Paul Nicholls on fact-finding mission with returning Dynamite Dollars

Paul Nicholls admits he will be on a fact-finding mission with Dynamite Dollars in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

The seven-year-old, who has been off the track for more than a year through injury, will put his Champion Chase credentials on the line against Altior, who has won the Cheltenham spectacular for the last two years, in the Betfair-sponsored Grade 2.

How he performs will help determine the possible festival target for Dynamite Dollars, who was a strong fancy for last year's Racing Post Arkle after winning four of his five starts over fences.

But he has not been seen since winning at Doncaster in January 2019 due to a setback.

"It's great to have him back," said Nicholls. "He needs a day out and will need the run. It will tell us if he's good enough for a Champion Chase, whether we go for a Ryanair or find a handicap for him.

"It strikes me he'll improve on anything he does on Saturday. He has schooled well and I can't do anymore except give him a run. Altior will be hard to beat but this was the obvious race to put him in.

"He's a tank of a horse. He's not like Cyrname or other lean and light horses who you can easily get fit. I've done a lot with him."

Dynamite Dollars is available at 33-1 for the Champion Chase and is as big as 40-1 for the Ryanair.

His return coincides with an excellent run of form for Nicholls, who has had eight winners from 26 runners in February, including an across-the-card five-timer at Musselburgh and Sandown on Saturday.

"We give all of ours an easy January and have them ready to run in February; that's always been the same," said Nicholls. "We had a few winners last month but you can't keep them going all the time."

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