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I wouldn’t be so sure, Corm. I get the feeling that he’d arch his back, growl a little bit and then run away sobbing with his tail between his legs.
Up until his dire treatment of Azertyuiop I had a lot of time for Paul Nicholls, but he has since proven himself to be the sort of person I wouldn’t choose to spend time around. The praise heaped upon him by the media has gone very much to his head, and he’s reached the stage where he thinks he’s immune to criticism. The Ditcheat ego (and, I assume, personal pride) simply doesn’t allow for questions, severe or otherwise, which don’t tally almost perfectly with his righteous view of the world.
The man only wants it one way – his way. Nothing else will do.
I personally think Nicholls comes across as quite arrogant. He never seems to take defeat with good grace and he always seems to have some sort of excuse when he has a fancied runner turned over.
There’s no denying he’s an extremely talented trainer but the way the media fawn over him at times is a bit irritating. The media will harp on about how open he is and how great his column is but I would question how useful a resource it is to punters. I normally don’t read it but anytime I have it appears that every one of his novice chasers has schooled brilliantly at home, every novice hurdler is going to make a real good chaser, and any of his established horses are better than ever. I don’t think it is really of much use to any punter having a few bets on a Saturday. You don’t really get a great insight into the form of his runners.
I think Nicholls likes the sound of his own voice and he’d maybe be better off to bite his tongue at times.
"The man only wants it one way – his way. Nothing else will do."
You’re probably right Equitrack but, ironically, that is probably a big factor in his success.
How is that racist? I don’t want to get into a political rant but things like this REALLY wind me up.
Because you are stereotyping someone because of the colour of their skin, .
Really? What if Rishi had said offair that he had had a Vindaloo on Xmas day? Yet you without thought or without knowledge have classed it as a rasist comment. You are making far too much out of nothing.
If an Asian asked me if I’d had turkey while all they had Vindaloo would I think that was racist? Of course not, its immaturity and the fact that racism is now an obsession that makes such an issue out of what is nothing more than harmless banter and fun.
Rishi didn’t exactly look offended he clearly has the maturity to take a joke the way it was obviously meant.
As for your work where is it Stalags are us? There are worse things said at my work every day but the staff all get on and the management are friendly and non dictatorial no one would bat an eyelid at such a comment. Is that a worse way to be?
Gary Wiltshire and Rishi Persad know each other well enough to share a joke, where’s the crime in that? Give me strength. There’s always one that has to shout the race card.
He does know how to spot them, buy them, train them and place them though. Seems to be pretty adept at keeping the owners onside too.
Anthony Bromley does the buying etc. for him in France and most of his horses are trained until they are 4 or so by Irish point-to-point trainers such as Burke and Maguire.
If someone gave you a blank chequebook with the purpose of buying top horses from abroad then you’d know where to look as would anyone else on this forum (ie. the graded races).
People forget that Master Minded was already well on his way to being a top horse before Nicholls got him (he was one of the leading 4yo Chasers in training) and Kauto was a top 4yo hurdler, Takeroc was decent too amongst others.
Bosranic made a comment immediately after the Betfair criticising Thomas, which at the time I had no time for. But on a horse who naturally jumps left, it may have been the wrong thing to do, to go up the inner. Where the rail is some way from the wing. Such a horse can collide with the corner (upright bushy thing). So I do think Bos and Nicholls had a point about Sam’s ride. Though not the reason for defeat. More like it being the start of a lull in stable form. Had an awful day and steadily got worse until picking up a few days ago. Not many trainers would say “my horses are not running well”. But may be that was the real reason PN now says he should not have run Kauto Star.
Mark
You partially agree with me, Ginge. Incredible.
Well, I’m also going to agree with you. I wasn’t convinced about Kauto Star being distracted by the crowd, but after another less than convincing, although clever, jump at the last on Boxing Day I’m certainly more open to your suggestion.
