With all the focus now centering on the Aintree festival, many of the recent headlines have been about the trainers’ championship.

With a team of horses entered up by Willie Mullins at Aintree, retaining the title won’t be a walk in the park but we won’t be lying down. Silviniaco Conti spearheads our assault with Cheltenham winners Diego Du Charmil and Solar Impulse backing up the strength of the team.

Last week we built our own Grand National fences, and had a big schooling morning. Noel Fehily came down to partner Silviniaco Conti, Nick Scholfield partnered Unioniste, Sean Bowen schooled Just A Par and Sam Twiston-Davies schooled Topham runner As De Mee. They all jumped great and hopes are high heading to the National.

But the end of season isn’t all geared around Aintree and last weekend we saddled 14 runners up and down the country. The classy Adrien Du Pont ran in a valuable hurdle at Ascot last Sunday and he made no mistake.

Making most of the running he was clear for much of the contest and won easily under Sam. But the weekend didn’t end there. Benvolio bounced right back to form when winning a valuable staying handicap chase at Newbury.

I headed north again last Saturday with two runners at Kelso, Silsol and Dormello Mo. Again good prize money was on offer up there and all credit goes to the racecourse. They were rewarded with a good turn-out. Silsol teamed up with Jack Sherwood in the long distance hurdle. Jack has a good record on Silsol and he extended that fine run by steering him to victory. Running in first-time blinkers, he travelled sweetly throughout.

Unfortunately steady rain throughout the day, turned the ground against Dormello Mo. But he still ran a blinder and only found former Grand Annual winner Savello too good. Kelso in particular has been a happy hunting ground this season with four winners from seven runners.

This time of the year is an exciting time as we introduce many of our young bumper horses. As their work increases it is easy to get excited. Cash Again was a horse that had won in France and he had his first run for us in Newbury last weekend. In the hands of Barry Geraghty, he travelled strongly and quickened nicely with the eventual winner Jenkins, but the two drew right away and he looks a lovely recruit.

In Wincanton on Monday we ran two lovely horses for Mr Hemmings. Touch Kick, a son of Presenting and Winningtry, a son of Flemensfirth.

First up was Touch Kick. Despite drifting alarmingly in the betting he was given a patient ride by Sam and brought through to challenge two furlongs out. Running a bit green upsides in front, he asserted close home to score by a length and a quarter.

Half an hour later Winningtry was in action. In this division, they went a very steady early gallop and it turned into a sprint up the straight but he quickened well and the front two pulled along way clear.

They are two lovely young horses that have big futures ahead of them.

Touch Kick’s win was a landmark win as it brought up Paul’s 100 winner of the season. A great feat and hopefully it will help him on his way to retaining his trainers’ championship.

For more information on Paul’s Grand National team check out Paul’s betfair blog at https://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/.