Leading owner Johnny de la Hey has removed all horses from Paul Nicholls’ stable, marking a significant shift in their long-standing partnership. This decision affects 11 horses that had been under Nicholls’ training since the 2009-10 season.
Previously, the De La Heys enjoyed considerable success with Nicholls, achieving an impressive 19 percent strike rate with 123 jumps winners out of 652 runners. Their notable victories included Grade 1 wins such as Cyrname’s triumph in the Ascot Chase in 2019.
Following the removal, seven of the horses will be trained by Dan Skelton, while four will be split between Jamie Snowden and Chris Gordon. This redistribution of horses represents a significant change in the competitive landscape of jumps racing.
Nicholls expressed disappointment over losing the De La Heys’ horses, stating, “It’s disappointing after all the success we have had together.” He acknowledged the emotional toll this development has taken on him, saying, “I’ve never had to deal with that in my career and I did find it hard – you start asking yourself what you’re doing wrong.”
The effects of this shift are already visible. Old Park Star won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for Nicky Henderson after leaving Nicholls, and Kabral Du Mathan secured victory at the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham post-departure. These outcomes may raise questions about the future performance of other former Nicholls-trained horses.
Despite this setback, Nicholls remains resilient. He remarked, “I’ve been in the game long enough to take these things on the chin.” However, he has faced challenges recently with multiple high-profile owners moving their horses elsewhere.
The De La Heys amassed £3,754,638 in prize-money during their time with Nicholls. As they transition to new trainers, their future successes will be closely monitored by industry experts and fans alike.
