Paul Nicholls looks to Secret Investor to continue Daily Mirror Chase domination

2.55 Down Royal
Daily Mirror Chase (Grade 2) | 2m3½f | 4yo+ | RTV

Paul Nicholls, who is represented by Secret Investor, has dominated recent runnings of this event for second-season novices, winning six consecutive editions between 2008 and 2013 before taking the prize once again with Ptit Zig in 2015.

Secret Investor, a Grade 2 winner over hurdles, came good over fences when winning his last two races and will be making his first appearance since taking the Grade 2 Future Champion Novices Chase at Ayr in April.

Nicholls, whose winners of the event included Noland and Kauto Stone, said: "It's been a bit frustrating as Secret Investor has been ready to run for a while and we'd hoped to make the most of some opportunities to run him on slightly better ground. We didn't get the chance to do so.

Secret Investor (yellow): bids to enhance Paul Nicholls' fine record in this raceCredit: Mark Cranham

"Hopefully, the ground won't get too testing for him but my experience of the place is that it's never too bad at Down Royal."

Real Steel, whose three wins last season included a valuable handicap at the Punchestown festival, is the highest-rated horse in the race and represents Willie Mullins, who said of Paul Townend's mount: "He's well treated by the race conditions and the course, the ground and the track should be fine for him, but it's his first run since he won at Punchestown so we'll have to see how he gets on."

Gordon Elliott, successful in this race with Don Cossack five years ago, is represented by Mengli Khan and Ben Dundee, whose owner Chris Jones had his colours carried to victory by Coeur Sublime in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle at the course on Friday.

Elliott said: "Ben Dundee had some good form last season, including his third in the Close Brothers Novice Handicap at the Cheltenham festival. He's in good form and hopefully there will be a nice prize to be won with him this season.

"Mengli Khan has loads of ability but is difficult to gauge as he has never really showed on the track what he shows us at home. He was placed in a few Grade 1s last season and seems in good form."

Noel Meade, successful with Disko in 2017 and Snow Falcon a year ago, runs Minella Fair as he bids for a hat-trick in the race.

Successful at Limerick on his most recent start, Minella Fair relishes testing ground and Meade said: "It's probably a big ask for a horse who has run only twice over fences, but his owners are from Belfast and like having runners at Down Royal.

"He won well at Limerick where the ground was heavy and if they get plenty of rain it would definitely help his chance."

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