Paul Nicholls - players.bio

Talking Horses: Clan Des Obeaux can get National meeting off to flying start

A strong renewal of the Grade One Betway Bowl is the feature event on the opening afternoon of the Grand National Festival, as two former winners – Clan Des Obeaux and Kemboy – take on the up-and-coming Protektorat, third home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Conflated, the surprise winner of the Irish Gold Cup in February.

L'Homme Presse to clash with Bravemansgame in Mildmay Chase

L'Homme Presse has been declared in a top-class field of four for the Betway Mildmay Novices Chase at Aintree on Friday - with connections hoping for suitable conditions in order for him to run.

Clan Des Obeaux, Kemboy declare for Aintree meet

Previous winners Clan Des Obeaux and Kemboy are among nine runners declared for the Betway Bowl at Aintree on Thursday. Kemboy was a brilliant winner of the Grade One contest in 2019 for Willie Mullins, beating the Paul Nicholls-trained Clan Des Obeaux into second. The application of cheekpieces appeared to have the desired effect for Clan Des Obeaux in last year's renewal as he struck gold by a whopping 26 lengths, before going on to win the Punchestown Gold Cup. The 10-year-old has been beaten twice since and is interestingly fitted with blinkers for the first time for the defence his crown on Merseyside. Kemboy has not managed to get his head in front since claiming a fourth Grade One success in last year's Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, most recently finishing fifth when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Dublin Racing Festival feature in February. The one to beat on recent form is Dan Skelton's Protektorat, who was best of the British when third behind Henry de Bromhead's pair of A Plus Tard and Minella Indo in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup. Conflated, trained by Gordon Elliott, was a surprise winner of the Irish Gold Cup and looked set to be placed in the Ryanair at Cheltenham before falling two from home. Colin Tizzard's Eldorado Allen finished third in the Ryanair and is another leading contender, as is Royale Pagaille after finishing fifth in the Gold Cup for Venetia Williams. Nigel Twiston-Davies will be praying for rain to give Bristol De Mai the best possible chance of claiming victory, while Ann Hamilton steps Nuts Well up in class after a Listed triumph at Kelso.

Scottish Grand National LIVE as Ayr racing gets under way with Ladies Day

The Trainers' Championship is drawing to an exciting close and with big money at stake, the two-day meeting at Ayr has assumed even greater importance. We will be here live for both days of the action with the highlight on Saturday being the Coral Scottish Grand National.