyone keeps asking if our horses that performed so well at Cheltenham will be all right at Aintree. I think they are fine, they are doing everything I’ve asked of them at home and I couldn’t be happier with them. The only way to find out is to run them and I expect Stage Star to shine.”

The biggest threat to Stage Star appears to be Banbridge, who was taken out of the Turners’ Novices’ Chase on the morning of the race due to the rain-softened ground at Cheltenham.

Banbridge on his way to winning at Cheltenham in November
Banbridge on his way to winning at Cheltenham in November (Tim Goode/PA)

His trainer, Joseph O’Brien, is hoping the decision to sidestep the Festival could pay off on Thursday.

He said: “He’s been in good form since missing Cheltenham and we’re looking forward to running him.

“Hopefully they won’t get too much rain and we’re hoping for a good run.

“We’ve been happy with his preparation.”

Saint Roi (Willie Mullins) and Straw Fan Jack (Sheila Lewis) both step up in distance after finishing third and fourth in the Arkle at Cheltenham, with Visionarian (Peter Fahey) completing the field.

O’Brien also houses a leading contender for the Jewson Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle in Nusret, who was last seen winning the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton in February.

“He comes in here fresh and has seemed very well in the run up to it,” the trainer added.

“It looks a good race and it will probably take a career-best to win, but he seems in good nick and we’re hoping for a good run.”

The standard is set by the JP McManus-owned Zenta, who finished third in a one-two-three-four for Willie Mullins in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Bo Zenith after winning at Haydock
Bo Zenith after winning at Haydock (Ashley Iveson/PA)

In-form trainer Gary Moore runs two in the Grade One contest, with Haydock and Stratford scorer Bo Zenith joined by stablemate Perseus Way, who was runner-up to Nusret in the Adonis before finishing down the field in the Boodles at the Festival last month.

Moore said: “It’s going to be tough to beat the Willie Mullins horse, but they’re two nice horses and they both go there with reasonable chances.

“With Bo Zenith this has always been the plan and we thought the other fella deserved to take his chance, too.

“Perseus Way has been consistent all season really and Cheltenham was just a mess for him – everything went wrong from the word go there.”

Paul Nicholls’ star chaser Clan Des Obeaux is retired

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Clan Des Obeaux, one of the best chasers Britain has produced in the last few years, has been retired.

The dual King George VI Chase winner, owned by Paul Barber, Ged Mason and Sir Alex Ferguson, was last seen finishing second to Allaho in the Punchestown Gold Cup last April.

However, he suffered a suspensory injury ahead of a planned return to action at the Grand National meeting, where he was set to defend his Aintree Bowl title, and trainer Paul Nicholls lost a race against time to get him fit for a hat-trick bid for the race he won in 2021 and 2022.

Connections feel the 11-year-old, who won five Grade One races, including the 2018 and 2019 King George and the 2021 Punchestown Gold Cup, owes them nothing, and they have decided to draw stumps on a career that saw him win nine of 27 races over fences and finish runner-up on another nine occasions in that sphere.

“We are announcing that we are retiring Clan Des Obeaux,” Nicholls said on his weekly ‘Ditcheat Decs’ with Betfair.

“He’s got a minor injury which just keeps niggling him, it’s not going to come right and even if we give him another six months off we’ll be in the same situation this time next year.

“So, having a chat with Paul Barber, Jed Mason and Alex Ferguson, between us we decided that he’s been such a wonderful horse, he’s won two King Georges, two Aintree bowls, the Punchestown Gold Cup. He’s been an amazing horse.

“He’s had a fantastic career, I think he’s won over £1 million in prize money. He’s going to have a happy retirement.

“He’ll have a little bit of time off, probably needs six months out in the field, and we’ll find another job for him.

“I think winning at Punchestown the season before last, that was a good day, to go and beat the Irish on their home ground was good. He was top of his game and that was fantastic.’’

Clan Des Obeaux ruled out of Aintree return

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Paul Nicholls has lost a race against time to get Clan Des Obeaux ready for Aintree.

The dual King George VI Chase winner had been making good progress from a suspensory injury ahead of a planned return to action at the Grand National meeting, where he was set to defend his Aintree Bowl title.

The 11-year-old, owned by Paul Barber, Ged Mason and Sir Alex Ferguson, was last seen finishing second to Allaho in the Punchestown Gold Cup last April.

Clan Des Obeaux had been making strides in his rehabilitation, but Nicholls has decided he will not attempt a hat-trick in the race he won in 2021 and 2022 and wait until next term with the five-times Grade One winner instead.

