Nicholls expecting a tough test

PAUL Nicholls is under no illusions about the task facing defending champion Politologue in next month’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase - hailing red-hot favourite Chacun Pour Soi as “nearly unbeatable”.

Politologue provided the Ditcheat handler with a joint-record sixth victory in the two-mile showpiece at the Cheltenham Festival last March, and made a successful start to the current campaign by bagging his second Tingle Creek at Sandown.

However, the grey was beaten by First Flow on his latest outing in Ascot’s Clarence House Chase - and having witnessed the Willie Mullinstrained Chacun Pour Soi trounce his rivals at last weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival, Nicholls admits his charge has plenty on his plate.

Speaking on Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme, Nicholls said: “Chacun Pour Soi looks nearly unbeatable on his run at Leopardstown the other day.

“He has got to act at Cheltenham - it’s a slightly different track and that is the only question mark I can see.

“Politologue always gives his all and is the most genuine and tough horse. I think this year will be his sixth Cheltenham Festival.

“But if Chacun Pour Soi does turn up in really top form, he’s going to be hard for us all to beat.

“Politologue does like Cheltenham, which is a big plus, but I think he’s got plenty to do.”

During an extensive interview, Nicholls confirmed his Challow Hurdle winner Bravemansgame firmly on course for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at next month’s Festival, while the improving Barbados Buck’s is “in the mix” for the Albert Bartlett.

Of Bravemansgame, he said: “He’s in good form and nice and fresh. He had four runs up to and including the Challow Hurdle at Christmas and we just decided to keep him fresh after that.

“He worked well on Saturday and is very fit. We’ll probably have an away-day somewhere with him and I couldn’t be happier with him.

“Physically, he just keeps on improving.”

Nicholls’ Cheltenham team also includes Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Frodon, of whom he added: “He’s an amazing horse. He’s gone and won a King George VI Chase

Lingfield - (five-year record)

Top Trainers (with runners): G L Moore 19-129 (14.7%), J W Mullins 8-56 (14.3%), L Wadham 5-26 (19.2%) N Twiston-Davies 5-44 (11.4%), I Williams 4-12 (33.3%), O Murphy 4-22 (18.2%) C Tizzard 4-22 (18.2%), A King 4-25 (16%), Miss A N-Smith 4-25 (16%) D Skelton 4-26 (15.4%), W Greatrex 4-29 (13.8%), S Drinkwater 3-9 (33.3%).

Top Jockeys (with mounts): Joshua Moore 12-71 (16.9%), Tom Cannon 10-68 (14.7%), Aidan Coleman 9-37 (24.3%) Gavin Sheehan 8-41 (19.5%), Tom Scudamore 7-58 (12.1%), Jamie Moore 7-69 (10.1%) Bryony Frost 5-24 (20.8%), Daryl Jacob 5-26 (19.2%), Rex Dingle 4-18 (22.2%) Kevin Jones 3-26 (11.5%), Sam Twiston-Davies 2-27 (7.4%), David Noonan 2-28 (7.1%). now on top of a Cotswold Chase and a Ryanair.

“He’s definitely in the mix. Nobody will ever believe Frodon will win a Gold Cup, but he keeps on surprising people.”

The multiple champion trainer

Favourites: 80-237 (33.8%).

Warwick- (five-year record)

Top Trainers (with runners): D Skelton 53-256 (20.7%), N Henderson 29-101 (28.7%), Jonjo O’Neill 26-158 (16.5%) P Hobbs 20-109 (18.4%), N Twiston-Davies 19-157 (12.1%), K Bailey 11-65 (16.9%) F O’Brien 10-86 (11.6%), B Pauling 10-88 (11.4%), P Nicholls 9-41 (21.9%) Henry Oliver 9-58 (15.5%), H Fry 8-35 (22.9%), J Scott 8-57 (14%).

Top Jockeys (with mounts): Harry Skelton 51-223 (22.9%), Richard Johnson 39-186 (21%), Nico De Boinville 18-79 (22.8%) Paddy Brennan 14-93 (15.1%), David Bass 13-87 (14.9%), Tom O’Brien 12-102 (11.8%) Jonjo O’Neill Jr. 11-50 (22%), James Davies 8-59 (13.6%), James Bowen 7-53 (13.2%) Adam

Wedge 7-67 (10.4%), Harry Cobden 6-41 (14.6%), Nick Scholfield 6-54 (11.1%). Favourites: 211-587 (35.9%).

Wolverhampton - (five-year record) Top Trainers (with runners): P Evans 67-597 (11.2%), M Appleby 57-551 (10.3%), T Dascombe 53-322 (16.5%) M Johnston 52-401 (13%), D Loughnane 51-394 (12.9%), J Gosden 49-174 (28.2%) R Fahey 46-445 (10.3%), M Loughnane 41-465 (8.8%),

M Botti 36-298 (12.1%) R Varian 33-134 (24.6%), E Walker 31-166 (18.7%), H Palmer 30-126 (23.8%).

Top Jockeys (with mounts): Luke

Morris 113-979 (11.5%), Richard Kingscote 87-597 (14.6%), Jack Mitchell 66-313 (21.1%) P J McDonald 53-387 (13.7%), Joe