Paul Nicholls hails 'amazing' Quel Destin as his festival squad takes shape

Paul Nicholls' Cheltenham Festival battalion is beginning to take shape and among those holding strong claims for March is last week's gritty Coral Finale Juvenile Finale winner Quel Destin.

The Martin Broughton and friends-owned gelding battled bravely to win by a neck in a thrilling race at Chepstow, holding off the 4-6 favourite Adjali in the Grade 1 contest.

Quel Destin is the general 10-1 joint-favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, tied at the head of the market with Sir Erec, and his trainer was full of compliments for the French import.

"He's an amazing horse – he gallops, jumps well and just keeps going," said Nicholls. "He's improving, thrives on a battle and is hard and tough and that's the type you need to win a Triumph.

"If there's a bit of cut in the ground on the Friday of Cheltenham he'll go very well."

Dynamite Dollars, another impressive festive winner for the Ditcheat yard, was shortened into a general 6-1 chance for the Racing Post Arkle after landing the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase.

Dynamite Dollars: heading to the ArkleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Dynamite Dollars took the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown before his impressive Kempton success and his trainer believes he is showing all the right credentials for Cheltenham.

Nicholls said: "I was a bit surprised that the two he beat, Kalashnikov and Lalor, are in front of him in the Arkle betting. He's beaten the pair of them and deserves to be favourite.

"He's improving rapidly. We thought he had from Cheltenham to Sandown, and he then improved again at Kempton. He jumps well and must go to the Arkle with a live chance."

A giant in size and with a big reputation to match, novice chaser Topofthegame ran a great race when runner-up to La Bague Au Roi in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase, two lengths in front of third-home Santini.

The six-year-old is being aimed at the RSA Chase for which he is a general 8-1 shot, with Santini the 7-2 market leader.

"I had a little smile when I saw Santini is shorter than him in the RSA," said Nicholls. "We beat him fair and square the other day and Cheltenham will suit us a lot better than Kempton. He's a strong staying horse and has come out the race really well. I love him to bits."

"We haven't made a plan for him yet, we could even go straight there, but there are loads of options. I'm in no hurry as he's still quite a weak horse so we might find a race for him.

Topofthegame (second) ran a great race behind La Bague Au Roi (front) at Kempton on Boxing DayCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"The time of the Kauto Star was just over a second slower than the King George so that shows what a good race it was. I'm thrilled with him and there's much more to come."

The yard's classy Politologue was upped in trip for the King George but finished 18 lengths behind stablemate Clan Des Obeaux in the 3m contest. He is likely to be aimed at the Ryanair Chase.

Nicholls said of the two-time Grade 1 winner: "Politologue didn't run too badly but it just looked like he didn't stay from the second-last.

"We'll probably step back in trip and he could end up going for the Ascot Chase over two miles five in February and make a plan after that. He won't have an entry for the Gold Cup."

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