Racing: Nicholls gathers his troops for another tussle with Pipe

There were blue skies and sunshine at Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat yesterday. The Somerset air was strangely warm. In fact, the autumn morning did not have a National Hunt feel about it at all until some old friends came clopping into the main yard, out in front of their trainer, Paul Nicholls.

There was Ad Hoc and Azertyuiop, Vol Solitaire and Valley Henry, and, at the genesis proper of another jumping season, there was the grand old man himself, See More Business.

See More will soon be 13 and, if he were human, would soon move off solids for good. The Gold Cup winner of 1999 was a relaxed figure yesterday, an old soldier comfortable in his barracks. Yet See More can still get the blood up on the gallops. "He is flying," the trainer said. "There isn't a young horse that can work with him. While he is enjoying life he is better off in training. It's a long time retired, a long time in the field."

Nicholls himself may have increasing greyness around his temples but is just 40. For him the serious business has started as he tries once again to knock Martin Pipe from his gilded perch. Nicholls has been runner-up for the jumps trainers' title for the last four years.

After a double at Ludlow, Pipe is on 81 winners for this campaign, while Nicholls also recorded a brace and is on 24.

These, though, are peashooter days and it will be some time before we discover whether Nicholls can repeat the feats of 1999, when See More Business and fellow Cheltenham Festival winners Call Equiname and Flagship Uberalles ensured the title went to the final day.

"I hope this is one of the best teams we've ever had," Nicholls said. "We've some really nice bumper horses, good novice chasers and a good cross-section of horses. But I don't even think about becoming champion. Martin is way in front already. If, come Cheltenham, we have a few big winners we might try again, but it might even be hard to finish second and beat Philip [Hobbs], Jonjo [O'Neill], Venetia [Williams] and Nicky [Henderson]."

There is great excitement about Azertyuiop, Manor Farm's highest-rated hurdler to go chasing since Flagship Uberalles. He is a probable for the Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on 17 November. Further ahead there is a three-pronged team for the Grand National in Montifault, Shotgun Willy and Ad Hoc. The last named is likely to be campaigned over hurdles until Aintree in an effort to defend his handicap mark.

The Nicholls horses will be ridden by Ruby Walsh, when his Irish commitments allow, as well as Barry Geraghty and Mick Fitzgerald. There will even be mounts for the incarcerated Timmy Murphy, who retains the support of some owners in the yard, presumably those who are not in the frequent flyers programme. "If he proves his fitness and gets back in the groove there will be rides for him," Nicholls said. "It's all down to Timmy Murphy now."