Paul Nicholls

Poised: Gentlemansgame ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe, left, on his way to winning the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Picture: Nigel French/PA Wire.

Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame's shock defeat on seasonal start at Wetherby

Harry Cobden riding Bravemansgame. Will they ride together at Wetherby on Saturday? (Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Charlie Hall Chase subject to 7am inspection at Wetherby Racecourse

Paul Townend on board Galopin Des Champs (L) jumps the last ahead of Harry Cobden on board Bravemansgame on their way to winning the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase. Bravemansgame will look to defend his Charlie Hall title at Wetherby on Saturday (Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Bravemansgame and Paul Nicholls set for Charlie Hall Chase return at Wetherby

Heading East: Malton-trained four-time Group One winner Highfield Princess' next track appearance looks set to be in the Hong Kong Sprint in December. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Group One-winning Yorkshire sprinter heading east not west for next assignment

Paul Townend celebrates winning the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase aboard Galopin Des Champs on day four of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date:(Picture: Mike Egerton)

Galopin Des Champs wins Cheltenham Gold Cup to leave Irish smiling

Defending champion: Paul Townend and Energumene celebrate after winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase last year - and are aiming for a repeat today.

Energumene bids for Queen Mother double - Yorkshire looks to Real Whacker

Hat-trick bid: Danny McMenamin and Malystic on their way to victory in The Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap Chase at Doncaster Racecourse last month – the horse’s second victory in succession.

Yorkshire's Malystic ready to take on Grade One star Greaneteen at Newbury

Impressive: Bravemansgame and Harry Cobden on their way to victory in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.

Bravemansgame shines at Wetherby as jockey Skelton rides treble

Runners and riders at Wetherby, where racing returns on Wednesday (Picture: PA)

Wetherby Racecourse back in the hunt as new season begins

Just champion: North Yorkshire's Brian Hughes was crowned Champion Jockey for the 2021-22 season at Sandown Park on Saturday. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Fitzgerald hails champion Hughes as he collects trophy

Cracking horse: Funambule Sivola has a live chance in the Marsh Chase at Aintree - the big race on the second day of the Grand National meeting. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Funambule Sivola’s Marsh Chase chance at Aintree

Shishkin and jockey Nico de Boinville after the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Sandown’s Celebration Chase likely for Shishkin’s last outing of season

Protektorat ridden by Harry Skelton carries the hopes of Sir Alex Ferguson in today's Boodles Cheltenham Hold Cup.

Skelton is hoping his Cheltenham Gold Cup Protektorat plan pays dividends

L'Homme Presse provided redemption for jockey Charlie Deutsch when winning the Brown Advisory Novices Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham redemption for jailed jockey Charlie Deutsch

This was Harry Cobden in winning action on Bravemansgame at Newbury for owners Bryan Drew and John Dance as well as champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

Bravemansgame can win Grade 1 honours at Cheltenham - Nicholls

Welcome to Yorkshire has sponsored the Ebor Festival since 2010. The troubled tourism agency was placed in administration this week.

York in no rush to land sponsor for Ebor Festival

Sha Blue and Harry Skelton in novice chase action at Wetherby a year before coming to grief in the Charlie Hall Chase at the track.

Shan Blue all set to fly in the Ryanair Chase

Bravemansgame ridden by jockey Harry Cobden goes onto win the Betfair Cheltenham Roarcast Novices' Limited Handicap Chase during Betfair Super Saturday at Newbury Racecourse.

John Dance confident he has found Laurens’ successor in Bravemansgame

Sorry: Sir Mark Todd has apologised after a video of him striking a horse with a branch appeared on social media. Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

Todd investigated as video emerges of him striking horse

Lean time: Trainer Paul Nicholls has seen his horses win just one of their last 37 races. Picture: Steven Paston/PA Wire.

Nicholls hopeful stable star will end trainer's poor run

Shishkin ridden by jockey Nico de Boinville on their way to winning the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase during Desert Orchid Chase Day of the Ladbrokes Christmas Festival at Kempton Park.

