Paul Nicholls is one of the top trainers in National Hunt racing, closing in on 4,000 winners over jumps.
A 14-time champion trainer in the United Kingdom, Nicholls’ Ditcheat empire is rocking and rolling ahead of what could be another memorable season.
While many of his horses feature in horse racing betting odds for the Cheltenham Festival, Nicholls admits that Aintree is just as important when it comes to his yard.
Here, we look at 10 of the best Paul Nicholls horses to follow in 2024/25. The Ditcheat handler will take some stopping in his pursuit of trainers' title number 15.
Blueking d’Oroux
Since arriving at Ditcheat in April 2022, French import Blueking d’Oroux has settled into the Nicholls way of doing things really well and has enjoyed three victories thus far on UK soil.
After a straightforward success in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle at Cheltenham last October, the five-year-old followed up with a Grade 2 victory in the Ascot Hurdle.
There should be plenty more to come from him this season.
Caldwell Potter
Picked up from the dispersal sale last February, Caldwell Potter is yet to run for Nicholls but he looks an exciting buy.
Entered for last season’s Mersey Novice Hurdle, he failed to make the race but when he finally does appear he can bring his smart Irish form to the table.
Emailandy
Well on top at the end of a £25,000 Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton last term, Emailandy was a little disappointing at Sandown at the end of the season.
However, he has bags of potential for the forthcoming 2024/25 campaign and is one to keep onside.
Fire Flyer
Fire Flyer will be an interesting horse to follow in handicap hurdles this term and will have come on a bundle for his summer break.
After two victories and two seconds last winter, the six-year-old’s form tailed off at the latter end of the season, but there is plenty to like about the Shantou-gelding going forward.
Kalif Du Berlais
Adonis Hurdle scorer Kalif Du Berlais gives the impression he will be one of the leading lights in the Paul Nicholls camp for several seasons to come.
The grey youngster will be a popular pick with punters in the betting from the outset.
Kandoo Kid
Topham third Kandoo Kid is highly likely going to be campaigned around having another crack at that race next April.
Premier Handicaps will the forte of this eight-year-old grey gelding.
Panjari
Panjari, twice a Listed winner in the Flat, has taken to the hurdling game like a duck to water and has enjoyed a fruitful time since joining the Nicholls squad.
Winner of the Scottish Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Musselburgh last February, I expect to see further progress from the Camelot gelding.
Pic d’Orhy
Pic d’Orhy put in a faultless display of jumping to make every yard of the running in the Ascot Chase and will be one of Nicholls’ chasers for the big occasion in this new campaign.
With a win tally of 13 successes from 31 starts, the nine-year-old is one of the current stalwarts of the yard.
Regent’s Stroll
The hugely promising Regent’s Stroll should make into a top hurdler this season after making a big impact in his National Hunt bumpers.
Now owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, John Hales, Ged Mason and Peter Done – they should have plenty of fun with the horse in the coming months.
Threeunderthrufive
The McNeill family-owned Threeunderthrufive didn’t take much racing last season and we only got to see him in action on four occasions.
A victory in the Swinley Handicap Chase was the highlight of this staying chasers’ season and he will probably be aimed at the Grand National again next April.
Check out his latest Grand National odds in our horse racing betting here.
*Credit for the main photo in this article belongs to Adobe*
