Nicholls relishing prospects of five-strong National squad

Paul Nicholls believes five Grand National runners provides him with his strongest team for the Aintree showpiece since winning with Neptune Collonges in 2012.

Despite Nicholls claiming a landmark 50th winner at the Cheltenham Festival, the 14-times champion jumps trainer admits to being a “bit light on winners this year” and trails Dan Skelton in the trainers’ championship by some distance.

But Nicholls insists his focus has been very much on Aintree and especially the National, where Bravemansgame, Hitman, Kandoo Kid, Threeunderthrufive and Stay Away Fay are set to give him a five-way chance in the race.

“We were always going to save a lot for Aintree and we’ve got a bigger team there (than Cheltenham),” Nicholls said at his Somerset yard at Ditcheat.

“It just suits our horses at the moment and suits the way we do things. The idea is to run horses in the right races.

“We’ve got five horses running in the National and it’s probably the strongest team since Neptune ran.

“You don’t go out thinking you’re going to have so many, but it is exciting.”

Nicholls has no hesitation in naming Kandoo Kid as his best hope for National glory – and not just because the nine-year-old is a grey like Neptune Collonges.

Kandoo Kid finished eighth in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury at the beginning of March, but won the Coral Gold Cup – the Hennessy Gold Cup in old money – at the Berkshire track in November and will have champion jockey Harry Cobden on board.

“He jumped fantastic around Aintree last year in the Topham and I said to Harry then our two targets would be the Coral Gold Cup and the National,” said Nicholls.

“He jumps well, is very relaxed and has plenty of stamina. He’s got a lot about him and it wouldn’t surprise me if he runs in the Gold Cup one day.

“He’s had a few little setbacks, but he’s gradually kept climbing the ranks. I’ve purposefully not run him because I didn’t want him to go up any more in the weights.”

Skelton’s brother Harry has been booked to ride Threeunderthrufive, a dual Grade Two winner as a novice who underlined his stamina levels by finishing fourth in the 2023 Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

“Dan hasn’t got anything in it and it’d be quite ironic if Harry won and got us £500,000 for winning in the trainers’ championship,” said Nicholls.

“We haven’t run him much this year because we wanted to keep him fresh for Aintree.

“He carried 12st at Ascot the other week and got beat by a nose. He’s in the best shape he’s ever been and it’s the right time to run in the National.”

Leading French-based rider James Reveley will be aboard former King George VI Chase hero Bravemansgame, with rising star Freddie Gingell set to have his first ride in the race on Hitman.

Bryony Frost has the ride on Stay Away Fay, who had an outing in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham to guarantee Aintree qualification but finished a disappointing 11th.

Nicholls said: “He won the Albert Bartlett two years ago and I thought ‘National runner, stays forever’, but he’s got to get back to form.

“If Bravemansgame takes to Aintree and jumps well, he’s got a touch of class. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t do well because the one thing he can do is travel.

“Hitman is like Bravemansgame as he always runs over and above his level of ability.

“He hasn’t quite got his head in front for a while, but he won’t be outpaced and will definitely jump for fun.”