14-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls on his team for the campaign ahead including some interesting new recruits.
When it comes to levels of consistency few can match the exploits of 14-time National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls.
While the Ditcheat handler might have fallen just short in his quest to reach a century of winners for the past two seasons, plenty of big race victories have still found their way back to Manor Farm Stables.
It is a result of those victories that has seen Nicholls win more than £2million in prize-money for the past 24 seasons, a statistic that no other jumps trainer in Britain has managed to achieve.
Although securing a record equalling 15th National Hunt Trainers’ championship appears a tough ask, this season could still be a landmark one for the handler as he closes in on Martin Pipe’s total number of jumps winners along with reaching 4,000 career victories.
And with Caldwell Potter, who missed last season through injury, back in his team alongside the likes of No Drama This End, Regent’s Stroll, and a whole heap of exciting youngsters, the sight of his animated celebrations on the biggest of occasions looks set to continue.
Nicholls said: “Anytime you have over two million pounds in prize money you have had a good season, which was the 24th season in a row we have done that. It would have been nice to crack the one hundred winners, but we had some nice winners along the way, however you can always do better.
“I’ve spent a lot of money in adding some fantastic new facilities over the summer. I’ve upgraded the schooling facility and put in a Wexford sand canter. The facilities are second to none, and we will give it a real go as we always do.
“To win 14 trainers’ championships’ has been brilliant, but now I just want to win some big races with some lovely horses.
“I’m about to beat Martin Pipe’s record for number of jump winners trained in Britain and I’m not far off training 4,000 across the board.
“Those are milestones which are fantastic to reach, and ones I never thought I would manage when I started. That reflects well on the team here at Manor Farm Stables.
“It is about having the right players in your team, which we are beginning to build back up. I’ve got some lovely new owners that have come in, and all my existing owners really support us. It is exciting times.”
