Paul Nicholls speaks of relief after 'electric' Bravemansgame ends lean spell

Paul Nicholls has admitted the mood at his Ditcheat stable is now much brighter after the champion trainer returned to form at the weekend following a lean spell away from the winner's enclosure.

Bravemansgame jumped superbly at Newbury to win the Roarcast Novices' Limited Handicap Chase that ended a run of just one winner from the trainer's previous 36 runners. Red Risk also picked up a win for Nicholls at Uttoxeter as his yard showed some form after a tough few weeks.

Nicholls had previously been at a loss as to why his stable was suffering from a startling lack of winners, which reached a crescendo at the Dublin Racing Festival with poor runs from Frodon in the Irish Gold Cup and Greaneteen in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase.

He chose not to send any runners to the track early last week, instead focusing on preparations for Newbury, where one of his big hitters, Bravemansgame, put in an eyecatching performance ahead of a potential Cheltenham tilt in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase next month.

'The mood is much brighter now'

Writing on his website on Monday morning, Nicholls revealed his camp was now more upbeat after a successful weekend, which also brought about decent efforts from Clan Des Obeaux, Hitman and Knappers Hill at Newbury.

"While we are not quite in the form we'd like to be after a quiet few weeks, the mood is much brighter now that we are heading in the right direction," Nicholls said.

"At some stage over 12 months you are bound to have a little dip in form. It's happened to us in the past and if you are going to have a bit of a lull, then January and February is a good time to do it.

"The horses continue to look great and work as I expect, and I've been confident throughout that they would come right."

Bravemansgame flies the open ditch on his way to winning at Newbury on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Nicholls again spoke highly of Bravemansgame in the aftermath of the seven-year-old's three-and-a-half length victory and confirmed his intended target for Cheltenham, although the ground could alter plans.

The trainer wrote: “Bravemansgame’s jumping was again electric as he made all the running . . . before keeping on readily to take his unbeaten run over fences to four. He is an exciting horse for Cheltenham and will be going for the three-mile novice, unless the ground is heavy.

“He was a big baby last year, is much stronger now and fences have been the making of him.

"I'm sure he will be even better next season after another summer on his back and he looks ideal for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day."

Nicholls added Saint Calvados was still on course for the Betfair Chase at Ascot on Saturday, for which his charge is 5-2 favourite to land the big race of the weekend.

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