Paul Nicholls has strong hand as Cheltenham stages card for fillies and mares

Fillies and mares take centre stage as Cheltenham's season comes to a close and Paul Nicholls has two hot chances.

The trainer's Ryanair Chase winner Frodon will be parading alongside Stayers' Hurdle victor Paisley Park before racing, and Nicholls will be hoping Kupatana can defy top weight and six rivals in the Listed novices' handicap chase over 2m4½f (2.40).

She should be two from two for the Ditcheat trainer since joining his yard from Nicky Henderson in February, but fell when in command at Ludlow before winning impressively at Kelso last month.

"She won well last time and if she jumps round she'll go close," said Nicholls.

Ellarna, his runner in the 2m1f mares' bumper (5.30), will be bidding to reverse form with Jamie Snowden's Early Morning Rain from their Taunton clash in January. The five-year-old finished a length behind Early Morning Rain on that occasion but is 4lb better off here. The trainer said: "She's been running okay and better ground and going left-handed should suit."

New trip for Diva

Happy Diva has raced against some top-class opposition this season, and, having finished ahead of Cyrname and second to Ryanair Chase runner-up Aso, the Kerry Lee-trained eight-year-old was paid another big compliment when Magic Of Light, whom she beat in a Listed contest at Huntingdon in January, went on to finish second to Tiger Roll in the Grand National.

Happy Diva: defeated subsequent National runner-up Magic Of Light at HuntingdonCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Having been operating at trips around two and a half miles, Happy Diva takes a drop in distance when she lines up against five rivals in the 2m½f mares' handicap chase (4.55).

Bonza Girl looks to cap fine year

It has been a phenomenal season for the Jeremy Scott-trained Bonza Girl, who has risen 30lb in the handicap while scoring five times from six starts.

The six-year-old's winning run came to an end when trying 3m½f for the first time in a Listed novice hurdle at Doncaster last month but she could bounce back dropped to 2m4½f in the 16-runner Listed mares' handicap hurdle (3.15).

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