Paul Nicholls eyeing Grand National with Bravemansgame as trainer reflects on tricky festive period

Bravemansgame: on course for the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day

Bravemansgame: could be aimed for AintreeCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Paul Nicholls hopes the Grand National will be the "ideal race" for Bravemansgame as he plans to drop the three-time Grade 1 winner into handicaps after his eighth in the King George VI Chase.

The nine-year-old has not won since his Boxing Day heroics in 2022 and finished 28 lengths behind Banbridge at Kempton, prompting Nicholls to try a different route with him. He is a best priced 50-1 to give the 14-time champion trainer a second success at Aintree, 13 years on from Neptune Collonges.

His run was among a number of disappointments over the Christmas period for Nicholls, who will give his big guns a mid-season break ahead of the major spring festivals.

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James StevensWest Country correspondent

Published on 31 December 2024inBritain

Last updated 15:00, 31 December 2024

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