Paddy De Pole

Paddy De Pole is a strong 7-year-old gelding, in training with Paul Nicholls.

Paddy De Pole has quite a speedy look to his pedigree. He is sired by Alkaadhem, whose progeny include 2022 Grand Annual winner, Global Citizen, and Listed mares’ novices’ hurdle winner, The Organist.

His dam, Squirrel Wood, was a Flat horse by super-sire, Saddler’s Wells. She too proved to be a speedy type who found success in the latter part of her career over trips of around a mile.

Paddy De Pole was handpicked by Mick Fitzgerald, who described him as “a ball of energy”, adding that “he’s a little demon and he’s a proper little tank and he’s made of some pretty stern stuff this fella. I really like him.”

Paddy De Pole came to us with plenty of Point-to-Point experience. He had a tough time in the early part of his career; falling twice and unseating once but put that behind him when coming up against stiff competition at Belharbour where he faced not one but two previous winners. Not only did Paddy De Pole win that race, he won it by a 15 length margin!

Paddy De Pole got off to a bit of a rocky start with Rules racing but it would seem the weather and soft ground was almost entirely to blame for that. We were sure the better ground would see a different side in him and have been proved right by his recent runs.

He has relished the good ground this Spring and that has been reflected in his recent hat-trick of wins. Paul Nicholls is delighted with the improvement he has shown and sees no reason that he can’t continue to progress.

Click HERE to watch his latest win.

He continued in good form through the summer and, following a break over the winter months, began his season at Newton Abbot back over hurdles, which allowed him to get to 100% fitness.

Making his chasing debut at Worcester Paul was looking forward to seeing how he would take to the new discipline. Travelling well and looking a natural over the larger obstacles, he made a slight error and Harry Cobden pulled him up to save him for another day.

Now back at full fitness, it won't be too much longer until we see him back on a racecourse. Make sure you're a part of the celebrations when Paddy makes a return to the winners' enclosure...