Nicholls hoping for more Badger Ales celebrations in brewery chairman's silks

Paul Nicholls aims to maintain his dominance of Saturday's Badger Ales Trophy with last year's winner Present Man lined up for a return to Wincanton.

The ten-time champion trainer has been the toast of punters with eight victories in the Listed contest, the backing of which is the longest current sponsorship in racing.

Present Man was a notable winner of the Badger Ales last season when carrying the colours of brewery chairman Mark Woodhouse and his wife Tessa.

Nicholls, who also has El Bandit and Captain Buck's in the reckoning for the 3m1f chase at his local track, said: "We've enjoyed so many great days at Wincanton and the success of Present Man in the Badger Ales last year was right up there with the best of them. Seeing him win in Mark's colours was fantastic. He puts such a lot into racing and I'd love to win it again for him."

The bookmakers respect the Nicholls team with El Bandit priced up by William Hill as the 5-1 favourite with Present Man next best at 7-1.

The seven-race card also features the Grade 2 Unibet Elite Hurdle, which has been won by leading lights Zarkandar, Celestial Halo and Sceau Royal.

The 1m7½f contest, run over padded hurdles for the first time this year, was reopened until 11am on Tuesday after attracting just ten entries.

The ground at Wincanton was described as firm, good to firm in places on Monday but rain has been forecast during the week.

Clerk of the course Barry Johnson said on Monday: "It's still quite quick but we'll definitely race. There is rain forecast from Tuesday evening onwards and I'd like to see a good dollop to get to good to firm, which we could well get to."

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