Trainer to follow: Why Paul Nicholls is the man to look out for next week 👁️

Paul Nicholls has made a typically solid start to the season, with plenty of winners and plenty of horses that should improve massively having made their seasonal debuts. There’s a huge three-day Cheltenham meeting which kicks off on Friday and Nicholls has some quality ammunition to unleash. We’ve highlighted why the Champion trainer should be banging in the winners over the next seven days or so. You can check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.

Huntingdon

Huntingdon isn’t a track which Paul Nicholls often sends runners to. In fact, he’s had just 19 runners there in the last five years. It’s noteworthy that has an impressive strike-rate of 42 per cent in this time. The Somerset-based trainer has three entries there on Tuesday, which would have to be of interest. Impressive last time out winner Inca De Lafayette is the pick of the bunch.

Taunton’s top trainer in 2022-2023

Nicholls had 17 winners at Taunton last season, which is 12 ahead of the next trainer on the list. It’s one of his local tracks and he has 46 winners there over the last five seasons. The very exciting Matterhorn could make his seasonal debut at the track on Thursday.

Highlights of the week

Cheltenham Festival-winner Stage Star could make his seasonal reappearance in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday. He’s unbeaten in two starts over fences at Cheltenham and is a worthy ante-post favourite for the £160,000 race.

Blueking D’Oroux was an impressive winner at Cheltenham in October and he could line up in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle on Sunday. This horse has turned a corner since having wind surgery in September and there should be plenty more to come.

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