Paul Nicholls equals his best ever tally with 171st winner of a stunning season

The sensational season of leading trainer Paul Nicholls continued at Kempton on Monday as he equalled his best tally for most winners in a campaign when Samarrive won the 2m novice hurdle.

The win was the final leg of an across-the-card treble for Nicholls, following Adrien Du Pont's victory earlier on the card at Kempton and Bob And Co's success at Hexham, taking him to 171 victories for the season.

However, Nicholls will have wait until Wednesday's meetings at Perth and Taunton to set a new personal best after his only subsequent Kempton runner, Switch Hitter, was a faller and his sole Tuesday declaration, Strategem, was declared a non-runner.

Nicholls' achievements have been particularly impressive given the truncated nature of the campaign, which was delayed for two months because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The season concludes at Sandown on Saturday, where the 59-year-old is set to be crowned champion trainer for a 12th time, wrestling the title back from long-time rival Nicky Henderson.

Paul Nicholls career details

The Ditcheat maestro has accrued over £2.3 million in prize-money, almost £500,000 ahead of his nearest challenger and former assistant Dan Skelton.

Among the highlights of Nicholls' season has been a record 12th King George VI Chase victory courtesy of Frodon, Politilogue's Tingle Creek success and a magnificent 10,419-1 across-the-cards seven-timer in January.

Nicholls, who celebrated his 59th birthday on Saturday, achieved a century of winners before the end of the calendar year for the first time and had moved to within three of his best ever winners tally with a treble at Wincanton on Sunday.

For the first time since 2002, Nicholls did not record a winner at the Cheltenham Festival but he bounced back in fine style on the opening day of Aintree's Grand National Festival three weeks later when Monmiral and Clan Des Obeaux provided him with a Grade 1 double.

Watch live races through the Racing Post. Log in to your bookmaker account and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here