(Absolutely) No Drama This End for Nicholls at Cheltenham

On a day when Storm Claudia attempted to dampen spirits at Cheltenham, No Drama This End emerged from the gloom to brighten Paul Nicholls’ mood after a mixed start to the season.

Nicholls has been forced to rule his best horse Caldwell Potter out for the season and has already had to rejig plans for Kalif Du Berlais following his lacklustre return.

Last seen in the Champion Bumper finishing behind the reopposing Heads Up, who ran above expectations to be second in March, on this occasion Harry Cobden’s biggest worry was when to take up the running.

He waited until after the last and cruised home to win by three lengths from the John McConnell-trained Heads Up, the 7-4 favourite.

Nicholls said of his 5-1 winner: “He’s a real one without a shadow of a doubt. We thought he was, but until they go out and do it on the track you don’t know.

“He has shown us plenty at home and did a beautiful gallop at Newbury the other day. Nico de Boinville rode him that day and was smiling afterwards, he said he loved him.

“We think a lot of him, we’ve given him plenty of time and we’ll give him plenty of time, but there’s no doubt he’s a proper one.

“We need horses like this and he’ll go straight to the Challow (at Newbury) now. He’s a proper big chasing horse who we will look after and will go chasing next year.

“We’ve a lot to look forward to with him and he’s always had something special about him all along – we just needed to see it on track which we did today.

“Running in the Champion Bumper didn’t do him any harm and he’d be right up there with all the horses I’ve won the Challow with in the past.”

Sean Bowen lit up Prestbury Park with an inspired ride aboard Wade Out to earn more comparisons to the great Sir Anthony McCoy.

The reigning champion jockey pumped away aboard Olly Murphy’s 9-4 chance a long way from home and refused to give in, eventually storming up the famous Cheltenham hill for a three-and-a-quarter length success.

Having relished the staying test in deteriorating ground to remain unbeaten in the Sun’s “Save Our Bets” Novices’ Chase, Murphy is now eyeing a return in the spring for the National Hunt Chase, as he eulogised proudly about the man he can call his stable jockey.

“You just have to believe in your jockey and I believe in him and he believes in my horses and that rubs off in his riding. It’s fair to say some others wouldn’t have won on that one today, he’s brilliant,” said Murphy.

“He got a magic ride and he stays well and I think one more race and back here for the National Hunt Chase is written all over him.

“For Sean to be mentioned in the same breath as AP is a credit to him and his work ethic is second to none. I love working with him, we have a great relationship and hopefully we’re both on the up and I can give him better horses to ride as well.”

The victory meant even more for the Warren Chase handler coming in the colours of the late John Hales and he added: “John is of course not with us but I’m chuffed to bits to train a nice winner his colours.”

Wade Out may have made his jockey work tirelessly for success, but Brendan Powell was simply a passenger as Eldorado Allen rolled back the years in the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase.

Without a victory since landing the Denman Chase back in 2022, the 13-2 chance never missed a beat in a fine front-running display to leave connections jubilant.

Tizzard said: “It’s lovely and he’s been with us a long time. We love these veterans’ races and he hasn’t won for three years, but he’s always good fresh and that was just a pleasure to watch.

“Retirement was talked about at the end of last season and I had to convince people to give him until Christmas because he’s so good fresh and I’m glad we did as he’s been so good at home and he’s loved every part of it today.”

Earlier on the card, A Pai De Nom (11-2) -‘the horse with no name’- continued his fine start to his hurdling career to give Dan Skelton victory in the opening Lycetts Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Tristan Durrell.

Skelton said: “We’re absolutely delighted with him and he’s just improved and improved. He’s called A Pai De Nom which means I’ve got no name and for a long time we just called him ‘the horse with no name’ and he might have slipped under the radar for a lot of his life but he isn’t now.

“Something like the Lanzarote would be a possibility but he’s had a good day today and we’ll worry about what’s next down the line.”