Paul Nicholls
The turf
Certain sections of the media love to run a knocking story and when champion trainer Paul Nicholls’s horses failed to…
The turf
Want to know the winner of the Grand National in 2023? You heard it here first: when the ante-post books…
The turf
Racing’s New Year began well with the award of OBEs to both Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls, showing that they…
Sandown thrills
The difference between praying in church and praying at the racecourse, a gnarled old punter once said, is that at…
Conquering Emperor
Welsh Grand National day at Chepstow could not have had a better climax than the big race. After slogging three…
The resurrection man
‘I’m going for Al Ferof,’ said a suit in front of me in the Totepool queue at Ascot on Saturday…
Settling up
Mrs Oakley takes a dim view of my using the BMW that consumed much of her savings to ferry sacks…
True sportsmen
In the parade ring just after Sire De Grugy had won this year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, I found myself…
On course for thrills
This year you don’t want to be a jockey’s valet. Never have their washing machines spun so vigorously. From every…