Patient approach pays off as super Shishkin lays down Queen Mother Champion Chas...
JOCKEY Nico de Boinville said “patience was a virtue” after superstar steeplechaser Shishkin quashed all worries about his well-being when running out a “pretty phenomenal” winner of the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park.

This was Harry Cobden and Clan Des Obeaux winning the 2018 King George Chase in the colours of Sir Alex Ferguson for trainer Paul Nicholls.

Paul Nicholls hoping to deliver a perfect present

Sue Smith has opted not to run stable star Midnight Shadow - pictured winning Cheltenham's prestigious Paddy Power Gold Cup under Ryan Mania - in Kempton's King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

Midnight Shadow withdrawn from competitive King George VI Chase field at Kempton

Trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Bryony Frost who won last year's King George VI Chase at Kempton with Frodon. The champion trainer hopes to be triple-handed in this year's Kempton renewal on Boxing Day.

Trainer Paul Nicholls has trio ready for King George VI challenge

Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates the Betway Bowl success of Clan Des Obeaux on the first day of this year's Grand National meeting.

Sir Alex Ferguson exclusive - What jump racing and Clan Des Obeaux mean to me

The one to beat: Bristol De Mai goes for a fourth win in the Betfair Chase at Haydock today. (Picture: Getty)

Bristol De Mai out to catch Kauto Star in Betfair Chase at Haydock Park

My Drogo ridden by Harry Skelton wins the Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle during Grand National Day of the 2021 Randox Health Grand National Festival at Aintree

My Drogo’s rivals running scared at Cheltenham

Politologue and Harry Cobden clear the last fence before going on to win the 2017 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.

Politologue and Harry Cobden aimed at Cheltenham’s Shloer Chase

This was Ahoy Senor in Grade One-winning hurdle action at Aintree in April for trainer Lucinda Russell and jockey Derek Fox.

Lucinda Russell backs Ahoy Senor to bounce back from Carlisle mishap

Fusil Raffles and Daryl Jacob were unlikely winners of a dramatic bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Charlie Hall Chase: Fusil Raffles takes his opportunity at Wetherby

This was Cyrname and Harry Cobden soaring clear to win last year's Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. Photo: Great British Racing.

Cyrname goes for double in Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby

Shan Blue puts his burgeoning reputation on the line in the Charlie Hall Chase today for brothers Dan and Harry Skelton.

Charlie Hall Chase: Skelton set on getting the better of old boss Nicholls
DAN Skelton is hopeful of getting one over his old boss Paul Nicholls by saddling second-season novice Shan Blue to victory in the £100,000 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Wetherby is preparing for its two-day bet365 Charlie Hall Chase meeting.

Big test for Gary Moore’s Porticello at Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Chase meeting

This was Mighty Thunder winning the 2021 Coral Scottish Grand National under Tom Scudamore.

Peter Scudamore could take Mighty Thunder to Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase

Harry Cobden riding Cyrname clear the last to win The Betfair Ascot Steeple Chase at Ascot Racecourse on February 16, 2019.

Who will win Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase?

Cosy win: Noon Star ridden by Richard Kingscote wins The racingtv.com Fillies' Novice Stakes at Wetherby Racecourse yesterday. Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Noon Star lays down Oaks marker at Wetherby

Brilliant record: Altior goes for fourth bet365 Celebration Chase victory at Sandown on Saturday. Picture: Paul Harding/PA Wire.

Nicky Henderson’s Altior seeks fourth bet365 Celebration Chase victory

This was Harry Cobden and Cyrname winning the 2019 Betfair Ascot Chase at the Berkshire track.

Harry Cobden and Cyrname on a retrieval mission in Ascot Chase

This was the Paul Nicholls-trained Politologue winning the 2020 Queen Mother Champion Chase under Harry Skelton.

