Nicholls taking Kandoo attitude to Aintree marathon

Image from Alamy KCHHFD British National Hunt race horse trainer Paul Nicholls.

Paul Nicholls is hoping Kandoo Kid can spearhead a strong assault on the Grand National as the Ditcheat supremo seeks a second win in the Merseyside marathon.

Nicholls, 14 times champion trainer in Britain, won the Grand National with Neptune Collonges in 2012 as the popular grey got up late to deny Sunnyhillboy by a nose in one of the tightest finishes in National history.

Nicholls’ 2025 Grand National team is headed by Kandoo Kid, who is around 20/1, but will also include Threeunderthrufive, Hitman, Bravemansgame and Stay Away Fay.

Kandoo Kid set for Aintree

Kandoo Kid looks set to be the mount of stable jockey Harry Cobden. He’s rated 152 and will carry 10st 11lb. His trainer was perfectly pleased with his final prep run over an inadequate two-and-a-half-miles at Newbury at the start of March.

He had won the Coral Gold Cup at the same venue in November over three-and-a-quarter-miles and Nicholls insists there were two big targets this season.

“I’m very happy with him. Every time you run you want to win but sometimes circumstances, when you’re aiming at the National, you don’t have too many options,” he said of that prep run.

“Two-and-a-half was a bit sharp for him [at Newbury], but he jumped well, travelled well and came out of it well.

“As I’ve said all along, I had two aims to get him at his very, very best. One was the Coral Gold Cup and the other one’s the National.”

Threeunderthrufive to relish the challenge

Threeunderthrufive runs in the famous McNeill Family silks and was fourth in the Scottish National two years ago.

The 10-year-old appears to be in ripe form now, coming to Aintree after being denied a repeat success in Ascot’s Swinley Handicap Chase by Victtorino in a head-bobber.

“He ran a blinder. Twelve stone and he got beat a nose and he was in front before and after the line; it’s just the way it unfolded. Victtorino is a smart horse and he finished fourth in the Coral Gold Cup and that race has turned out to be very, very good,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“He’s improving, he jumps well and stays well; he was fourth in a Scottish National and he could run really well.”

Frost Stays Away, Burke called up

Bryony Frost was the intended rider on Stay Away Fay but Nicholls has revealed she won’t be travelling from her base in France where she’s retained by leading owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Instead, Nicholls has revealed that Jonathan Burke would ride Stay Away Fay in the world’s most famous steeplechase.

Burke has ridden in the Grand National five times, with his best finish being fifth on Goonyella in 2016. He has partnered one winner from seven rides for Nicholls previously.

Stay Away Fay was last seen finishing 11th in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and is a general 66-1 shot for the Grand National.

Nicholls said: “Unfortunately Bryony texted me saying that she has to stay in France. I’m delighted to have booked Jonathan to ride Stay Away Fay.”

Classy pair complete Team Ditcheat

The Nicholls team is five-strong and will be completed by Bravemansgame and Hitman. The former was a King George winner at Kempton in his pomp and also finished second behind Galopin Des Champs in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Boxing Day showpiece in 2022 remains his most recent success and he hasn’t been delivering as has looked likely in some of his races recently, though he did perform better in a first-time tongue-tie when third in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury last time out.

He’s set to race off 155 in the National, with 11st on his back, 1lb below stablemate Hitman, who finished second in that February contest at Newbury over almost three-miles.

Stamina is the main query for Hitman in the Grand National, though Nicholls told Sky Sports Racing this week that he could be a very lively outsider if he takes to the challenge.