Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 12 January 2026
January 19th, 2026 | Marten's Perspective
Although I would not suggest Paul Nicholls and I are close buddies, we do go back a long way … to 1995 in fact, when, in his fifth season with a licence, he trained Larry’s Lord, a horse who ran in my colours, to win four races.
Since those times, three decades ago, we have occasionally met at the sales and on the rare occasion that I have rung him, he has addressed my enquiries with frankness and civility.
I can vouch for one thing from those days and that relates to his competitiveness.
I recall one occasion when I wanted to give our horse a short break to which he responded with something along the lines of ‘no way, he’s flying at home and he’ll win at Newton Abbot next week.’
He booked Richard Dunwoody, telling him the same thing, and the horse duly collected. Just to cement his status as the superior party in our relationship, the partnership won again a few days later at Wincanton.
I was not in the least offended by what could be described as his somewhat gruff bedside manner but it did strike me that this was a man who was not easily going to be turned.
I can therefore appreciate why there have been partings of the ways in his career, most recently last summer and more notably with Clive Smith, owner of Kauto Star, Master Minded and other top performers.
However, that does not reveal the full depth or range of his character or, let’s call it, his emotional intelligence.
A few years ago I had a long chat with Paul while I was working on my book Strictly Classified and he spoke very poignantly about how in February 2013, he had to keep his team focused with Cheltenham approaching and rally round to support his head lad Clifford Baker, following the tragic death of his 21-year-old son Dominic.
I know from that conversation and from my experience as an owner with Paul that he has great fortitude and sensitivity and, although he may have ruffled a few feathers along the way, you always know where you stood with him. Better that than having an indecisive hand on the tiller.
Having said all that, not even his staunchest detractors would wish the fate that befell Kalif Du Berlais … one of three horses to lose their life at Kempton on Saturday … on anyone. Paul is also without his other aspiring star Caldwell Potter, out injured for the season.
Talk about kicking a man when he’s down but knowing the fickle nature of this game it would not surprise me if things turned around for him this spring.
As I write he’s not doing badly this season with a very respectable strike-rate of 23% and over a £1 million in prize-money. He may have to plough his furrow in handicaps but maybe a big one will come his way. The Grand National, perhaps? He could have another one for the Jack Richards at Cheltenham.
One thing is certain. Paul Nicholls will keep himself and his team focused on the job in hand and his tenacity will be rewarded. It usually is.
Bye for now
Why wait a week? Receive Marten’s free horse racing publication Weekly Roundup, the day it is written in full for free every Monday evening by clicking here & signing up for our free Newsletter
© Copyright in all Marten Julian Publications is strictly reserved by the publishers. No material therein may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from Marten Julian.