Paul Nicholls mentioned Tom Segal in his post-race interview. I remember Big Mac touching on his column during The Morning Line and thinking ‘I don’t agree with that’, but does anyone have a copy of the RP from Boxing Day to clarify exactly what was written?
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Nicholls said he began to doubt himself after he read what Tom Segal wrote. Paul was also honest in saying it was his and Sams fault last time out for Kauto and that he will only be having 1 run before the King George next year.
Do people have a right to their opinions on a horse? of course they do but come on seriously Paul is right here, what the hell has Master Minded done to deserve critisisum.
Gary Wiltshire and Rishi Persad know each other well enough to share a joke, where’s the crime in that? Give me strength. There’s always one that has to shout the race card.
This is a little off the topic, so will start a thread in the lounge Ian
Thought Rishi’s family where from Mauritius originally so any reference to Vindaloo would be about as relevant as the sun.
That said Nicholls spent a week blaming Haydock’s fences for the Kauto debacle, any chance of an apology? Thought not.
Do people have a right to their opinions on a horse? of course they do but come on seriously Paul is right here, what the hell has Master Minded done to deserve critisisum.
Master Minded has failed to complete on four occasions in his career including two falls and one unseating. I don’t think it is unfair to point this out as a potential negative when punters are being asked to back the horse at very short odds.
He’s fallen twice at Auteuil – the fences at Auteuil are considerably bigger and more varied than what he’ll face in the UK.
"Behind by 2nd, headway from halfway and prominent when fell 4 out" – 2m 4f, Auteuil. From memory the fourth last at Auteuil for this distance is a good size open ditch. http://www.grandsteeple.com/pdf/dossier_presseGB.pdf
There’s a pic of said fence on Page 3 – it’s the bottom left.Judged by the comment in running for the winner (Playfully) on his other fall at Auteuil he fell at the last. Not the biggest fence on the course but hardly that tricky unless taking it at speed.
Exeter was a simple unseat.
He’s won all his Chase starts bar those mentioned above and when outpaced by the leading jumper in France at the moment in their big 4yo Chase in May 2007.
There’s plenty of possible things that can go wrong with his jumping but given a good view of the fence and some more clear rounds this year he’ll hopefully put those concerns to bed
He’s fallen twice at Auteuil – the fences at Auteuil are considerably bigger and more varied than what he’ll face in the UK.
I agree that they’re more varied, Martin. I might even agree that they’re bigger……………but they are softer than UK/Irish fences – of that there is no doubt.
In my opinion (and speaking generally) the only jumping error which has any real relevance in Master Minded’s case, is the one at Exeter; and that can probably be explained away by it being his first start in the UK at track where the obstacles take plenty of jumping (Auteuil is a place where you can take a few liberties – Exeter is not).
Other than two out at Aintree, Master Minded has been an absolute picture of fluency in my opinion, and it’s disengenuous to suggest that there were real question marks against his fencing prior to the Tingle Creek, imo.
The way he jumped round Sandown was exemplary, and just about the most accurate and fluent fencing display over 2m as I’ve seen in the last 10 years.
The way he jumped round Sandown was exemplary, and just about the most accurate and fluent fencing display over 2m as I’ve seen in the last 10 years.
That it was, especially at the speed they tend to go over 2 mile races too.
A very, very good horse, and a very good jumper.
No doubt you can go through them more than the UK/Irish fences but it doesn’t mean they take any more jumping.
Take the water jump for example – it’s a real fence rather than a hurdle with 3ft of water after it. The variation in fences IMO can catch horses out – particularly when you have a small hurdle followed by a bigger fences and a bullfinch etc.
Back on subject mind – I’ve been very impressed with Master Minded in the UK, not sure what to make of the Exeter mistake but the cash appeared to be down from what I remember so he was expected to win. Was short-sighted at it by Mister Q too from memory but jumping at speed and as well as he did round Cheltenham is good enough for me
wrong thread
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