In-form Nicholls dominates as course welcomes autumn

Paul Nicholls does not often let a meeting at his local track slip by without a winner and the champion trainer stamped his authority on Wincanton's first fixture of the autumn with a treble.

Nicholls, who clinched a tenth championship last term, has his yard in great nick and that was underlined by smooth victories for Cliffs Of Dover in the 1m7½f handicap hurdle, Present Man in the 2m4f handicap chase and Rouge Devils in the 2m5½f handicap hurdle.

They took the Ditcheat maestro's tally for the season to 41 – he also had a double at Fakenham – and he said of Cliffs Of Dover: "His owner John Cotton texted me and said he wasn't much on the Flat, but wanted to see if he could win [over jumps] and when I got him I texted him back saying, 'he will win'."