Nicky Richards has graciously accepted that time has come to let his stable star Simply Ned wallow in retirement but the glory days of two Grade 1 successes in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas and £345,144 in prize money will linger long in his memory.
The Greystoke trainer has had more than his fair share of success of the years with the likes of One Man and Monet's Garden readily springing to mind and one of his great attributes has been the patience he has shown in bringing slow maturing horses along.
Richards has 14 winners from 90 runners so far this season and hopes are high that last year's Rehearsal Chase winner Takingrisks will have another big day and the search for the next Grade 1 horse will go on.
Ribble Valley looks the sort to continue to keep Richard in the limelight on the big Saturdays and face his next acid test in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle shortly and he has some likeable looking embryo sort that could well progress through the ranks.
Nicky kindly talked to Tony Elves of attheraces.com about those he hopes can make it another fine season for all at his Penrith base.