'We were on the razz and I was persuaded' - Nicholls becomes an owner with Hills

Paul Nicholls, the titan of jumps racing who sealed his 13th training title at the weekend, is set to have an interest on the Flat this summer via a Charlie Hills-trained juvenile called Paddy's Day.

The Somerset-based Nicholls was in rampant form at Sandown on Saturday, ending a fine campaign with a 410-1 five-timer.

He has one more major dart to throw for the spring when Clan Des Obeaux, who this month won the Betway Bowl at Aintree for the second year running, appears in Wednesday's Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55).

He is part-owned by Nicholls' good pal and yard sponsor Ged Mason, who is also involved in Paddy's Day, a Starspangledbanner colt who could be among Hills's first two-year-old runners of 2022.

Charlie Hills: Paddy's Day could be among the trainer's first two-year-old runnersCredit: Edward Whitaker

Nicholls, who "set a good example" at assistant Harry Derham's leaving party on Sunday, said on Monday morning: "I got a leg of him after a raucous, drunken night in Barbados in January with Charlie, Ged and Jim McGoff.

"We were on the razz and Charlie managed to persuade us to have a share that night. I should probably know better, but Charlie said he was a lovely two-year-old and a really smart sort.

"I replied that he was probably the last two-year-old he hadn't sold!

"Anyway, Ged and Jim have got the biggest share and I think I've got ten per cent."

'I'll be easy as an owner'

Nicholls, who started training in 1991, will not get involved in the day-to-day running plans of Paddy's Day, who cost €68,000 as a yearling in the autumn and has no immediate entries, but he is engaged in Doncaster's Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes on September 8.

"I'll be easy as an owner," the recently turned 60-year-old added. "I used to have a share in a horse with Kingy [Alan King] and I will be a silent partner – it's as simple as that. I'll have no involvement at all apart from going up to Lambourn to see him and have lunch with Charlie. That will be about it – it's just a bit of fun as Jim and Ged like having the odd Flat horse."

Hills, who enjoyed his most prolific season in 2021, has made a bright start to this term, saddling 17 winners from 69 runners at a 25 per cent strike-rate.

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