Alcala returns to scene of 1-25 stroll with just two opponents to beat

6.05 Newton Abbot
Racing Partnership TRP Novices' Chase | 2m5f | ATR

According to Racing Post Ratings Paul Nicholls trains the two best horses to have competed in Britain during the early months of this jumps season – and one of them runs again on Tuesday.

A five-timer is the latest target for Alcala, who two starts ago achieved a 159 RPR when landing the Summer Plate at Market Rasen, equalling the figure posted by stablemate Southfield Vic earlier in the campaign.

More recently the seven-year-old faced one rival at Newton Abbot and won by 30 lengths as a 1-25 favourite.

He may not be sent off quite as short for the three-runner £11,500 novice chase he now contests, but with his 152 BHA mark 21lb superior to that of nearest rival Exxaro, Sam Twiston-Davies's mount is unlikely to be sent off at a working man's price.

"It has taken a while for him to mature but he got his confidence in the spring and hasn't looked back since then," said Nicholls.

"He won a valuable handicap at Market Rasen two starts ago, but last time he just had a gallop around Newton Abbot. Hopefully this race will turn out like that one. It's another nice race with a nice prize for it, so all credit to Newton Abbot for putting it on."

Paul Nicholls' assistant Harry Derham gives Alcala a friendly pat at the trainer's yardCredit: Edward Whitaker

Nicholls added: "With this horse it's all about placing him right. He keeps his novice status until November, so we'll keep him busy until then before giving him a break and then bringing him back in the spring.

"There's another big handicap at Market Rasen in September we'll be looking at, and we'll also enter him in the BetVictor Gold Cup in case they get some decent ground."

Alcala is a best-priced 33-1 for the BetVictor, staged at Cheltenham on November 18.