'Harry is looking to the future and that's what I've got to do as well' - Paul Nicholls insists there is no drama in Aintree riding arrangements

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This has been the season of the apprentice. This might even be the day of the apprentice. Lest we forget, however, the sorcerer is far from finished. 

On April 25, Dan Skelton will be crowned champion trainer for the first time, perhaps even with a Grand National victory added to his CV. 

Paul Nicholls, the jump racing legend who taught Skelton so much of what he knows, has 14 championship trophies in his cabinet. Time will tell if a 15th comes his way, but Nicholls is focused on the future, not the past. If you had any doubts about that, just look at who Harry Cobden is and is not riding in the Oddschecker Sefton Novices' Hurdle.

No Drama This End is the most exciting equine member of team Ditcheat, his standing in no way diminished by the fact he was pulled up at Cheltenham last month. After three sublime winter efforts he was sent off 5-2 favourite for the Turners Novices' Hurdle, yet everything that could go wrong did go wrong. 

When all hope was gone, Cobden waved the white flag and then explained what had happened to his soon-to-be former boss and the six-year-old's owners. 

It was far from a happy scene, but that is not why Sam Twiston-Davies now takes over on No Drama This End, with Cobden – who next month takes up his new position as retained rider to JP McManus – instead on stablemate Talk To The Man.

No Drama This End will be ridden in a race for the first time by Sam Twiston-Davies at Aintree on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"I didn't give Harry a choice," said Nicholls. "Sam will be riding the horse novice chasing next season because Harry won't be available, so Sam riding him in this race as well was the obvious thing to do.

"Harry is looking to the future and that's what I've got to do as well. We've had a brilliant relationship and he completely understands the decision – and he still has a very good ride in the race on a lovely, unexposed horse."

It was in May 2018 that Nicholls announced a "restructuring" of his jockey squad, with the then 19-year-old Cobden replacing Twiston-Davies as his number-one rider.

"Sam never got sacked," said Nicholls.

"I was in a difficult situation when things changed. Harry's grandmother was a Barber, so there was always that connection with the yard. What happened was always going to happen, but even after things changed Sam rode lots of big winners for us, including a King George and a Midlands National last month. 

"He's a top-class jockey. We want someone with experience to ride our top horses and Sam is the man."

Paul Nicholls and Sam Twiston-Davies, pictured after winning the King George VI Chase in 2019, are reunited again with No Drama This End at Aintree on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Most immediately, he is the man for No Drama This End, whose McNeill family joint-owners will be represented by the Gordon Elliott-trained Three Card Brag in Saturday's Randox Grand National.

"It just didn't happen for the horse at Cheltenham, but we don't want to dwell on that," said Nicholls. "With hindsight, the ground probably wasn't soft enough over that trip and we probably should have run him in the Albert Bartlett on the Friday. 

"We live and learn, hence why we're now stepping up to three miles. Good to soft ground, if that's what we get, will be perfect for him.

"He's a hard horse to judge because he doesn't show a lot at home but, apart from one run at the festival, he has been brilliant on the track this season. It could be the wrong end of the season for him, who knows, but win, lose or draw at Aintree, I can't wait to go chasing with him in the autumn."

Nicholls added: "Talk To The Man is an unexposed horse and one we've always liked, but he's needed loads of time, which is why he was late starting this season. 

"He's rated only 130 because so far he's had no chance to go higher. We're chucking him in at the deep end in a Grade 1, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he ran very nicely."

The Nicholls duo face fierce opposition in the £100,000 Grade 1, whose line-up includes Albert Bartlett winner Johnny's Jury and the Skelton-trained four-timer-seeking Dalston Lad. 

Arguably less packed with quality is the William Hill Mildmay Novices' Chase, in which Cheltenham Festival third Regent's Stroll mirrors No Drama This End by stepping up in trip.

Regent's Stroll is a big runner for Paul Nicholls in the Mildmay Novices' ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"I think he's absolutely crying out for three miles," said Nicholls. "He was so keen and free early in the season that he looked like he wanted two miles, but he's a totally different horse now. He's maturing and at Cheltenham last time he was nice and relaxed. 

"Three miles and decent ground should suit him nicely. I think he'll run really well, though another summer won't be lost on him."

Skelton runs outsider Doyen Quest in the Mildmay but then has Grey Dawning and L'Eau Du Sud in the JCB Melling Chase. Thirty-five minutes after that, he saddles Cheltenham winner Madara in the Randox Topham Chase as an aperitif to Panic Attack's Grand National mission.

"I'm mighty proud of Dan, or Mini Me as I call him," said Nicholls. "He was always destined to be champion trainer and I'll be the first person to shake his hand at Sandown."

Before that, though, congratulations could be due in the opposite direction at Aintree.

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