Nicholls on the title race: we'd saved a lot of ammunition - we were on a roll

Paul Nicholls was prepared for a battle "down to the wire" with great rival Nicky Henderson for the trainers' title, but with the jumps season called to a premature halt he is already plotting how he can recapture the championship next year.

A final figure of £192,550 separated Nicholls and Henderson, but the Ditcheat trainer was hopeful he would close that gap with plenty of star names set to go for big prizes at Aintree and Sandown – meetings that were lost because of racing's suspension due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In top-class performers Cyrname, Clan Des Obeaux and Politologue, Nicholls has the strength and depth for another strong title bid, while the returning Topofthegame already has the trainer excited about next season.

However, there was a sad blow for the yard last week with Champion Chase runner-up Dynamite Dollars suffering a fatal heart attack on the gallops.

Nicholls, who had 96 winners in Britain before the season ended, said: "It's a shame we lost the last six weeks of the season because we were on a roll. We'd had a great week in the build-up to Cheltenham and it was going to be interesting for the remainder, we'd saved a lot of ammunition for the last few weeks.

"I had in my mind after Cheltenham that if we were within £200,000 we had a real chance. Nicky [Henderson] had plenty to run and so did I, so it'd have been interesting. We had so many to go at Aintree, Ayr, Perth, Cheltenham [April meeting] and Sandown. I think it would've gone right down to the wire on the last day at Sandown, which is great for racing.

"But it is what it is, there's a much bigger picture with everything else going on and that's the way the cookie crumbles. You have to sympathise with the Flat boys – they must be pulling their hair out."

On the current situation at Manor Farm stables, Nicholls added: "Touch wood everything's been fine and the staff are all well. We're keeping the staff busy and we've kept everyone on."

Big-race winners for Paul Nicholls this season

Watch Politologue win the 2020 Queen Mother Champion Chase

Watch Pic D'Orhy win the 2020 Betfair Hurdle

Watch Clan Des Obeaux win the 2019 King George VI Chase

Watch Cyrname win the 2019 Christy 1965 Chase

Topofthegame is reported to be in excellent form and has overcome the season-ending leg injury he suffered in September. The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, for which he is a general 16-1 chance, is his key target in 2021.

While the eight-year-old has been absent, his RSA Chase form has been significantly boosted with runner-up Santini filling the same spot in the Gold Cup and Delta Work plundering three more wins at the top level.

Nicholls is aiming Topofthegame at the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on November 28. He will attempt to emulate the great Denman who, in the same silks, completed the Hennessy-Gold Cup double in the 2007-08 campaign.

Topofthegame: a general 16-1 chance for next year's Cheltenham Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Topofthegame is back and he's fine," Nicholls said. "He's been doing a bit of trotting and walking but he'll go off for eight weeks and then we'll have him back in July to get him ready for Newbury. That's where we'll aim to start him, a bit like we did with Denman. The plan would be to give him two or three runs before Cheltenham.

"There's a lot of water [to go] under the bridge but he looks great and physically he's improved. He's been such a big, backwards horse so a bit of time off won't have done him any harm – it was only a minor injury. He's not the easiest to train but a lot of the good ones aren't. But when you get him right, he's obviously a very good horse. I don't see any reason why he won't be as good as before."

Elsewhere, Frodon is to step up to three miles next season while Clan Des Obeaux will have a season tailored around completing a King George hat-trick. Nicholls confirmed the eight-year-old will not return to Cheltenham but could start back in the Betfair Chase.

Clan Des Obeaux: could start off in the Betfair Chase at HaydockCredit: Harry Trump (Getty Images)

Nicholls is looking at the American Grand National for Black Corton, with Truckers Lodge to be aimed at the Grand National while Cyrname has impressed Nicholls since his Ascot fall.

Of the highest-rated chaser in training, he said: "Cyrname is looking absolutely fantastic, he could've run at Sandown [in the Oaksey Chase] at the end of the season because he's come right back to himself. He's been cantering now for quite while now and I'm dead happy with him. I haven't made a plan for him for next year yet."

On Dynamite Dollars, who won three Graded prizes for the team, Nicholls paid tribute, and added: "Unfortunately we lost him last week. He was just doing a routine canter and suffered a fatal heart attack. He had run really well at Cheltenham so it was sad to lose him – he was a horse with huge potential so it's a big shame."

There is no shortage of young talent for next season in the yard, especially in the novice chasing department.

"We'll have lots of good horses to go chasing," Nicholls said. "We’ve got Pic D'Orhy, Quel Destin, Enrilo, Fidelio Vallis and Getaway Trump, who has had a wind operation. I've got to make my mind up with McFabulous. We might go over hurdles for one run, in a good race, then go chasing. There's a lot to look forward to.

"Solo has been gelded – he's a lovely horse for the future. It's not easy as a four-year-old so I'd be surprised if we go chasing. He might be a bit like Pic D'Orhy – there's some good hurdles races for him."

Read more:

Paul Nicholls: fired by passion and an insatiable hunger to be the best

It's fifth time lucky for Politologue as a bullish Nicholls is champion again

Gold Cup flop Clan Des Obeaux won't run at Cheltenham again

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