'I had a lovely bet at 25-1' – Paul Nicholls' confidence pays off with Kandoo Kid in Coral Gold Cup

Paul Nicholls loves it when a plan comes together and there was no hiding his immense satisfaction having produced Kandoo Kid in rampant form to win the Coral Gold Cup on his first run for 232 days. 

He may have been the only runner in the line-up to be making his seasonal reappearance, but Kandoo Kid was carrying maximum confidence from his stable as well as the hard-earned cash of the 14-times champion trainer. He did not disappoint. 

Stalking the leaders under a confident ride from Harry Cobden, Kandoo Kid loomed large two out, jumped the last in the lead and at no point on the run-in did he look like a horse tasting competitive action for the first time since finishing third in the Topham at Aintree in April. 

Finishing with petrol in the tank, Michael Geoghegan's lightly raced grey came home a length and three-quarters clear of Broadway Boy, who gave it a good go from the front, with Victtorino finishing with a flourish to nab third. 

"We've aimed at this race all season and I wasn't going to be tempted to run him," said Nicholls, enjoying his fourth success as a trainer in a race in which he also rode the winners Broadheath in 1986 and Playschool the following year.

"He's great fresh and galloped beautifully here the other day. I thought he'd stay and he got a great ride. It's absolutely brilliant."  

Paul Nicholls claps back in Kandoo Kid and Harry CobdenCredit: Edward Whitaker

In the last decade only Cloudy Glen had managed to win the Coral Gold Cup on his seasonal comeback, but Nicholls' towering reputation is built on his ability to train his horses for the big days and Kandoo Kid was cherry-ripe on his first run of the campaign. 

"I love targeting races," said Nicholls, displaying all the same enthusiasm he had as when Strong Flow gave him a first training success in the race back in 2003. "We made a plan and have done plenty of work with him. I just thought he'd improved and that this was the ideal race. 

"I didn't want to run him before and set him back. Michael kept asking me when he was going to run, but I kept telling not until the 'Hennessy'! Getting a good horse ready to win when they run is what it's all about and now we can dream about the Grand National." 

So confident was Nicholls about Kandoo Kid's chance in the build-up, he revealed he had staked £100 each-way at 25-1 and knew it was money well spent after watching the eight-year-old work impressively at Newbury a week last Tuesday.     

"I had a lovely bet at 25-1 about a month ago and I really, really fancied him," said Nicholls. "Nico de Boinville rode him in that gallop and said he felt awesome. It wasn't hidden or anything."

The last Coral Gold Cup winner to triumph in the Randox Grand National was Lambourn legend Many Clouds, and the only question for Nicholls to ponder before Aintree in April is whether Kandoo Kid runs beforehand or heads to Liverpool fresher than paint.   

"I think he'd be a great type for Aintree," said the trainer. "He's been round there once before and was brilliant. He's got the National written all over him and that's what we'll train him for."

Victory took Nicholls' earnings for the season crashing through the £900,000 mark and a 15th trainers' title is very much in his sights.

Thumbs up: Paul Nicholls had plenty of reasons to smile after the Coral Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It's a long season," he added. "Everyone was writing us off in October, but I had a plan and learned a lot over the years that if you're winning in October they're not winning in the spring. Whether we've quite got the firepower to win the title I don't know, but we're not going to be far away. Winning the National would be handy."

Former HSBC boss Geoghegan has had horses on the Flat since retiring in 2011 and first ventured into the jumps when Nicholls offered him the chance to purchase future Grade 1 winner Dynamite Dollars at a charity lunch. He now has a live National contender on his hands. 

"He went through that race pretty easily, but when Nico said he couldn't pull him up after the gallop the other week we knew he was fit," said the Barbados-based owner. 

"Paul has done brilliantly to produce him like that after 232 days off and his jumping was clinical. It's a long way off, but we've got to be thinking of the National."  

Read more:

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'The opposition don’t fear me with him' - The New Lion extends unbeaten record and leaves Dan Skelton eyeing Grade 1 next 

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