Politologue has a new rival in Chacun Pour Soi for Cheltenham Festival defence

Festival glory: Champ ridden by jockey Barry Geraghty (left) on their way to winning the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase during day two of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire.

Champ to tune up for Cheltenham Gold Cup bid at Newbury

Cyrname oozed class when winning the 2019 Ascot Chase under Harry Cobden.

Cheltenham Gold Cup is priority for Paul Nicholls’s Cyrname

The solitary Grade One success in the career of Brian Hughes came when he won the 2018 Ascot Chase on Waiting Patiently.

Waiting Patiently can strike blow in racing’s North-South divide - Hughes

Next Destination and Harry Cobden (right) clear the last at Warwick alongside Fiddlerontheroof and Jonjo O'Neill junior (left) in the Grade Two Hampton Novices' Chase.

Jockeys Harry Cobden and Jonjo O’Neill junior show National Hunt’s future is in ...

Bryony Frost and Frodon on their way to a landmark win in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Bryony Frost’s world ‘turned upside down’ after King George win on Frodon

Bravemansgame was an impressive winner of the Challow Hurdle at Newbury under Harry Cobden.

Bravemansgame compared to legendary Denman after Newbury success

This was Sam Twiston-Davies and Clan Des Obeaux winning the 2019 King George Chase at Kempton.

Cyrname is biggest threat Clan Des Obeaux winning a third King George Chase at K...

Rocky's Treasure returned to winning ways at Doncaster under David Bass.

Rocky proves a treasure for jockey David Bass at Doncaster

Harry Skelton and Politologue clear the last in the 2020 Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Jockey Harry Skelton hoping to strike gold in Grade One Tingle Creek

Same again?: Jockey Robbie Power and Lostintranslation are looking for back-to-back victories in Haydock’s Betfair Chase. Picture: Anthony Devlin/PA

Trainer Colin Tizzard can’t wait to see Lostintranslation perform in the Betfair...

Double-handed: Black Corton is one of two horses in today's Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase at Ascot for Paul Nicholls. Picture: Julian Herbert/PA Wire.

Paul Nicholls steeling himself for an impressive debut by Real Steel at Ascot

King of Kempton: Sam Twiston-Davies riding Clan Des Obeaux clear to win The Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse last Boxing Day. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Trainer Paul Nicholls confident Clan Des Obeaux will get Betfair Chase trip

Cornerstone Lad and Henry Brooke (near side) beat Buveur D'Air in last year's Champion Hurdle.

Micky Hammond’s hopes are high for Cornerstone Lad in Fighting Fifth

Cyrname and Harry Cobden clear the last in the bet365 CXharlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. Photo: Alan Wright (www.officialphotographersuk.com).

Cyrname proves ‘class is permanent’ in winning Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Chase

RUNNERS AND RIDERS: Horses on the course at Wetherby. Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire.

Cyrname oozes class in win in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Trainer Paul Nicholls with Cyrname. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

Cyrname and Vinndication to go head-to-head in Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Chase

Decision: Paul Nicholls may send Cyrname to Ascot rather than Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase on Saturday. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire

Trainer Paul Nicholls will decide tomorrow whether to send Cyrname to Wetherby o...

A mud-splattered Harry Cobden after partnering Cyrname to Grade One glory at Ascot.

Jockey Harry Cobden confident superb Cyrname will cope with course in Wetherby’s...

The runners break from the stalls with eventual winner Megan Nicholls riding Oleg (right) in the Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap at Pontefract Racecourse. Pictures: Edward Whitaker/PA Wire

Rare Flat double at Pontefract by Paul Nicholls

Harry Cobden partners the Sir Alex Ferguson co-owned Clan Des Obeaux in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. They came to prominence when winning the 2018 King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Clan Des Obeaux tuning up nicely for Cheltenham Gold Cup

Bryony Frost after winning last year's Ryanair Chase on Frodon.

Cheltenham Festival - “Transparent tactics” no obstacle as defending champion Fr...