King George next for Nicholls’ star

Paul Nicholls says Cyrname will not run again until the King George at Kempton after Saturday’s win at Wetherby.

Cyrname claimed a win by two lengths in the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase and Nicholls is now looking ahead to the Boxing Day showpiece.

The trainer says a tilt at the Gold Cup at Cheltenham may well be the long term goal, but Nicholls says Cyrname’s next assignment will be a trip to Kempton over the festive period.

“That was special for a lot of reasons,” said Nicholls, as reported by Independent.ie. “He’s always been a good horse, and he’s much more relaxed now. He only jumped right-handed when he was younger because he was an idiot.

“My only worry today was that he hadn’t had an away day. He won’t run again before the King George. He needs plenty of time between his races, and I won’t be afraid to enter him at Leopardstown (over Christmas) in case it (travelling) opens up.

“Horses who win this race win Gold Cups, he’s so much more relaxed now, you can ride him like that. Why not?”