Trainers – Page 3 – Racing Review

Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls is a national hunt horse trainer who previously achieved much success as a jockey. In the early 80s his education in racing began under four time champion jockey Josh Gifford, before joining forces with David Barons. In his three years as a jockey he gained a total of 133 wins and won prestigious races as the Hennessy Gold Cup (twice) and the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup. An injury ended his career after three years, prompting a move into training a couple of years later.

In 1991 Nicholls took out his training license, a decision he’s unlikely to regret based on the illustrious career that followed. After a period as assistant trainer to Barons he took a slow and sure approach with just 8 horses at Manor Farm, Ditcheat. The approach paid off with a grade one win with ‘See More Indians’ at Kempton in 1993.

It wasn’t until 1999 that things really went to the next level though, with massive success at the Cheltenham Festival winning the Arkle Trophy Challenge, Queen Mother Champion Chase, and the one they all want to win, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. In the years that would follow a Champion Trainer accolade came Nicholl’s way (a title he’s now claimed 8 times) and now with jockey Ruby Walsh on board the wins came thick and fast. Multiple Queen Mother Champion Chase wins (Azertyuiop, Masterminded), 5 x King George VI chase wins with Kauto Star and two Chelten Gold Cup wins with Kauto Star also.

To many to crowning achievement was in having the 1,2,3 in the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup, with Denman, Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges, the latter went on to win the Grand National in 2012, leaving many to think ‘What hasn’t he won?’. With prize money of £2-3 million each year on average (2014-15 – £3,246,894 – 124 wins | 2015-16 – £2,439,740 – 122 wins) and over 2000 wins as a trainer, Paul Nicholls is unlikely to change his winning formula anytime soon.

Trainers

John Gosden

John Gosden served his apprenticeship as assistant trainer to two of the most influential figures in the history of horse racing, Sir Noel Murless and Vincent O’Brien, before setting up on his own in California in 1979. From small beginnings, he eventually trained over 500 winners during his time in California, before returning to England in 1989.

Initially based at Stanley House Stables in Newmarket, Suffolk, Gosden moved to Manton, Wiltshire for the start of the 2000 season before returning to Newmarket in 2006. At that point, he moved into his current property, Clarehaven Stables, on the Bury Road just outside the town.

All in all, Gosden has trained over 3,000 winners worldwide, 600 of which were in the US, demonstrating his international outlook and sucesses. He’s won the Flat trainers’ championship twice, in 2012 and 2015. Indeed, at the time of writing, he heads the trainers’ championship table once again, with 144 winners from 567 runners but, more importantly, over £6.3 million in prize money. Gosden has handled some exceptional horses over the years, winning the St. Leger four times, the Derby and the Oaks twice apiece and the 1,000 Guineas.

More recently, he was won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe three times in the last four years, with Golden Horn in 2015 and Enable in 2017 and 2018. John Gosden’s phenomonal success on British Champions Day in 2018 ensured that he was crowned Champion Trainer that year. His stunning Qipco British Champion’s Day triple was made up of Roaring Lion in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Stradivarius in the Long Distance Cup and Cracksman in the Qipco Champion Stakes.