Paul Nicholls appears to be regaining his top form as a National Hunt trainer following an impressive performance from No End in Sight in the Grade One Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury. The five‑year‑old hurdler raced prominently from the start and won by 1¼ lengths, confirming his status as one of the season’s most promising novice hurdlers.
Sent off as the 4‑9 favourite, No End in Sight maintained an unbeaten record over hurdles, having previously won at Sandown and Cheltenham. Ridden by Harry Cobden, he made all the running from the start, a tactic chosen to keep him relaxed and in control ahead of Cheltenham. This strategy allowed the horse to finish strongly and maintain clear superiority over his rivals.
Following this performance, Nicholls intends to take No End in Sight straight to the Cheltenham Festival in March, targeting the Turners Novices’ Hurdle. “He’s obviously very special. We wanted to give him a nice bit of time before Cheltenham rather than run him on Trials Day,” Nicholls said, emphasising the careful planning behind the horse’s preparation.
The Challow Hurdle has historically been a proving ground for future festival stars, and this victory adds No End in Sight to the list of horses trained by Nicholls who have excelled in this race. Past winners from Nicholls’ yard include notable performers such as Denman and Bravemansgame, linking the young hurdler with a tradition of top-class talent.
This win is a positive indicator of a resurgence in Nicholls’ stable, which has also seen promising performances from other juveniles, suggesting that the upcoming Cheltenham Festival could mark a strong return to prominence for the trainer.
