Cleeve contender McFabulous 'a nice each-way price' for Stayers' - Paul Nicholls

Punters might want to give McFabulous a second look for the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, Paul Nicholls has suggested.

The champion trainer intends to run the eight-year-old in the Welsh Marches Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle () over three miles at Cheltenham on Saturday and his festival odds could tumble if he excels.

McFabulous is 33-1 for the Stayers' Hurdle and made his first start of the season when second in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

A seven-time winner, McFabulous was third in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last season – his sole appearance over three miles.

"He ran a tidy enough race in the Relkeel," Nicholls said. "He stayed on strongly and wants three miles now.

"The big thing about this weekend is that I probably wouldn't run him in the Cleeve but it is a dry forecast and that ground will suit him.

"He had a setback early in the season which held him back a bit, but hopefully he will give a good account of himself.

"I was pleased that he jumped and travelled well on his comeback. He didn't have the greatest run down to the last, but he flew up the hill and quite obviously needs a bit further.

Paul Nicholls: 'I'd like to think we have got a nice chance on Saturday'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"Mine don't normally need a run but we had been rushing him because he had a problem, so the run would have brought him on.

"It's a bit late for him to go chasing so we'll go down this route and it will tell us where we go afterwards."

Chantry House and Champ among big guns entered at Cheltenham this weekend

Nicholls, who has won the Cleeve three times, added: "On that run at Newbury it gives him a good chance on Saturday as he was beaten by two good horses [Thyme Hill and Paisley Park].

"He was a bit keen that day and I think his wind was troubling him, so he has had a wind op since.

"I'd like to think he has got a nice chance in the Cleeve, and he could be a nice each-way price for the Stayers' Hurdle, but let's see how he runs on Saturday."

Simply The Betts: decent ground in his favourCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The smart Simply The Betts is also set to appear at Cheltenham and Nicholls prefers the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase () over the Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase.

"If it is dry we will be going to the Cotswold Chase as he would be running off 157 in the other race, which would be very hard," he said.

"If it was testing ground I wouldn't want to go three miles one, but it is going to be nice, drying ground.

"He loves Cheltenham and stayed on strongly there last time over the extended two and a half miles."

Cleeve Hurdle

bet365: 4-7 Champ, 11-4 Paisley Park, 4 McFabulous, 14 Dans Le Vent, 16 Lisnagar Oscar, 33 Coole Cody, Dandy Mag

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