The 14-time champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls was forced to evacuate some horses from his famous Ditcheat yard after overnight rain flooded the stables – stating some of his horses were ‘floating’.
Paul Nicholls Stable Flood: Champion Trainer In Late-Night Evacuation
Trainer Paul Nicholls, who has been champion jumps trainer fourteen times, suffered a stable flooding emergency on Thursday night as heavy rain in the Ditcheat area forced its way into his famous Manor Farm stable.
His team had to spring into action during the night to evacuate a section of his horses, but Nicholls later said the incident was just a ‘short-term drama’ and all the horses are fine.
A yellow rain warning has battered much of the UK this midweek and the heavy rain has already claimed the Saturday Veterans’ Chase Day card at Sandown, with the Esher track forced to call off the ITV Racing fixture on Friday.
The other big meeting on Saturday, Wincanton, which is one of Paul Nicholls’ local tracks, is also subject to an 8am inspection to see if they can race.
Nicholls has four horses entered at the Somerset track on Saturday – Paddy De Pole, Magic Saint, Huelgoat and Individualiste.
Chepstow is also off on Sunday due to a waterlogged track, while Stratford and Worcester have also reported their tracks have suffered heavy flooding in this latest bout of rain.
⭕️ A number of horses based with Paul Nicholls had to be evacuated from their boxes on Thursday night after heavy rain caused flooding at the champion trainer’s yard.https://t.co/nvNB52680q
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) January 5, 2024
Nicholls Back To Normal Come Friday Morning
However, the Paul Nicholls stable flood drama was short-lived as his assistant Charlie Davies and loyal head-lad Clifford Baker spearheaded the evacuation and clean-up overnight.
Six horses were involved in the move, with water up to their knees – but by morning Nicholls had reported the water in the stables had gone and it was back to normal on Friday with their set routine not impacted.
The flood was due to a nearby river in Ditcheat flooding its banks.
Paul Nicholls told the Racing Post – “I’d never seen rain like it on Thursday and the river burst its banks and backed up all the drainage. It’s happened once before but not for about ten or 15 years.
“We got to the horses and they were floating, with the water and shavings up to their knees. We just got them out and safe, dried them off and moved them for the night and you wouldn’t know any different.
“First thing this morning the water had gone and the gallops and everything was back to normal. It was a bit of a short-term drama but everyone’s okay.”
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