Paso Doble first on the dancefloor as Paul Nicholls comes out all guns blazing

Chepstow's opening salvo traditionally marks the beginning of the core jumps season and is a tell-tale sign winter is on its way – the time has come to pop on the heating and unpack the waterproofs.

Some argue Cheltenham's Showcase meeting on October 22, or even Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase fixture signals the annual change in focus from Flat to jumps, but make no mistake, this is the key date.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls always has this two-day fixture circled in the calendar for many of his most promising runners, and it is easy to see why it is up there with his favourite meetings of the season.