He said: “We have run out of time to get him ready, so we will just have to wait until next season.

“He had a little bit of a suspensory problem and has been doing everything and coming along well.

“He did a strong piece of work last week away and it has just flared up again.

“The warning light is flashing and we’ve just not had enough time to get him right, so we’ve had to pull stumps for the season.

“Unfortunately, much as we and everyone has tried to get him ready, we’re not going to get there.”

Bravemansgame is still an Aintree possible
Bravemansgame is still an Aintree possible (Adam Davy/PA)

King George winner and Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame may head to Aintree, although the 13-times champion trainer admitted there are no guarantees.

He added: “Bravemansgame is not necessarily going. It’s still an option, always was.

“All those horses that went to Cheltenham, we are not making any decision until nearer the time.

“We have got plenty of time yet. He is a possible, along with Stage Star and all those. It’s not a definite but it’s a possible.”

Big end-of-season handicaps in mind for Threeunderthufive

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Threeunderthufive will be aimed at either the Coral Scottish Grand National or bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown having been scratched from the Randox Grand National.

Although a four-time winner over the larger obstacles as a novice – including twice in Grade Two company – things have not gone as smoothly for Paul Nicholls’ charge when tackling some hot handicaps this term, unseating at the first in the Coral Gold Cup before struggling to make his presence felt in both Warwick’s Classic Chase and most recently the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival.

Those performances have only underlined the belief of connections that a tilt at the Merseyside marathon may come a year too soon for the eight-year-old and he will skip Aintree to continue his big-field education either at Ayr on April 22 or a week later at Sandown on the final day of the season.

Threeunderthrufive with a stable hand during a visit to Manor Farm Stables
Threeunderthrufive with a stable hand during a visit to Manor Farm Stables (Adam Davy/PA)

“It was always the case we thought the National might come a season too early for him, but if he was to run well in the Ultima his mark would have gone up and he would have been well-in for a National,” explained Iain Turner, racing manager for owners the McNeill family.

“So when he didn’t (run well) and he was subsequently dropped 3lb there was no need keeping him in a Grand National.

“He will probably go for the Scottish Grand National or to Sandown for the bet365 Gold Cup.”

Reflecting on Threeunderthrufive’s eighth-placed finish in the Ultima, Turner believes the performance has been reflective of his season as a whole, with the gelding having to adapt from racing in small-field novice chases to the hurly-burly of some of the calendar’s most fiercely-competitive handicaps.

He continued: “I think for some of these novices coming out of novice chases, if you’re not going to be one of the graded ones it becomes a big leap to run in these significant double-figure field races.

“In novice chases Threeunderthrufive was able to get an easy lead with novices not wanting to go on, while in the Ultima you line him up with the intention of sitting in the first three or four and he’s taken completely off his feet. It was probably a credit to himself he’s managed to hang on and finish eighth.

“While it was disappointing and we hoped he would be competitive, I think the experience he’s had will help him be a better horse next year when he’s actually used to running in these bigger-field races and he can carry that experience with him.

“If we go to Scotland it won’t be any easier for him, but if anything, he’s going to be 3lb lower and he’s going to be learning and getting some more big-field experience.”

Nicholls and Cobden hit Kempton double

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Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden added to an already successful week as Outlaw Peter initiated a Kempton double in the Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle.

The Ditcheat team enjoyed dual Grade One success at the Cheltenham Festival with Stage Star and Stay Away Fay, while Bravesmansgame put up a strong challenge to Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup before having to settle for second.

While Nicholls admits Outlaw Peter would not be of that calibre, he was pleased to see the 3-1 favourite on the mark at the Sunbury track.

A winner at Wincanton last time out, the gelding took a another two-mile-five-furlong hurdle with a positive, prominent run to score by two and three-quarter lengths.

“I was a bit worried about the ground, having rained, because he pulled up in the Lanzarote but most of them did that day,” Nicholls said.

“Today was a slightly easier race, not so competitive, and he was able to dominate and just fill his lungs all the time. It was never in doubt really.

“He could go to Aintree or Ayr, or even a novice hurdle at Cheltenham at the April meeting. We’ll find one more run for him somewhere then he’ll go novice chasing in the autumn.

“Harry just said he’ll be some chaser. He’s quite versatile, he’ll win over two (miles) and a half on soft, he’ll go three miles on better ground.

“I shouldn’t think he’ll be a Grade One horse but he’ll win loads of races.”

