Paul Nicholls was born in Lydney in Gloucestershire on 17 April 1962.  The son of a Policeman, Paul grew up with his family in the village of Olveston near Bristol.  Having been interested in horses and horseracing through his early life, Paul progressed from hunting and pony racing to full-time employment with horses when, upon leaving school at the age of 16, he went to work at Dick Baimbridge's yard and started riding in local point-to-points.  Paul's first riding success came aboard Energy Saver at Nedge on 22 March 1980. As well as riding for Mr Baimbridge, 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 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 finally settling at David Barons' Devon base in 1984 for seven years in total.  During a five-year period from 1984-1989 he was stable jockey at Barons and Paul won back-to-back Hennessy Cognac Gold Cups partnering both Broadheath to success in 1986 and Playschool to victory in 1987.  Playschool also went on to record Paul's biggest success as a jockey later that season when winning the 1988 Vincent O'Brien (Irish) Gold Cup. Having ridden 119 winners as a jockey, with a season best total of 23 wins in 1982-83, Paul's career in the saddle was halted in the summer of 1989 when just two weeks before the new season a horse kicked out and broke Paul's left leg whilst on pre-season exercise.  It was to be coined later by Paul as his 'Lucky Break' for with his weight becoming an issue, he was forced to examine his future career in racing.  He stayed on at Barons' stable as Assistant Trainer for a further two years before leaving to set up on his own not long after Seagram had won the Grand National for Barons in 1991. After replying to an advert placed in the Sporting Life by Somerset based Dairy Farmer and Cheesemaker Paul Barber in June 1991, Paul received his Trainer's license on 1 November 1991 and took over the running of Manor Farm Stables at Ditcheat for his new Landlord.  Previously occupied by Jim Old, the yard had 28 stables at that time and Paul could only fill eight of them.  One of those eight horses, Olveston, was owned by his parents; the horse who would go down in history as the Trainer's first winner at Hereford in December 1991. Success as a top National Hunt Trainer has gradually followed through enormous amounts of dedication, determination and hard work.  Notable winning horses from Paul's early career include Belmont King, Deep Bramble, Ad Hoc and his first Grade 1 winner See More Indians in the Feltham Novices Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day in 1993.  Whilst Cheltenham Festival glory was elusive to begin with, it finally came all at once in 1999 when Paul took not only his first Cheltenham Gold Cup with See More Business, but also the Champion Chase with Call Equiname and The Arkle Trophy with Flagship Uberalles. Please check out our Hall of Fame.  Finally, having been runner up to his main rival (legendary Trainer Martin Pipe) for no less than seven seasons in a row, Paul finally became Champion Trainer for the first time in season 2005-2006.  Since then Manor Farm Stables has continued to go from strength to strength to become one of the most individually successful training establishments in the country.  It has seen well over 2000 winners pass through its gates and into Paul's care with a season best total of 155 during the 2008-2009 campaign.  Four Cheltenham Gold Cup's, four Champion Chases, a remarkable seven King George V Chases and numerous other Group 1 victories have all subsequently gone towards collecting seven Champion Trainers' titles for Paul Nicholls. Capacity at Ditcheat is now at 120 and with around 160 horses looking for a stable at any given time; the future continues to look strong. Home Shop Horses News Stables Gallery Contact Winners Sitemap Links