No let-up in search of winners for Paul Nicholls after another super Saturday

Paul Nicholls was already preparing for another big weekend on Sunday, just hours after enjoying his most successful single day's racing with eight winners across three meetings.

Nicholls was cut to 6-4 (from 9-4) by Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power to successfully fend off Nicky Henderson and land an 11th trainers' title after a spectacular Saturday propelled him into a £370,000 lead over his big rival.

He was also cut to 16-1 (from 20) to be top trainer at the Cheltenham Festival for the first time since 2009 by Betway.

Nicholls enjoyed another memorable Grade 1 with Cyrname and would have been encouraged by Clan Des Obeaux's smart Denman Chase display, but he is not resting on his laurels. The trainer is setting his sights on Kempton and Newcastle on Saturday, as well as preparing Old Guard to defend his National Spirit Hurdle crown at Fontwell on Sunday.

"I think the 24 runners on Saturday was the biggest team I've sent out and all credit to the team, who also had to get the extra paperwork sorted – they're amazing," said Nicholls.

"This Saturday we won't have the same numbers, but not everything is about preparing for Cheltenham and we'll have plenty of runners with the horses in such good form. We'll make hay while the sun shines."

If the sun does continue to shine, dual Scottish Grand National winner Vicente could head to Newcastle for the £80,000 Vertem Eider Handicap Chase on Saturday, with all prizes making a difference as Nicholls bids to draw further clear of Henderson, who can be backed at 4-9 to retain the trainers' title with Sky Bet.

Vicente: could run in the Eider ChaseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

As for Kempton, plenty of punters were keen to join the Nicholls bandwagon on Sunday, with Adrien Du Pont – like Cyrname owned by Johnny de la Hay – widely cut to 8-1 (from as big as 12) for the £100,000 888Sport Handicap Chase.

Nicholls is set to confirm a trio of contenders for the most valuable contest this weekend at Monday's forfeit stage, and said: "Adrien Du Pont, Modus and Romain De Senam will be the three.

"They're good-ground horses really so the forecast dry week looks ideal, likewise for Vicente."

Nicholls will also have runners in the pair of Grade 2 hurdles on the Kempton card – and they are potentially exciting newcomers too.

Red Force One and Ecco, who hold JCB Triumph Hurdle entries, have been chucked into the Grade 2 888Sport Adonis Juvenile Hurdle having not run over hurdles for Nicholls, the same as Zarkandar was eight years ago.

"As was behind the thinking when we ran Zarkandar, if they aren't good enough we'd keep their novice status for next season," said Nicholls.

Ashutor and Pic D'Orhy are the stable's Sky Bet Dovecote possibles, with Pic D'Orhy only 14-1 for the Triumph despite the fact he has yet to jump a British hurdle in public.

Cyrname: impressed in the Ascot Chase on SaturdayCredit: Mark Cranham

Cyrname, whose hugely impressive Ascot Chase victory earned him a season-leading Racing Post Rating of 181+, would have looked a handicap good thing in the 888Sport Handicap Chase, which was run in the past as the Racing Post Chase.

He was already due to shoulder top weight with 11st 12lb, but would not have carried a penalty as no horse can shoulder more than that weight.

Nicholls said: "He's not a horse you can pull out again quickly. He puts everything into it and wouldn't run at Cheltenham as that would also come too soon anyway.

"He definitely won't go to Aintree as that would be too sharp as well, but there's Sandown or Punchestown, where he'll definitely have an entry in the Gold Cup.

"He's going to go three miles at some stage, but I wouldn't be averse to dropping him back to two miles if the ground was testing. Like Kauto Star, he could be very versatile."

That would open up the exciting prospect of Cyrname – who has a preference for right-handed tracks Cyrname – taking on Altior in the £150,000 bet365 Celebration Chase on the final day of the season.

With many of Saturday's winners adding themselves to Nicholls' Cheltenham Festival team, he was not surprised to hear bookmakers had shortened his odds on being champion trainer.

Nicholls said: "I've a stronger team than recently for Cheltenham and I'm in a nice position, being in front and with over £2 million in prize-money before the festival.

"The title's going to be interesting, but I get more pleasure with big-race winners, like we had on Saturday."

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