Complete Unknown, pictured at Sandown last year
Complete Unknown, pictured at Sandown last year (Steven Paston/PA)

Complete Unknown was a decisive winner of the Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Chase, completing the Nicholls-Cobden brace.

A consistent type, the gelding was last seen finishing second the Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick when beaten 13 lengths by Galia Des Liteaux.

That contest was over three miles on heavy ground, but at Kempton he stepped down in trip to just over two and a half miles on a good to soft surface.

Whilst prevailing by an unchallenged 16 lengths from Fergal O’Brien’s Silver Hallmark, Cobden believes the horse will ultimately make a staying chaser and a candidate for the longest distance contests.

He said: “He’s a lovely horse, very progressive.

“He’s one of those horses I could just see next year running in a Welsh National with those good staying chasers.

“This time next year he might go to Uttoxeter for the Midlands National, something like that. He loves soft ground as well, which is the key to him.

“He could be a graded horse but I think he’s just a very good handicapper, if I was going to put my money on it.

“I think he just lacks that gear, he doesn’t quite have that class to travel through in a graded race. On a bit of good ground, he’d always be doing a bit too much.

“He’ll earn some nice pots in his time anyway,” he told Racing TV.

Nicholls ‘mighty proud’ of Gold Cup second Bravemansgame

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Paul Nicholls is not ruling out another run this season for Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame.

The eight-year-old and Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs produced a fantastic renewal of the race at Cheltenham on Friday, with the latter horse eventually prevailing by seven lengths after a fantastic battle from the last fence.

There are a limited number of options for horses in the division to compete at the latter end of the season, with the Bowl at Aintree and the Punchestown Gold Cup the two most suitable races.

Nicholls is considering both, though stablemate Clan Des Obeaux is pencilled in for the former and the latter could mean a rematch with Galopin Des Champs on home turf.

The trainer told Racing TV: “It was an amazing race. The Irish Gold Cup winner, the best staying chaser in Ireland, and the King George winner, the best staying chaser in England, jumped the last together. What a race.

Bravemansgame (right) in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Bravemansgame (right) in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Steven Paston/PA)

“They went an end-to-end gallop. I’ve been involved in some good Gold Cups but I’d say that’s as good as any, if not one of the best Gold Cups you’ll ever see.”

Regarding Bravemansgame’s ability to stay over the three-and-a-quarter-mile trip, the trainer added: “If you took the winner out, no one would even question if he stayed. He’d have won by seven lengths, heavy on the bridle. He got into a real battle from the back of the last.

“I know lot of horses find that tough, that final furlong, it doesn’t mean they don’t stay. He definitely stays, he proved that yesterday. No excuses at all, he just got beat by a better horse, Paul (Townend) rode him for luck and he got the luck.”

The Gold Cup will be the ultimate target next season and hopefully for further seasons to come, with Nicholls unsure at this stage if there will be another outing for the gelding this term.

He said: “I’m mighty proud of him, next year we’ll look forward to giving it another go. Plenty of horses have been second and gone and turned it round and won.

Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame landing at the last
Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame landing at the last (Tim Goode/PA)

“Yes we got beat, and beat by a very good horse, but next year’s another year.

“He was really tired straight afterwards, but he was straight out eating his grub up this morning. I saw him have a half-hour on the walker this morning and he was fresh as anything. That’s a really good sign.

“The only two options you’ve got are the Bowl or go to Punchestown, there’s nothing else for him. We’re planning to run Clan Des Obeaux in the Bowl because he’s come about really nicely, we could have a really fresh horse for that.

“Then that leaves Punchestown and I don’t know if we want to go and take on Galopin Des Champs if he goes there again.

“I’ve have a talk to the lads who own him and make a plan. He doesn’t have to run again, but if he was to bounce back and was in really good order, we could consider it.

“We’d definitely give it another go as a lot can happen in a year in racing. He ran so well, I like to think he’d be there for the next two or three years.

“Kauto Star and Denman kept on running every year, you’ve just got to plan their campaigns. I suspect it’ll be the Charlie Hall, or something similar, the King George will be his big target, then a little break and back to Cheltenham.

“It’ll be an exciting challenge next year to see if we can find a few pounds.”

Bravemansgame will be back next year, says proud Nicholls

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Paul Nicholls vowed to bring Bravemansgame back for another crack at the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup after the King George winner only gave best to Galopin Des Champs in the final 100 yards.

