PNicholls

The 2011 King George will always be a bitter-sweet race for me. Yes, it provided me with one of the greatest racing days of my life when Kauto Star won the race for the fifth time. And I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the horse, to thank all those who have contacted the stable with their kind cards and messages in the wake of the win. However, I would be lying if I didn't admit that Master Minded's injury in the race didn't take some shine off the victory. But it occurred to me that the complete story of Master Minded's day hasn't been fully told or due credit given to the appropriate people. So I aim to put that right here. Master Minded clearly injured himself during the race, but two things immediately helped minimise the damage at that point; the first...

I was more confident of [b]Kauto Star[/b] beating Long Run in the Betfair Chase, than I am of my horse confirming the Haydock form in the King George today. There, I have said it. For punters out there, that may seem a very strange thing to say given that Kauto Star was twice the price at Haydock than he is likely to go off at Kempton today, and that he beat [b]Long Run[/b] so convincingly there. But going to Haydock, I was really bullish in my own mind that Kauto was as fit and well as I could possibly have had him. But, for obvious reasons, I had to rein back my true enthusiasm and confidence going into the race; a race, lest we forget, that many were saying that he shouldn't even be running in. Hand on heart, I cannot say the same today. I'm confident, but not that confident. Don't...

[b]A fantastic tribute to my legendary chaser as the race that Denman so memorably won in 2008 is to be renamed in his honour.[/b] With the likes of Kauto Star, Master Minded and Big Buck's in the stable, I am lucky enough to NOT be able to say that Denman is a once-in-lifetime-horse for me and the team here at Ditcheat. But of course [b]Denman is a legend[/b] - and I dare say he will always be the favourite for many in the yard, and fans in general, because of his attritional and confrontational style of racing - and myself and his owner Paul Barber were very proud to be told by [b]Betfair[/b] today that Denman is to have a race named after him at Newbury. And Newbury is a very fitting course, too. Not only is it one of my favourite tracks, but Denman didn't seem to mind it ...

I spoke to Clive last night and we have decided to let both Kauto Star and Master Minded take their chance in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, although that is obviously dependent on both horses being fit and well and continuing to please me in the lead up to the race. We saw with Tataniano and Denman recently how the smallest of injuries can end seasons and careers, and that brought into sharp focus that sometimes you have to seize the moment with racehorses. And Clive and I have always campaigned Kauto sportingly and adventurously, none more so than when he won the Old Roan, the Betfair Chase, the Tingle Creek and the King George in just over two months in 2006. Compared to that, Kauto has had it very easy this season! So the plan is to try for a fifth King George victory. And...

I have literally just put the phone down to Clive and I can reveal that Ruby rides Kauto Star at Haydock on Saturday, and Daryl rides Master Minded at Ascot. Obviously, that is all dependent on the horses pleasing me, and all going well in their preparation, this week. Ruby will ride all my Haydock horses on Friday and Saturday, and Daryl will ride my Ascot runners. Clearly, it makes sense for Ruby to partner Kauto Star. But while Noel was in the frame for Master Minded, having won the Ascot race on him last year and next time up at Cheltenham too, Daryl is now our second jockey and he gets the ride. Furthermore, Daryl has done a lot of work and schooling on Master Minded at home, too. [b]For more exclusive Paul Nicholls content, go to http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/[/b]...

[b]Many of the big names at Ditcheat are in the twilight of their careers but with six new arrivals from Graham Wylie and a host of promising new names there are many reasons to be cheerful and 2011-12 could be a year to remember for Paul and the team...[/b] We always aim to have 20 winners by September 1 and I am very happy with the way that my summer horses have gone, with 17 winners at a strike rate of 33 per cent. But of course the [b]"real" season[/b] doesn't really begin until October and we have been busy upgrading for the challenges that lie ahead. And challenges certainly do lie ahead, because this season represents a "Changing Of The Guard" for Ditcheat, with some established stars coming towards the end of their careers and a few notable departures from the yard. In...

I imagine many punters will be looking to take on Master Minded on after his performance in the Champion Chase last time - I see he is trading at 6.2 in the early Betfair betting - but if they do they are opposing one of the best horses we have seen in recent decades, so good luck to them! He was certainly off the bridle and up against it when making an horrendous blunder two out at Cheltenham but, although some may disagree, I still think he may have finished third but for that mistake. Leading up to that race he had won three from three this season, two in Grade 1 company, and had looked back to his old self after a summer breathing operation. His last visit to Aintree saw him beaten a long way in this race in 2008, but a second-last blunder knocked the stuffing out of him there,...

Here's my preview of Master Minded ahead of today's Champion Chase: Probably the most maligned and misunderstood horse in training! Whatever he has done since 13th March 2008 seems to be a disappointment to everyone, no matter what he does. And that includes winning six Grade 1s and two Grade 2s subsequently! But it is about time that people forgot his 19 length defeat of Voy Por Ustedes and focus on what he is doing at the moment. And that is continuing to be a top-class chaser who comes into this race with the form and with the best credentials - in my mind at least. His stop-start 2009-10 campaign culminated in a modest fourth here last year, but a breathing operation in the summer has put that behind us. He looked a different animal in his first two wins this season at Ascot...

[b]Highs[/b] • Taranis coming back from long absence with a win in the Argento at Cheltenham in January, his first start since the 2007 King George • Four winners at Newbury on February 13, including Master Minded, Tricky Trickster and Al Ferof • Big Buck's and Sanctuaire lifting the spirits at an otherwise forgettable Cheltenham Festival • What A Friend winning at Aintree • Becoming the Champion trainer for the fifth consecutive season, something I never dreamed I would do • Four victories at Ascot and Haydock on Betfair Chase day • Getting Master Minded "back" to silence the doubters - including myself! • A 1-2 in the Haldon Gold Cup with Tchico Polos and Twist Magic • Meanus Dandy winning the Badger Ales at Wincanton for Mark and Tessa Woodhouse, who sponsored...