Nikgarde did not enjoy the rub of the green last season. He was running a great race at Newcastle in November when for some reason he jinked at the last hurdle and unseated his jockey on the run-in. He then ran another good race at the same track in May when ridden by Brian Hughes only beaten 2 ¼ lengths into third place but then fell on his next outing at Hexham which was totally out of character.

Kapgarde was a high-class French winner and is a very successful Sire of jumpers including Garde La Victoire, Ultragold and Hammersley Lake.

The Dam Nikoline won three times and was placed five times from 10 runs in France and her first foal Confuceen (2014) is a winner and placed five times over jumps in France. Nikgarde is her second foal.