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Paul Nicholls column: the inside track on my runners on Sunday

Last Updated: Sun 1 Nov 2026

14-time champion trainer and Betfair Ambassador Paul Nicholls talks us through his runners at Ascot, Wetherby, and Worcester across the weekend. He also discusses his double at Ffos Las on Thursday, and edging closer to Martin Pipe’s record.

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It's nice to edge towards Martin Pipe's record after Thursday double at Ffos Las

We're now just eight shy of breaking Martin Pipe's record, but since Treasure Planet won, we had about nine or ten horses finish second. A couple were a bit unlucky, but they all ran really well, which is good.

We're still not quite there, but we're getting there. The horses are getting fitter and stronger and better. The two yesterday (Verney Fox and Toothless) looked fantastic and ran like it. They won nicely; it was nice to get a double and get the ball rolling again.

Verney Fox ran on soft ground in his point-to-point. He's a real stayer and he won't run in another bumper as he'll go novice hurdling. I don't think it was that much of a bumper, but he couldn't have done it any easier, so we're looking forward to him going novice hurdling.

Toothless was the best I've ever seen him look and the best I've ever seen him jump. I fancied him all week, and when I saw him drift in the betting, I think he ended up almost the outsider, I couldn't believe it really. I thought I was missing a trick somewhere. But he ran how he looked and he bolted in.

It's nice to edge towards Martin Pipe's record. We're eight off beating him now. Everyone keeps reminding me, but it will be a great milestone to do. To think that when we started in Ditcheat 35 years ago, to end up the winning-most National Hunt yard with so many winners, it's fantastic and reflects well on the whole team that have been with me since I started.

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It is challenging times for everyone with the current weather situation, it’s frustrating

Of course it's frustrating; you can't really get going. We haven't had that many runners. Aintree being off last Sunday due to high winds was frustrating, and the Wincanton meeting that has been called off has always been a great meeting for us. We always have three or four winners at that meeting. That's gone, as has Exeter. That's always been a good meeting, so yes, it's frustrating.

I walked round Wincanton last Sunday morning and the track is in fantastic condition. It's just too fast, so we need more rain. So, when you lose those meetings, it's frustrating for everyone involved, but what can you do? You can't change the weather.

Badger Ales are one of the longest-serving sponsors of a race (Badger Ales Chase), and it's the feature of their calendar. They bring 400 guests there, and they're going to lose all of that. It is a shame, but what can you do about the weather, apart from nothing?

Some races get saved; some don't. For example, the Old Roan Chase, which was due to be run last week, is always a good, valuable two-and-a-half-mile handicap; gone!

You can't please everybody, but the Rising Stars and some other races have been saved at Aintree, so that looks like being a good card next weekend. But the ground there is good at the moment with a dry forecast, so they've got a challenge there to get that right. So, it's challenging times, but it will soon rain and it will all equal out.

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Sunday runners at Worcester

The ground at Worcester on Sunday is expected to be good to soft-soft. For all of my horses that are going there, it is a case of needing to start the season somewhere. If we don’t run here, we might end up waiting for three weeks. I expect it’s the same for a lot of people who are thinking let’s just get them out and get them running. Mine are all fit enough to run but they will all come on for their runs.

12.10 Worcester: Grand Garcon

I’d like to think he could have a big season. He’s starting off on a sensible mark of 112 for what he’s achieved. He’s a big, big horse and he’s needed all the time he’s had. He is potentially a lovely horse who will go chasing. He was a bit in and out over hurdles, improved for his wind-op, and has jumped nicely at home. I’m hoping we will have a nice season with him.

12.45 Worcester: Mon Champion

It is possible that he is nicely handicapped at 122. In the winter when the ground is soft, I expect him to come into his own. It’s good to soft, soft ground suits him, it’s a competitive race, he’s done a lot of work and will improve for the run. He’s one who will enjoy the winter when it is really soft. But he’s got to start somewhere.

1.20 Worcester: Henri The Second

He’s been a brilliant horse for me over hurdles. We tried chasing twice with him and it was a disaster. But to be fair, with our new schooling facility, he has jumped 30 to 40 fences at home. He schooled the other morning with No Drama This End and we could not fault him- he jumped very, very well.

Soft ground suits him very well so we thought we would give chasing one more try. He runs well and jumps well and is the sort we could even stick in a Welsh Grand National because he will stay forever in the mud.

If it doesn’t work out on Sunday, then we will just stick to hurdles in future. But he’s a beautiful, big chasing type of horse, so it has been a bit frustrating. Freddie knows him well. It’s a competitive race but we’ve got to go somewhere.

1.55 Worcester: Beauty In The Park

She’s a great big filly, a chaser in the making, who always needs a run, as she did last year. We’ve done a lot of work with her. Win, lose or draw she will improve for the run. She jumps very nicely at home. She’ll end up running in Mares’ Novice Chases later on in the season. As a filly, she gets seven pounds off her mark, so she’s nicely handicapped.

3.05 Worcester: Beau Speed

He ran well in both his bumpers last season. He was very green but came second the first time he ran at Fakenham to a nice horse of Dan Skelton’s that had been running very well over hurdles.

Beau Speed has improved physically; he jumps very nicely and will improve for the run.

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