Champion trainer Paul Nicholls could not hide his satisfaction after securing a deeply personal victory at Newbury on Monday, as his newcomer Minella Yoga ran down the odds-on favourite Act Of Innocence – a horse recently taken from his yard.
A Bitter Summer Departure
The win carried extra significance for the Ditcheat handler. During the summer, a group of 18 horses left his stable, including several highly promising young talents owned by Gordon and Su Hall. Among them were Cheltenham Festival runner-up Ginny's Destiny and the exciting novice hurdlers Old Park Star and Act Of Innocence, all of whom joined the powerful stable of his rival, Nicky Henderson.
Nicholls had previously expressed his frustration at the loss, revealing he was never given a clear reason for the move. He emphasised that he had deliberately given the horses time to mature, a strategy he felt others were now benefiting from. "It was bloody hard losing those horses and it's hard now watching them win," Nicholls told the Racing Post in December.
Debutant Upsets the Favourite
The stage was set for a poignant clash in the Introductory Hurdle at Newbury. Act Of Innocence, now trained by Henderson and having won on his hurdling debut, was sent off the 2-7 favourite to win again. For much of the race, he justified that price, leading the field over the second-last flight.
However, Nicholls had unleashed a £360,000 three-year-old purchase named Minella Yoga, who was making his British debut. Under a 20lb weight allowance due to his age, the newcomer finished with a powerful surge on the run-in, catching Act Of Innocence and scoring by three-quarters of a length.
"I Loved That!" – Nicholls's Reaction
"You can imagine I loved that," a beaming Nicholls said after the race. "I loved that one." He admitted the result was particularly sweet given the circumstances. "I obviously felt I had half a chance by running him against Act Of Innocence and I couldn't have had a better result to be honest."
He was full of praise for the winner, describing Minella Yoga as "one of the nicest youngsters we have without a shadow of a doubt" and suggesting he would be even better on slower ground. While noting the horse is still green and learned plenty from the experience, Nicholls hinted at future plans, mentioning that Trials Day in late January could be a potential next target.
The victory not only announced Minella Yoga as a potential Triumph Hurdle prospect but also provided Paul Nicholls with a moment of profound sporting and personal vindication on the racecourse.
