Paul Nicholls

TRAINER

Born April 17, 1962

After leaving school at 16, Paul went to Dick Baimbridge’s yard and started riding in local point-to-points, as well as riding there Paul learnt a great deal about training from Dick. However, in 1981 it was time to move on and Paul took up a pupil assistant’s job with Kevin Bishop’s whilst continuing to ride in point-to-points for local trainers John Thorne and Les Kennard. A year later Paul turned conditional and moved to Josh Gifford’s for two years before settling at David Barons in 1984 for seven years. In his five-year stint as stable jockey there Paul won back-to-back Hennessy Gold Cups with Playschool in ’86 and Broadheath in ’87, as well as winning the Irish Gold Cup in ’87 on the latter.

Paul’s career as a jockey was halted in 1989 when a horse kicked out and broke his leg whilst on pre-season exercise; he stayed on at Barons’ as assistant for two years before leaving to set up on his own after the stables’ Seagram won the 1991 Grand National.

Paul started training in 1991 at Manor Farm Stables, Ditcheat, Somerset, after replying to an advert in the Sporting Life placed by landlord and dairy farmer/cheese producer Paul Barber. Previously occupied by Jim Old, the yard had 28 stables and originally Paul could only fill eight of them, one of them being his father’s Olveston… the horse who goes down in history as the trainer’s first winner.

Paul’s father Brian, a retired police officer had always enjoyed racing without venturing into the sport until Paul made the decision to make a career in the industry. He also lives in Ditcheat and maintains the gallops five days a week.
Manor Farm Stables is now one of the most individually successful training establishments in the country and has seen over 1700 winners pass through its gates in Paul’s care, including four Cheltenham Gold Cup winners as well as collecting four Champion Trainers’ titles. Capacity is now 120 and with about 160 horses looking for a stable at any given time… the future looks strong.