Paul Nicholls pulls hot favourite from first big race of jumps season as Harry Cobden teams up with different trainer

PAUL NICHOLLS has scratched hot favourite Teeshan from the first major race of the new jumps season.

The Ditcheat boss’ big hope was 11-10 favourite for the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow on Friday.

Former champion trainer Paul Nicholls did not declare 11-10 fav Teeshan for the first major race of the new jumps seasonGetty

Last seen finishing 12th in the Champion Bumper after winning his first race under rules, the Johnny de la Hey-owned five-year-old was very short with the bookies for his comeback run.

But he wasn’t declared on Thursday morning, and neither was 4-1 second-favourite Brechin Castle, trained by Ben Brookhouse.

Nicholls posted a video of Teeshan leading a group of horses for a schooling session at his Ditcheat base just a week ago.

But his omission throws the race wide open and also saw Nicholls’ No1 jockey Harry Cobden link up with Irish handler John McConnell.

Cobden will ride the 130-rated Intense Approach, who will line up on the back of winning his past two races by a combined 22-and-a-half lengths having been sent off odds-on both times.

Only seven runners were declared for the day one feature, which traditionally marks the start of the new National Hunt season.

Harry Skelton will ride the 120-rated Juventus de Brion, trained by his brother Dan.

Fergal O’Brien’s Ryan’s Rocket is the second top rated horse in the field of 122 and will be ridden by Jonathan Burke.

Peter and Michael Bowen will send out Flying Fortune to be ridden by James Bowen.

While Sam Thomas saddles 120-rated Vincenzo for top owner Dai Walters, with Dylan Johnston doing the steering.

King George-winning jockey Gavin Sheehan will ride Jamie Snowden’s Handlethekettle and Nick Scholfield is on Ella Pickard’s Bullets Hill.

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