Nicholls just loves wearing the King George crown after his biggest win in years

Five short, simple words, delivered from a mouth that seemed permanently fixed in a beaming smile, told the story perfectly.

"I just love the game," said Paul Nicholls.

He was speaking as Clan Des Obeaux completed a lap of honour around Kempton's paddock, the one Kauto Star graced in glory on five occasions. Nicholls revelled in those days and he revelled in this one. He really does love the game – and when he is winning he loves it even more.

It is not that Nicholls stopped winning, but he stopped winning the major races as frequently as he once did. The era of Kauto Star, Denman, Big Buck's, Master Minded and Neptune Collonges is now well in the past. So, too, is the time when their trainer was champion of his profession. The crown has passed to Nicky Henderson. A return to the top for Nicholls is possibly getting closer.

Clan Des Obeaux leads Thistlecrack into the closing stages of the King GeorgeCredit: Grossick Photography

"To win races like this means more than anything, I promise you," the trainer said.

Truth be told, he had not won a race as big as this one since he took it for the ninth time with Silviniaco Conti in 2014. At Ditcheat there has been a period of rebuilding. Patience has been needed, such as the patience shown with Clan Des Obeaux.

"We'll mind him," said Nicholls after the horse had won a juvenile hurdle at Newbury three years ago. The minding has worked rather nicely.

"Horses progress and get better," said Nicholls. "It's like a footballer coming from the Championship into the Premier League. The other day at Haydock this horse got a little bit lost but he stayed on and it was the base for the future."

PAUL NICHOLLS’ TERRIFIC TEN KING GEORGE WINNERS

Year Winner Jockey SP

2018 Clan Des Obeaux Harry Cobden 12-1

2014 Silviniaco Conti Noel Fehily 15-8f

2013 Silviniaco Conti Noel Fehily 7-2

2011 Kauto Star Ruby Walsh 3-1

2009 Kauto Star Ruby Walsh 8-13f

2008 Kauto Star Ruby Walsh 10-11f

2007 Kauto Star Ruby Walsh 4-6f

2006 Kauto Star Ruby Walsh 8-13f

1999 See More Business Mick Fitzgerald 5-2f

1997 See More Business Andrew Thornton 10-1

The future for Team Ditcheat also includes triumphant stable jockey Harry Cobden and Topofthegame, second in the Grade 1 novice chase named after Kauto Star. This was a day to look to the future but with gratitude to the past, as far back as 1997 when Nicholls captured his first King George with See More Business, like Clan Des Obeaux part-owned by Paul Barber.

Clan Des Obeaux returns to Kempton's winner's enclosure with some delighted connectionsCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I was so lucky to have Kauto and all those good horses," said Nicholls. "You don't really miss it, you just feel privileged to be in that position. We just had to gradually try to get back there.

"Ten King Georges is amazing and to win this for Paul, Ged Mason and Sir Alex [Ferguson], well, it doesn't get any better. It's absolutely awesome.

"To have a horse like this, and with Topofthegame coming through as well, is fantastic. We need these horses to get us back there. I think that's probably put us back on the top of the trainers' table for a little while. It will be impossible to stay there but we'll keep trying.

"Nicky has some super, super horses. We're just getting there slowly. I think it will be hard but, you know me, I'm competitive. I never give up."

By not giving up, Nicholls has once again been crowned racing's king of Christmas.

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