HANDFUL

THE Badger Ales Trophy Handicap is one of Wincanton’s biggest meetings of the year and a race Paul Nicholls has won on an incredible seven occasions. All eyes will be on the Ditcheat handler today because

has a heck of a lot of factors in his favour heading to this 3m1f Listed event.

The race has clearly been a target for the seven-year-old for some time as the owners of the horse are the race sponsors.

The booking of promising 5lb claimer Bryony Frost looks a shrewd appointment — and when you couple that with recent form (a win over hurdles at Kempton last month) it’s difficult to look past the likely favourite.

The surface is the only negative for The Present Man. The ground is likely to be testing, whereas all his best runs have come on a firmer surface.

is one I definitely

Present Man Southfield Royale

won’t be backing. The seven-year-old has a long history of flattering to deceive, particularly when I’ve bet on him. He’s not won since 2015 and has finished 15th, fell, 12th (of 14) and seventh (of nine) in his last four runs. There’s a chance he’ll win, just to troll me even more, but it’s a risk I’m fully prepared to take. A contender that appears to be largely overlooked is

another Nicholls-trained charge.

He had this race at his mercy 12 months ago when cruelly falling at the final fence just as he’d assumed the lead. This left Gentleman Jon clear of the field by 25 lengths. Southfield Theatre has not had a run this year — which is an obvious concern. But given his trainer’s record in this race and the fact that the nine-year-old goes on soft ground he’s got to be worth an each-way interest.

The SOUTHFIELD THEATRE,