IT would be wrong to say Britain’s 14-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls has mellowed as he enters his 34th season.

He’s been at this game a long time, but the competitive edge is still deeply engrained in him — and always will be.

Paul Nicholls talks Sun man Jack Keene through his squad of stars for the season ahead

But Nicholls, 62, is philosophical about losing his trainers’ crown for the first time in four years — with both Willie Mullins and his ‘apprentice’ Dan Skelton leapfrogging him in the standings in 2023-24.

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In large part, it hasn’t affected Nicholls as much as it maybe would have in the past because of the difficulties he and his team faced off the track during the last jumps campaign.

Not only did Nicholls have to come to terms with the passing of his landlord, long-time mentor and great friend Paul Barber.

But the Ditcheat yard was left devastated by the death of stable lad Keagan Kirkby, 25, who was tragically killed after a fall at a point-to-point in February.

Nicholls said: “It was a hard year — as hard a year as we’ve ever had off the track.

“Paul was a mentor to me, I’d speak to him virtually every day and he was the one who helped me break through at the start of my career.

“Then Keagan had his accident and that was very tough for all of us. It was difficult for the whole team to lose one of their mates far too young.

“It hit us hard and when you have to go through things like that it does put results on the track and the trainers championship into perspective.

“You know me, I want to win and compete at everything I do, but real life matters far more.”

Still, it was an unusual position that Nicholls found himself in at Sandown on April 27.

He had to watch on from afar as Mullins collected the championship trophy on the final day of the jumps season, becoming the first Irish-based trainer to win Britain’s title in 70 years.

And Nicholls starts the new season as the 3-1 outsider of ‘the big three’ to win the crown for a record-equalling 15th time.

He said: “You have to take defeat on the chin. In football the same team doesn’t win the league every year.

“Everything went right for Willie, he will admit that himself, he got the bounce of the ball last year in a lot of big races.

“I could see it happening from Cheltenham onwards and it felt like it was going to be a bit of a struggle to get over the line.

“I felt more for Dan who finished ahead of me but ended up being done in the final few weeks by Willie.

“As for us, we still had more winners than anyone else and nearly £3 million in prize-money.

“You’ll fry your head if you keep worrying about winning the championship too much.

“You go through cycles in this game, but I think we are developing a nice strong team.”

On paper it definitely looks that way, even if his squad lacks the incredible Grade 1 strength in depth of Mullins.

He has fan favourites like Bravemansgame, who could start out in the Charlie Hall Chase, and Pic D’Orhy, who will run at Ascot at the end of next month.

And there are exciting young horses like Regent’s Stroll and Teeshan, who flopped at Cheltenham but is an exciting novice hurdler, coming through.

And he also has the exciting Caldwell Potter to look forward to in the big Grade 1s.

Nicholls said: “We are going to take our time and be patient.

“Most of those we have run so far have needed the run which is fine as it is hard to keep them going right through the spring if you go too hard, too early.

“There are plenty of big days and, fingers crossed, we should have another successful season.”

STABLE STAR

BRAVEMANSGAME is still the stable big gun, despite an underwhelming season last term. The 2022 King George hero and former Gold Cup runner-up has had a breathing operation over the summer.

Nicholls says: “I think the Gold Cup left a mark on him but we have re-cauterised his pallet and, on his work at home, I think he is back to his best. The Charlie Hall is his first target but I wouldn’t be afraid to run him under a big weight in the Badger Beers if it came up very soft at Wetherby.”

FESTIVAL FANCY

REGENT’S STROLL looked an exciting prospect last season when winning a pair of bumpers, coasting home by five lengths on his final start at Newbury in March.

He will end up in one of the big novice hurdles at the Festival, all being well.

Nicholls says: “He looked very smart and let’s hope it works out that way over hurdles. The big target for him in the first half is the Challow at Newbury in December.”

MONEY MAKER

GINNY’S DESTINY was a star for the stable last season. He won three races last term, including a couple of big pots in handicaps at Cheltenham, and ended the year with fine seconds in Grade 1s at the Festival and Aintree.

Nicholls says: “I’m really looking forward to him this season. I’ve got a real soft spot for this horse. He is being aimed at the Paddy Power Gold Cup next month.”

STAR RECRUIT

CALDWELL POTTER was a Grade 1 winner for Gordon Elliott and will make his eagerly awaited debut for the stable this year.

Nicholls says: “He is coming along nicely and looks fantastic. He won’t be seen on a track until late November at the earliest. We are taking our time with him but it’s exciting to have a horse like him in the yard.”

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