Celebrate like Paul Nicholls: 'He's every right to get excited and puff his chest out' Paul Nicholl’s Minella Yoga won the Coral ‘Daily Rewards Shaker ‘ Introductory Hurdle at Newbury beating Act of Innocence by three quarters of a length. Act of Innocence had previously been in training with Paul and left the yard in less than ideal circumstances. Post race the trainer was clearly delighted with his winner expressing that the horse was one of the nicest youngsters he has in the yard. Be more like Paul Johnny Ward said on this week's Irish Angle: "I love the way Paul Nichols talks about his horses. Paul Nicholls would probably have a fairly divisive reputation. "I've always enjoyed being in his company because he's quite a straight shooter, whether people like that or not. But for racing, for Paul Nicholls to have a good horse is brilliant for racing." Emma Nagle added: "I think people got a bit riled up on social media saying he should have been a bit more gracious in defeat, but I liked the raw emotion of it" Johnny continued: "What are you going to say if you have a horse who's left your yard in less than sort of magnanimous circumstances and then you beat that horse? "You come up with some answer like "may the best man win or whatever!" "That's just Paul Nicholls being honest, we need this in racing. We have so many trainers saying the right thing or not saying anything controversial, blah blah blah.’ Paddy Flood ‘‘He's a very good trainer, but he's had plenty of kicks recently, with owners taking horses from him, spending a lot of money at the sales and not getting the rewards for it. He's changed a lot of his team. "Tom Malone, I don't think buys horses for him anymore and maybe his daughter is buying him now, but he's every right to get excited and puff his chest out a little bit about this fella because I think he's a very good horse.’ Minella Yoga bloodstock angle by Holly Harte By the well sought after stallion, Study of Man and out of the placed mare Yoga, Minella Yoga was purchased at the Goffs Orby sale 2023 for well below the value of what a ‘select sale’ yearling should be achieving. He cost a mere €35,000 when knocked down to John Nallen’s Lucky Jack Bloodstock. Minella Yoga won first time out in an Academy Hurdle for John Nallen before moving to Paul Nicholls.
