How I brought Paul Nicholls face to face with his fiercest critic Johnny Dineen

Johnny Dineen's straight-shooting style on the Racing Post's flagship show Upping The Ante has seen him assemble a cult-like following over the last few months. The former on-course bookmaker, now operating as a professional punter, says it as he sees it but that can get him into the odd squabble, most recently with 13-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

Back in early January during an episode of Upping The Ante, Dineen was asked how many winners Nicholls would have at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Dineen was typically forthright with his reply and said: "I'd say he will have zero winners at the festival and if you get one, Paul, you can go home, because you won't be having a second."

Nicholls saw the show and, after Tahmuras won the Tolworth at Sandown the following Saturday, he texted daughter Megan, who was on duty for ITV, and told her to tell viewers that "Johnny Dineen is the worst tipster since Matt Chapman!"

Paul Nicholls shows off his Gold Cup contender Bravemansgame to Johnny Dineen

There was only one thing for it: a trip to Ditcheat, where the punter could meet the trainer face-to-face and they could settle their differences once and for all.

Being the good sport that he is, Nicholls invited the pair of us over for a day with him. No, really, he did. I was just as surprised as you.

A morning on the incredibly undulating Ditcheat gallop, followed by lunch at the Manor House Inn, gave us the perfect opportunity for the pair to have it out.

We covered everything from Bravemansgame to Big Buck's; from taking on Willie Mullins at Cheltenham to taking on Nicky Henderson every day of the week; from Denman to Hermes Allen; from training techniques to socialising techniques; from the Dublin Racing Festival to buying from France. You name it, we discussed it.

You can watch the results this weekend on the Racing Post YouTube channel and read all about it in a special feature in Sunday’s newspaper.

Read all about Johnny Dineen's meeting with Paul Nicholls in The Big Read, available in Sunday's newspaper or online for Members' Club Ultimate subscribers from 6pm on Saturday. Click here to sign up.

Read these next:

'I've got a feeling he'll go very well' - Nicholls has Pic D'Orhy primed for Ascot Chase 

Watch: episode 15 of Upping The Ante featuring 14-1 and 16-1 Cheltenham tips 

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Upping The Ante star Johnny Dineen joins the Racing Post roster for a weekly Saturday column throughout the jumps season. He'll offer a guide to the weekend action, highlight the key horses and races to watch and share his punting wisdom. Read it every Saturday in the Racing Post or online from 4pm every Friday, exclusively for Members' Club subscribers. Sign up to Members' Club here for more top jumps season insight.