Buoyed with confidence having saddled his second winner of the week with Stay Away Fay earlier in the day, the champion trainer never shies from a challenge and wants another crack at the Willie Mullins-trained favourite, who eventually won by seven lengths.

The pair were locked in combat over the last of the 22 fences, but it was the 7-5 favourite, a year younger at seven, who prevailed.

“He’s run an absolute blinder, but he’s just been beaten by a very good horse. He couldn’t have done more and got a great ride by Harry (Cobden),” said Nicholls.

“He’ll be back next year when he’ll be another year stronger and we’ll have another go.

“Turning in I thought we had a right chance but the winner was fantastic, we always knew he was the horse to beat. The winner won on merit.

“What we have to consider is that our target was the King George and while this wasn’t an afterthought we weren’t always going to come here.

“We gave it a go, we weren’t sure about the track, but he travelled beautifully and we’ve just been outstayed from the last by a very smart horse and I’m very proud of him.

“We hate finishing second, but he was always going to be the horse to beat.”

Galopin Des Champs begins to pull clear
Galopin Des Champs begins to pull clear (Tim Goode/PA)

He went on: “The track was never going to be a problem, I could never understand those who thought it was, he’s only run here once before today.

“A bit better ground would suit him, the whole way I was thinking he maybe just wasn’t travelling quite as well as he does on good ground but he’s a wonderful horse.

“Next year we’ll go Charlie Hall, King George and back here again. All the horses this week have run well bar Hermes Allen but he’ll be back. We’ve had a great Festival really, Stay Away Fay might be a Gold Cup horse of the future and we’ve been second in the Gold Cup.”

Cobden had no excuses, adding: “Seconds are never remembered are they, but he’s run a brilliant race and I couldn’t have been in a better position turning in.

“He’s galloped right to the line but we’ve been beaten by the better horse.

“I don’t think a lot of people felt he was man enough for a Gold Cup but he was relaxed, jumped well, stayed and was second best.”

Conflated finished a further six and a half lengths back in third for Gordon Elliott, who had a mini drama just before the race when his jockey Davy Russell was stood down by the doctor.

He was replaced by Sam Ewing and Elliott was full of praise for the youngster: “He didn’t miss a beat, he ran a great race. He got a little hampered turning in but it didn’t make much difference. We’re absolutely thrilled with him.

Sam Ewing was a late replacement for Davy Russell on Conflated
Sam Ewing was a late replacement for Davy Russell on Conflated (Niall Carson/PA)

“Sam gave him a beautiful ride and got him in a lovely rhythm and he ran his heart out.

“Davy was sore, I didn’t get much chance to talk to him but he just told me he was too sore to ride our horse so it looks like he was kicked.

“We’ll see how he is before deciding if he runs again.”

Grand National winner Noble Yeats flew up the hill to pip Protektorat for fourth in what some will see as a perfect Grant National trial.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen said: “I thought he ran really well, apart from the fact he got outpaced at some point.

Noble Yeats will head back to Aintree
Noble Yeats will head back to Aintree (David Davies/PA)

“He wasn’t tailed off and he absolutely flew up the hill.

“I think he would have been happier with a bit more room, he was caught on the inside but then when Ahoy Senor fell it helped him a bit as it opened things out.

“Onwards to Aintree, if the horse is fine. What do they say about the Guineas, fourth in the Guineas, win the Derby. Let’s hope.”

Henry de Bromhead’s two previous Gold Cup winners Minella Indo and A Plus Tard were both pulled up.

“A Plus Tard was very unlucky. He was going well, tracking Paul (Townend on the winner) but then had to jump two horses (Ahoy Senor fell and brought down Sounds Russian).

“That’s the luck of the draw, but the main thing is he’s back. He needs to go left-handed so I imagine he will go to Aintree.

“Minella Indo completely missed the start. Nico (de Boinville) was annoyed but his chance had gone.”

Hewick still held place claims when falling at the second-last.

Stay Away Fay powers to Albert Bartlett victory

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Paul Nicholls earned his second Grade One victory of the week at the Cheltenham Festival when Stay Away Fay was given a masterful ride by Harry Cobden to take the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

The 18-1 chance travelled well throughout and was always up with the pace in the three-mile test, which provided its usual searching test of stamina.

It was not without incident, either, as favourite Corbetts Cross ran out at the final flight, sending jockey Mark Walsh crashing to the turf.

Though challenging at the time, the winner seemed to have his measure having led at the second-last where plenty were still in with a chance.

