Pioneer Paul Nicholls might be about to become a victim of his own success

Everyone knows about Paul Nicholls' record in this Grade 3 handicap, he has won nine of the 15 runnings. The next step is to ask why. The main reason is likely to be related to the idea that this race exists in a universe largely separate from Cheltenham. Occasionally horses will run in both, but it is rare with the festival just ten days away.

This is a somewhat neglected destination race and Nicholls, who boasts more unexposed chasers than anyone else, was first to spot it. He holds strong claims for a tenth win this year but it is starting to look like others might be catching on.

The Nicholls-trained trio are Mont Des Avaloirs, Secret Investor and San Benedeto. They are most-to-least interesting in that order. San Benedeto was seemingly aimed at this race last year and won, albeit a weaker edition off a 3lb lower mark. While, Secret Investor ran a fine race to finish second to Native River in the Denman Chase and will be fine over this shorter trip.