Paul Nicholls did not disguise his delight after Minella Yoga, a three-year-old he bought for £360,000, defeated odds-on favourite Act Of Innocence at Newbury on Monday. Act Of Innocence was one of 18 horses that left Nicholls' yard to join rival Nicky Henderson earlier this season, a move the 14-time champion trainer described as 'bloody hard'.
Minella Yoga, making his British debut, received 20lb from the two-years-older Act Of Innocence in the weight-for-age allowances. The race unfolded as Act Of Innocence led at the second last flight, but Minella Yoga finished strongly to score by three-quarters of a length in the Introductory Hurdle.
Nicholls admitted the loss of so many horses hit him hard. In a December interview he explained he had given them time to mature but 'other people are reaping the benefits'. Old Park Star, another former Nicholls horse, has won both starts in novice hurdles for Henderson.
Of the victory, Nicholls said: 'You can imagine I loved that. I loved that one.' He added that Minella Yoga is 'one of the nicest youngsters we have without a shadow of a doubt' and has 'a lot of class'. The trainer indicated the Triumph Hurdle trial day could be a possible next target for the gelding.