Cobden put the six-year-old’s stamina to good use and gradually wore down his rivals to give the champion trainer his first success in the race.

Noel Meade’s Affordale Fury (150-1) relished the step up in trip and got within a length of the winner, just holding second from the Paul Nolan-trained Sandor Clegane.

Nicholls said: “I thought he’d run well as he should have won the last day and he’s taken a step forward since then and he looked fantastic.

“We were very positive on him today, he jumped really well and it’s only the third run of his life, there’s loads of improvement to come.

“We’ll probably go to Aintree with him if he’s all right, otherwise it will be chasing next year.

“He’s been quite backward, that’s the best he’s jumped today, he’s just a young, improving horse.”

He added: “At home he does all his work with Hermes Allen as they are both a bit one-paced and he has taken a big step forward.

“He probably should have won at Doncaster, he’s improved since and it’s just fantastic.

“I think Hermes Allen will probably have a wind op but he’ll go chasing too, they are two really nice horses to go chasing with.”

A jubilant Harry Cobden
A jubilant Harry Cobden (Tim Goode/PA)

Cobden added: “I thought they’d have gone faster but we only went an even gallop. He travelled very well, jumped great and when we turned in, I thought he had a nice bit left because I knew he’d stay right to the line, he’s obviously very good.

“I could feel them all stacking up behind me and from a jockey’s point of view, it is a long way to be in front turning in before the last, especially on an inexperienced horse. He was pulling up a little in front so he did well to keep going.

“I really fancied him, I thought he had a massive chance because I’ve won it before on Kilbricken Storm and I knew he was better than him.

“First time out he was green, Lorcan (Williams) was a bit unlucky on him at Doncaster but he has been trained for one day.”

Noel Meade trains the runner up
Noel Meade trains the runner up (Donall Farmer/PA)

Meade said of the runner-up: “He was only 150-1 because he virtually pulled up the last day and there were reasons for that.

“He got a fall when they went too quick in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan in November – they went a mad gallop and he ended up on the floor.

“He probably would have won that day had he stood up and then we ran him back within four weeks in the Grade One at Naas and it was too soon – he just bombed out.

“We freshened him up and he is a very, very good horse. I think he’ll be a right good chaser as he’s a good jumper and a good stayer and he got the most brilliant ride today from a young fella (Sam Ewing).”

Nolan was slightly left wondering what might have been with Sandor Clegane.

He said: “It was a big run. We knew he was better than his run in Leopardstown and he had to go to the line better than he did that day.

“He probably didn’t get the run of the race today. He got hampered at the very first and then he was shuffled back to last and pushed out wide. I’d like to look at the race again, but I think maybe he might have been the unlucky one.

“You’re always happy when you get a cheer at some stage. He ran well and he stays well and he remains an exciting prospect.

“I just thought the way he closed to the line after the distance he had to make up and being wide, we were unlucky, but it is what it is.”

Stage Star strikes from the front for Nicholls and Cobden

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Stage Star jumped his rivals into submission in the Turners Novices’ Chase to end Paul Nicholls’ three-year drought at the Cheltenham Festival.

The champion trainer had drawn a blank at the big meeting since Politologue won the Champion Chase in 2020, but it proved well worth the wait as Stage Star backed up his smart form this season to produce an excellent round of jumping and galloping.

An all-the-way winner in handicap company on Festival Trials day and a Grade One winner as a novice hurdler, he repeated the dose when it really mattered, moving back into top company with aplomb.

Sent immediately to the front by Harry Cobden, the 15-2 shot traded blows with Laura Morgan’s Notlongtilmay throughout, with the duo the only ones left in the mix after the last and the Ditcheat inmate pulling out more for a three-and-a-quarter-length success.

Odds-on favourite Mighty Potter travelled well for the majority, as did Willie Mullins’ Appreciate It, but both failed to pick up sufficiently at the business end, with the celebrations belonging to Nicholls, who took his Cheltenham tally to 47, and his jockey Cobden – himself ending a long four-year stay on the Festival cold list.

“It’s been a tough week so far, but it’s a tough place,” said Nicholls.

“We were a little bit unlucky yesterday with a couple, but that was brilliant. Different track, slightly better ground, it was always going to suit us. I said to Harry today ‘be positive, bowl along in front and ride him like the best horse in the race’. He gave him a peach of a ride there.”

Yes! Paul Nicholls celebrates
Yes! Paul Nicholls celebrates (Tim Goode/PA)

He added: “He travelled and jumped well and quickened up like he did the last day. I told Harry go out, go a nice gallop and be positive and dictate it from the front – he’s so good at doing that.

