Races
PAUL NICHOLLS: Ditcheat to house 3 former Cheltenham winners Rouge Vif, Saint Calvados and Simply The Betts
Kate & Andrew Brooks trio Rouge Vif, Saint Calvados and Simply The Betts will now be trained by Paul Nicholls
2020/21 champion trainer Paul Nicholls will train former Prestbury Park heroes Rouge Vif, Saint Calvados and Simply The Betts after the Kate & Andrew Brooks contenders left Harry Whittington’s Sparsholt yard.
Simply The Betts took the Paddy Power Plate at the 2020 Festival under Gavin Sheehan, five months after the rider partnered Saint Calvados to a Gloucestershire success on the second day at The Showcase Meeting.
Also an October successor, Rouge Vif registered his first success at the Home of Jumps Racing eight months ago under Daryl Jacob following his Arkle third the season before, and also won the Grade 2 Kingmaker at Warwick as a novice chaser.
After losing his crop of stable-star’s, Whittington told the Racing Post: “These things happen all the time in racing.
“There are no hard feelings at all and I’m very grateful to the Brooks family for everything they have done for us. There’s absolutely no falling out whatsoever and we remain good friends.
“We’ve had some amazing days together, winning at the Cheltenham Festival with Simply The Betts and Saint Calvados, who won the Kingmaker and then a Grade 3 in Ireland.
“Hopefully there’ll be other great days in the future with them and while we’re sad to see the horses go, it’s Andrew’s decision where he wants his horses trained and I wish him and the horses well.”
