Nicholls is off to the pub on his first day without festival runners in 25 years

For the first time in a quarter of a century an afternoon at the Cheltenham Festival will take place without any runners representing Paul Nicholls – so the champion trainer is going down the pub instead.

On Friday Clan Des Obeaux will seek to give Nicholls his fifth success in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup but the meeting starts without any equine challengers from Team Ditcheat, whose master plans to watch the action from the Manor House Inn.

"I can have a day off for a change," said Nicholls, whose last festival-free day was the Tuesday of the meeting in 1995.

"It's actually going to be quite nice because I'll be able to watch the racing down the pub with some of my mates. There will be no pressure and no hassle. I'm looking forward to it."

Nicholls added: "It might feel a bit strange for me, but as a trainer if you don't have runners you don't go racing.

"I could have had a couple of runners but it would have been pointless. They would have had no chance at all in those races, so we've saved the horses for later in the week or Kempton on Saturday. It's just not worth running horses in races when you really don't think they can win."

Nicholls' best chances

Solo
JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30 Friday)

This French-bred burst onto the scene with a 13-length success in the Adonis at Kempton. He is the 11-4 favourite for Triumph Hurdle glory on Friday.

Clan Des Obeaux
Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30 Friday)

The dual King George winner has been freshened up ahead of a second Gold Cup bid on Friday. Fifth last year, any drying of the ground would be of benefit.

GreaneteenJohnny Henderson Grand Annual (4.50 Friday)

Unbeaten over fences, this lightly raced six-year-old will bid to give his trainer a fifth success in the 2m handicap chase.

Cheltenham Friday cards

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