“I think if we went back and rode that race yesterday (Ballymore, with Hermes Allen) again we might have done things differently, but we’re not going to look back, we’re going to look forward.

“This is a young horse who is improving and we’re thrilled. I’m thrilled he’s come back from last year’s disaster and gone really forward. It gives me more hope for Bravemansgame in the Gold Cup tomorrow, who did exactly the same thing last spring.

“I think that is his trip and he’ll be aimed for the Ryanair next year. He probably would get three miles, but he has plenty of boot and he jumps well.”

Reflecting further, Nicholls said: “That was good for Harry today. He needed a bit of a confidence booster before tomorrow because he was bit down last night. That’s a massive plus.

“It’s hard to win here here. We’ve only got 15 or 16 runners here all week and you’ve got to make every one count.

“We’ve had a great time here over the years. It’s hard to get those horses back, but we’re building up again and I think the next few years will be positive.

“It’s not easy taking on the Irish battalions, but there are some very good trainers here and it was nice to see Dan (Skelton) have a winner yesterday, too.

“We haven’t got the numbers some of the Irish trainers have and we’re up against it all the time, but we can only do our best.”

Notlongtillmay (left) ran a huge race
Notlongtillmay (left) ran a huge race (David Davies for The Jockey Club)

Morgan was understandably delighted with her runner and said: “I thought he was going to win. He’s run a screamer, he’s still only a novice, obviously, but he’s just a baby and he was a bit bold at a few which frightened me. I’m absolutely delighted with him.

“This is my dream to be around trainers like Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins, it’s just incredible.”

Gordon Elliott was philosophical after the defeat of the favourite, seen by many as one of the bankers of the week.

He said: “He didn’t have a nice experience here last year, but he’s run better than then at least. It’s always disappointing when you don’t win, but that is the game we are in.

“He never got into a decent rhythm like he did the last day. At Leopardstown he would jump and Davy (Russell) would take him back, but today he was stretching for them. We’ll get him home and see where we are.”

Russell could offer no excuses and said: “It’s very disappointing but I can’t put my finger on anything, he didn’t miss a beat the whole way. The winner is a good horse and the second isn’t bad with a string of ones next to his name. I’ve no real excuses.

“I was worried about him hanging as he was still running, I didn’t lose much ground. I’ve won plenty of races here by drifting right. He just might not have been good enough.”

Iceo strikes Imperial gold for Nicholls

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Iceo provided Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden with big-race success ahead of next week’s Cheltenham Festival with an impressive display in the Betfair Imperial Cup at Sandown.

The champion trainer has not saddled a winner at the showpiece meeting since the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Politologue three years ago, but will return to the Cotswolds with high hopes for the likes Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle ace Hermes Allen and Gold Cup contender Bravemansgame.

The Ditcheat team claimed eight winners in the first nine days of March and Iceo continued the hot streak with victory in the traditional feature the weekend before the Festival.

The French recruit ran with promise in a couple of Grade Two juvenile events last season and finished second on his handicap debut at Sandown in January, his first appearance in 11 months.

The four-year-old was 5-1 for this tougher assignment and while the front-running Knickerbockerglory looked likely to prevail halfway up the home straight, Iceo reeled him in between the final two flights and was ultimately good value for the winning margin of just under four lengths.

Nicholls said: “He ran well here a couple of months ago having been off for a year with a tiny fracture on his cannon bone. We had to give him time and he needed that run. I said one race we will aim for is the Imperial Cup and pray it rains.

“The rain came for him, he stays strongly and it was the perfect ride. Today was always the plan and Chris (Giles, owner) has been backing him all week. If the ground would have been good they might have gone too quick for him. He wants a trip really.

“I thought he would finish fifth or sixth the last day and it looked like he was going to win jumping the last but he just got tired. At the stage of fitness he was there I knew there was huge improvement to come. I knew we had him right today.”

Paul Nicholls was delighted to win the Imperial Cup with Iceo
Paul Nicholls was delighted to win the Imperial Cup with Iceo (Steven Paston/PA)

Iceo is entered in the County Hurdle and the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday, but he appears unlikely to make a quick return.

“Looking at him there I’d say going to Cheltenham is unlikely as Harry said he had a hard race. We are not chasing any bonus,” Nicholls added.

“Chris would love to have a runner at Ayr so if the Scottish Champion Hurdle was testing ground we could run him there.”