'It was tough but now I'm in a good place' - Paul Nicholls raring to go with the next generation

Paul Nicholls called last season the toughest of his 33-year training career, but one of the sport's most decorated figures is determined to bounce back with huge expectations for a team packed full of young talent and big-money buys.

For the first time this century, Nicholls did not occupy one of the top two spots in the trainers' championship last season with Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton, his former assistant, above him. However, his Ditcheat yard still sent out 132 winners, more than any other, and was on target at the Cheltenham Festival with Monmiral in the Pertemps Final.

The death of Keagan Kirkby, a key member of Nicholls' stable staff, in a fall at a point-to-point in February, and the loss of longtime friend and landlord Paul Barber added to the challenges across the campaign, at the end of which high-profile owner Chris Giles sold his string at auction.