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Had to laugh this morning when I saw his latest Betfair column which was built up as the news on some of his 'stars' ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.
Not a mention of any Gold Cup horse... because he no longer has any. Silviniaco Conti is a million to one for me if he takes his chance in the World Hurdle, and his other entries are hardly worth mentioning either.
So that leaves Dodging Bullets, about a 10/1 shot for the Champion Chase.
And that's it.
He has no established horses who are strong favs for any races at the Festival. He has no Novices who would get within 20 lengths of the Mullins horses. And if he's talking about Dodging Bullets, Silviniaco Conti, and Saphir Du Rheu as his 'stars' then he's will up the creek without a paddle.
It's all becoming clear now, why Dan Skelton went off on his own, why Ruby Walsh give up his role as stable jockey (he could easily have had both jobs, just like he used to), why the best jockey he get now as his stable jockey is STD.
Loads of rumours were flying around that while he was at the very top and had the likes of Denman, Kauto, Big Bucks, Master Minded etc, that he got way too big for his boots and become a very arrogant man. He lost a lot of friends, and now that he needs some more good horses, those friends and forthcoming.
Obviously he's still the champion trainer, and has a strong chance of doing so again this season. But I honestly feel it will be the last time he is champion trainer and in three or four years time he'll 'just another' trainer... coincidentally, playing second fiddle to the likes of Harry Fry and Dan Skelton.
Not a mention of any Gold Cup horse... because he no longer has any. Silviniaco Conti is a million to one for me if he takes his chance in the World Hurdle, and his other entries are hardly worth mentioning either.
So that leaves Dodging Bullets, about a 10/1 shot for the Champion Chase.
And that's it.
He has no established horses who are strong favs for any races at the Festival. He has no Novices who would get within 20 lengths of the Mullins horses. And if he's talking about Dodging Bullets, Silviniaco Conti, and Saphir Du Rheu as his 'stars' then he's will up the creek without a paddle.
It's all becoming clear now, why Dan Skelton went off on his own, why Ruby Walsh give up his role as stable jockey (he could easily have had both jobs, just like he used to), why the best jockey he get now as his stable jockey is STD.
Loads of rumours were flying around that while he was at the very top and had the likes of Denman, Kauto, Big Bucks, Master Minded etc, that he got way too big for his boots and become a very arrogant man. He lost a lot of friends, and now that he needs some more good horses, those friends and forthcoming.
Obviously he's still the champion trainer, and has a strong chance of doing so again this season. But I honestly feel it will be the last time he is champion trainer and in three or four years time he'll 'just another' trainer... coincidentally, playing second fiddle to the likes of Harry Fry and Dan Skelton.
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Replies: 243
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*aren't forthcoming
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He won't get any top owners on board again until he gets a top jockey to ride them
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Couldn't happen to a nicer man.
A great shame. |
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How much did you lose on Present Man?
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Young Sam is very very good Jockey,only a **** would think otherwise.
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you know doubt have lumped on w mullins to be champion trainer then?
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Interesting replies?
Present Man? Haven't a clue what you're on about there... sorry. Lumped on Mullins to be champion trainer? What has that got to do with my post. Any chance the people on here can actually debate my opinion instead of trying to (unsuccessfully) read between the lines I suggest I wrote a few hundred words out of anger or something. Or shall I just shut the door now and disappear from this forum once more? |
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Sam Twiston is a knobb rider compared with the top jockeys who are invariably going to be riding against him in big races.
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Think you're spot on with your analysis Little Sarah and his treatment of Clive Smith was unforgivable. Skelton is going to be a brilliant trainer - if there was a choice between the two of them it's a no-brainer. As for acey deucy suggesting STD is very very good well...! Not even in the top 20 jocks - lovely chap but he took that job at the wrong time.
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His horses normally all get there jabs in January, so it's not a top time for the stable. Still right up there.
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Anybody know why Young Sam is not riding Vibrato Valtat on Saturday is he suspended?
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I agree that he isnt a top jockey imo,his movements and positioning leave a lot to be desired
Dont blame owners not wanting nicholls as traner either |
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Fair enough he is still learning but i think he will be one of our very best Jockeys.
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sam showed promise of being a 'very good' rider but clearly is not one now and has not been for past year - average at best
i also don't get the love in of skelton - firstly improving horses from other stables is not something unique to him and in his case the improvement lasts at most 2-3 runs when the horse usually returns to a previous handicap mark and hits the buffers, secondly if sam is average then harry is less than average, can be decent on front runners but usually they are on animals who've dropped down the handicap and have something in hand, thirdly - apart from a decent al ferof run (and history shows he always wins first time out), he doesn't have a good record in the better graded races |
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Bar Johnson , English jocks don't count against the Irish ones. Take for example if Barters Hill took on Bellshill in the Sun Alliance, what a race that would be, but look at the jockey edge the Irish horse would have, if they are the same horse, then Walsh wins, couldn't be simpler than that.
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mum went to school with him apparently always being a very arrogant man
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harry has had some very average moments as well as very gd this year, but he is a young jockey ut i find he can be complacent went going well
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henderson not doing much either/?
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billbo you have no idea what happened between C Smith & Nicholls as you sure have it the wrong way round.
Yard is currently going through a rough patch forsure but class will prevail, As for his arrogance well you should meet a few trainers as you'll find many are just that so singling out one because they have been at the top for a while and currently aren't holding as many aces as usual smacks of kicking while he is down. The good guys are few & most still don't get much support as it's not about being nice it's about results. My guess is Paul will be just fine. |
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Does Clive Smith have any horses in training? He should be putting something back after the success he had.
Nicholls is in a transitional stage. Hopefully he'll get some top backing so he can take on Mullins. |
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nicholls average is still 20%
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over £1,ooo,ooo in prize money.
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Not sure anyone would want his horses tbh TheFear, Those who know what happened between them wouldn't go within 100yds of the man nowdays.
Indeed the yard has been in transition since last season, A quick look at his HIT would show that 85%/90% of the yard are 4 to 6yo now with those a bit older not really doing much for him, SC is his oldest horse now at age 10 which surprised me. |
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not a big fan but the hales horse could be a sleeper in the world hurdle
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Can you name some of the owners who have left Nicholls ?
Clive Smith doesnt count as one btw. |
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It could in its hole, a sleeper is right.
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Could be 1TP, SDR was 2nd last season too, Know it's season so far hasn't gone to plan but at a price who knows.
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Alan Potts has left , Graham Wylie is not sending him any more. Theres 2 straight away
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his treatment of Clive Smith was unforgivable What world are you living in Billbo? I guess he treated Clive so awful by keeping Kauto Star at the top level for such a long period and winning numerous top races including a record never to equalled/broken 5 King Georges. If a trainer and his team had done this for me and kept my horse happy and at the top of his game for such a long time, then I would gift the horse to the trainer and his team. Unfortunately people like Clive have massive ego's and he wanted more limelight for himself from Kauto Star's "new career"
As for the OP the stable are not firing at the moment but that won't always be the case. You should stay away from horses that have been beaten twice at short prices anyway. |
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skelton same strike rate £6,oo ooo.
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Has Wylie brought much this season Mincer as only 1 I know of is Invitation Only ?
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Has Alan Potts ever had horses with Nicholls ?
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alan potts ?
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That's what the man said, Can't recall one myself.
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@gutfeeling , hear here.
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Alan Potts has had horses with Nicholls
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I know Clive Smith personally and if you knew half the story you wouldn't give Nicholls the time of day.
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Don't worry I know plenty about it.
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Can you name 1 Mincer ?
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