Hunky Paul Nicholls ditches tweed for trunks on luxury ten-day holiday in Antigua as part of annual winter break

HUNKY Paul Nicholls ditched the tweed for his trunks this week when jetting out to Antigua for a luxury 10-day getaway.

The 13-time champion trainer takes a mid-season holiday in the Caribbean each January.

PA

Nicholls has been in sensational form but is using the time before Cheltenham to enjoy a well-earned break[/caption]

And while he recharges his batteries and indulges in a pina colada or two, his rookie assistant Charlie Davies keeps the yard at Ditcheat ticking over.

But Nicholls ‘is on the phone each morning’ and will take time out from the fun in the sun to see how PIC D’ORHY (2.05 Kempton) gets on in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase.

With the gaffer on the beach, this is usually a quiet month for the yard as the horses are given their flu jabs at the turn of the year — but Davies still has 10 big Nicholls runners to oversee this afteroon.

Davies said: “It is business as usual while Paul is away. He is on the phone every morning so he may be gone but he is making sure he is not forgotten!

“The gaffer tries to make sure it is a slightly quieter couple of weeks for the yard as we give the horses their flu jabs every January.

“Mind you we still have plenty of runners this afternoon so the pressure is always on.”

Davies was promoted from pupil assistant at the start of this season after Harry Derham quit to start up his own yard.

Davies has been a part of the Nicholls team for several years and said: “It’s a massive job being the assistant here, you only need to look at the people who have gone before me.

“They have all been incredibly successful in what they’ve chosen to do afterwards.

“Whatever happens I want to be successful for Paul and just win as many big races as we can.

“We have been having a great run and have some big chances today so hopefully we can keep the momentum going while the boss is away.

“I know he will be tuning in and keeping a close eye on the runners. He never misses a thing.”

So who does Nicholls reckon his best chance is this weekend?

He told Betfair: “Pic D’Orhy in the 2.05 at Kempton. He looks better over fences with each run and has strong claims in this Grade 2 Chase.”

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