Paul Nicholls relieved to win 10th title
Trainer Paul Nicholls says he gained more pleasure from his 10th British jumps title as any other.
With no apparent stable stars other than Silviniaco Conti, Nicholls considers the title which he claimed on a final day thriller at Sandown is his sweetest.
In previous seasons, a succession of big Saturday winners enabled him to build up a huge advantage heading into the last day of the season.
This time it was different, with Irishman Willie Mullins starting the day a workable STG53,592.54 ($A99,217) behind, but after Nicholls filled the places in the bet365 Gold Cup with Just A Par (second) and Southfield Theatre (fourth) there was no doubt.
The consolation of winning the final race of the season with McKinley was to be just that for Mullins, who had narrowly missed out earlier with Valseur Lido and was second to the magnificent Sprinter Sacre with Un De Sceaux.
Nicholls, who won by STG97,825 admitted he had been under pressure.
“It is a relief,” Nicholls said.
“There is a lot of pressure, because unlike before, it has created a lot of interest.
“Everyone has been willing us on and it was always a little bit Team GB versus Ireland, and Willie has had a magnificent time.
“Hats off to him for coming over and it has made things more interesting.
“Some in the media say there is animosity between us, but that is absolute tripe.
“We get on well. He’s a competitor. I have huge respect for him and vice versa. He shook my hand and I shook his, so there is absolutely no truth in those stories at all.”
He’s a very good trainer and does very well.
“This has been the hardest one to win, because we have only had a couple of Grade One winners. Perhaps Willie will keep those Grade One horses in Ireland and keep out the way and make it more open.”
While Mullins, who was left disappointed following a fine of STG1000 for withdrawing Vroum Vroum Mag when his title chance had gone, came up short in his quest for a first British trainers’ title, he was magnanimous in defeat.
“Of course, this makes me more determined to win the title next year,” he said.
“Paul has had a fantastic team this year without Grade One stars and if we can keep our Grade One stars and perform at Cheltenham like we have been the last few years, then it’s on.”