Leading owner Johnny de la Hey has removed all horses from Paul Nicholls, marking a significant shift in their long-standing partnership. This decision affects 11 horses previously trained at Nicholls’ stable in Ditcheat.
The De La Heys had nearly all their jumps horses with Nicholls since the 2009-10 season. They achieved notable success, including 123 jumps winners from 652 runners, resulting in a 19 percent strike rate. Their total prize-money during this period reached £3,754,638.
Of the removed horses, seven will be trained by Dan Skelton, while four will go to Jamie Snowden and Chris Gordon. This change reflects a broader trend as Nicholls has faced multiple high-profile owners moving their horses recently.
Nicholls expressed disappointment over the removal of the horses. “It’s disappointing after all the success we have had together,” he said. He also added, “I wish Johnny all the best.” However, he acknowledged the difficulty of such changes: “I’ve never had to deal with that in my career and I did find it hard – you start asking yourself what you’re doing wrong.”
The De La Heys celebrated significant victories under Nicholls, including Cyrname’s 17-length win in the Ascot Chase in 2019. Yet, some horses have excelled after leaving his stable; for instance, Old Park Star won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for Nicky Henderson after departing from Nicholls.
This shift marks a pivotal moment in both Nicholls’ training career and the De La Heys’ racing endeavors. The future performance of these horses under new trainers will be closely monitored by racing enthusiasts and experts alike.
