Change of tactics for Paul Nicholls' leading Ladbrokes Trophy hope Black Corton

HANDICAP CHASERS
Just how much more improvement is there to come from Black Corton? That was one of the questions posed by Paul Nicholls as he reflected on the "awesome" campaign that saw the amazingly tough seven-year-old land eight of his 12 starts last season.

The trainer reported: "We plan to bring him back in the Rising Stars Chase and use that as a stepping stone to the Ladbrokes Trophy.

"I’m mindful of the fact there’s no way he could go out and win the Newbury race from the front, so when he went to Aintree at the backend, which was one run too many really, we deliberately changed tactics and rode him differently, coming from behind. In the RSA Chase he went off in front and set things up for the others, so we want to be doing things slightly differently in a race like the Ladbrokes Trophy."