NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES HAS PAUL NICHOLLS RATTLED!!!

This is a proper little bitching war going on between these two big girls..They need to keep building up this false tension between the two of them then get in the ring for a charity boxing match..I see Nicholls replied to NTD with this on his twitter page

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has taken a cheeky swipe back at Nigel Twiston-Davies ahead of Haydock's Betfair Chase next month.

Twiston-Davies hinted in Tuesday's Racing Post that the Nicholls big guns Kauto Star and Denman were running scared of an early-season clash with his Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander.

The Ditcheat trainer will instead rely on What A Friend for the big race on Merseyside.

But Nicholls, who now writes a weekly column for Betfair, has responded on his Twitter page and looks up for the challenge in the Grade 1 contest.

He said: "Denman & Kauto had sleepless nights last night after reading ydays news! What A Friend slept like a log though."

Kauto Star is set to make his reappearance at Down Royal while Denman will wait for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

It means Kauto and Imperial Commander would potentially have their first clash of the season at Kempton on Boxing Day in the William Hill King George VI Chase.


No horse has anything to worry about with this Imperial couldnt commander any other race than around Cheltenham imo..

More like the racing media trying to pour petrol on a spark to try and create a bonfire. It's a small bit of banter at most.

He honestly thinks that Nicholls would try and avoid Imperial Commander at Haydock ?

In fairness Imperial Commander did beat Kauto star at Haydock last year [;)]

HORSE/SP AGE WGT TRAINER/JOCKEY OR TS RPR RATED   
 
« 1   Kauto Star (FR) 4/6F   9 11-7 t P F Nicholls  186 173 177 — »
b g Village Star (FR) - Kauto Relka (FR) (Port Etienne) R Walsh
  Held up behind leaders, chased leader 14th, niggled along approaching 4 out, ridden before 3 out, led narrowly before 2 out, went about 2 lengths clear between last 2, joined by runner-up last, battled gamely in tremendous duel to prevail on the nod (op 8-11 tchd 10-11 in a place and 8-13)   
 
« 2  nse  Imperial Commander (IRE) 9/1  8 11-7  N A Twiston-Davies  165 173 177 — »
b g Flemensfirth (USA) - Ballinlovane (Le Moss) Paddy Brennan
  Chased leaders, went 2nd at 7th, led 13th, headed narrowly approaching 2 out, about 2 lengths down between last 2, upsides winner last, fought tremendous duel, just denied on the nod   
 
« 3  24  Madison Du Berlais (FR) 6/1  8 11-7 p D E Pipe  169 153 153 —


hth.

I was at haydock last year and I can assure you that Imperial Commander was first past the post [;)]

Seems strange that I got paid out on my Kauto Star bet then.

ntd got paul rattled

i had a massive bet on kauto was certain he had past the post 1st

i backed Kauto last year and was pretty sure IC won. I guess angles can be decieving. cant remember ever seeing the photo tho?

It's good to have a bit of banter between the trainers. Not saying we need anything like Benitez v Fergie but draws attention to the characters of the sport. Gets people excited.

I like it. This all started when Nicholls was ungracious in victory last year about Imperial Commander .. after Haydock. He didn't really give the runner-up much credit and that irked NTD.

I think Paul knows What A Friend is going to be a monster this year. I love Kauto Star to bits and I don't think there will be anything that can beat him around Kempton, but after reading his twitter I think Paul fancies what a friend to do IC in the betfair. I think IC was flattered by one result last year in which he didnt have to beat Kauto Star becuase he beat himself, and Denman has never been the same horse at Cheltenham since he beat Kauto.

I would LOVE to see Denman win a 3rd Hennessy and I think that he is up to it. I think Kauto is always susceptable in the betfair chase and even the irish race looks a tought race to start him off this year with all the wannabe giant killers ready to stick the final dagger in to say they beat the champ. But I predict Kauto wins in Ireland and then to another King George!

Why IC is going for the KG is beyong me. The horse obviously doesnt act around kempton so why even bother, should be going for the lexus imo.

What A Friend is a very interesting horse as nicholls has obviously given him a lot of time to mature and I feel this year could be the making of him. Fresh from a wind op. I think he will try to avoid Kauto and Denman with him and clear up the 3m showcase chases with him.

Nicholls has something to worry about? I truely doubt it. And as for him being in decline that is absoloute BULL! he is at the peak of his powers. Nicky Henderson is a great trainer of hurdlers, and Twiston Davies burns out too soon in the season. Nicholls, always winning, has the best horses and the best jockey. I love how the british public enjoy running down true champions, ie KAUTO STAR, & PAUL NICHOLLS... enjoy them while you can because when they are gone it will be too late!

sint - i agree, the first words he said after the print were (almost in relief!) where 'ruby said he'd improve'. Well, so did IC, dramatically.

"I love how the british public enjoy running down true champions"



60 million people hate him and only you love him. He's yours, just like the usual suspects on here are the only ones in the world who like kauto star and everyone else on the planet wants to see him injured.

Didn't say that whatsoever, the british public isnt the entire population of britain just the majority of groups, look at frankel. most people are jumping on the he wont train on bandwagon.

By what I said I mean when people were writing Kauto off, as they are indeed now.. you will all learn eventually.

People are always going to look for reasons to oppose a short price AP favorite. It's more to do with value than disliking a champion. Very few sane people would dislike a horse.

I detest nicholls attitude, a great trainer yes - a bad looser, oh yes.

Being a bad loser is the sign of a Champion in my opinion.

Anyone that likes losing isn't a winner, simple as that.

I don't buy in to that. Not unless you think Cecil is a loser for not throwing the toys out of the pram after the 1000 guineas ?...some people just have different levels of perspective.

I do.
Some people are winners and take it with grace, others cant stand it when they dont win. Paul Nicholls is one of those and loves to win.