Nicholls trained the Cheltenham Gold Cup 1-2-3 last year
It's hard to imagine that any trainer has ever marshalled such a challenge on a Cheltenham Festival as jump racing's champion trainer Paul Nicholls is this year.
An equine force of around 30 horses will make its way on the increasingly familiar 70-mile trip north from Nicholls HQ at Ditcheat, Somerset to the Cotswolds.
Although last year's Gold Cup 1-2-3, Denman, Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges, and Master Minded, the reigning Queen Mother Champion Chaser, lead the way, just about every one of the trainer's horses is to be respected.
On a recent visit to Ditcheat, Nicholls ran the rule across a selection of his main contenders for our benefit.
CELESTIAL HALO (Champion Hurdle: day one)
"He is probably our first really live Champion Hurdle hope. He is a real spring horse, who comes to hand at this time of year, and won the Triumph Hurdle last year.
Celestial Halo is probably our first really live Champion Hurdle hope
"He's done well this year, finishing second to Binocular at Ascot first time, and that was off the back of having problems.
"He had an allergic reaction and up until a month before Ascot we never got him right, and all of a sudden, overnight, it disappeared, and he hasn't looked back since. He won nicely at Sandown last time, and I purposefully left plenty to work on, and he's improved enormously since that day.
"Binocular is going to be very hard to beat, but he was beaten at Cheltenham last year, and maybe has had the run of things so far this season."
IMSINGINGTHEBLUES (Arkle Trophy: day one)
"He has done nothing but improve this season over fences. He won at Kempton and he beat and gave weight to Calgary Bay at Doncaster - for which I don't think he really got the credit he deserved - and then he won a �100,000 race back at Doncaster, conceding weight.
"Although his form is on flat tracks, he has actually won at Cheltenham as well. He is not very big but he jumps and stays very, very well."
TATENEN (Arkle Trophy: day one)
"He's an improving five-year-old who is maturing really well. He won at Aintree first time up and then he won at Cheltenham in November before being beaten at Leopardstown at Christmas.
"The ground was not soft enough for him and he didn't enjoy travelling across to Ireland at all, and it took him a bit of time to get over that.
"I haven't run him since so he can go to Cheltenham fresh. There is no way that Ruby Walsh wouldn't ride him and that says a lot. He is definitely one of our leading chances."
WHAT A FRIEND (RSA Chase: day two)
"He is part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, and is a very lean horse that goes much, much better fresh hence I have not run him since Cheltenham in December. He is in great order and looks very well in himself, and deserves to be towards the head of the betting for his race. I could definitely see him lining up in next year's Gold Cup.
"Ruby rides Cooldine, so Sam Thomas is on this one, and knows him well, and although Carruthers impressed at Ascot, we beat him fair and square at Uttoxeter early on."
MASTER MINDED (Queen Mother Champion Chase: day two)
"He is an absolutely gorgeous horse who was the first five-year-old to win the Queen Mother last year.
In terms of talent, Master Minded is the best I've trained, maybe ever will train
"He won the Tingle Creek this season and then more recently at Ascot, the Victor Chandler, when, basically, he didn't come out of a canter.
"He looks in fantastic form and we think that he has improved physically since last year when he could not have been more impressive. We went there last year not quite knowing what we had. We know now.
"On all known form, as long as he puts in a clear round, he is going to be very hard to beat. It's hard to compare horses, but in terms of talent he is the best I've trained, maybe ever will train."
CHAPOTURGEON (Jewson Novices Handicap Chase: day three)
"He is a really nice grey horse who would have won first time out at Exeter but he fell, and then was second at Warwick. At the time we didn't think it was a great run, but the winner went and won at Sandown.
"We gave him plenty of time and he went off to Doncaster and did the job well, and he's been given a fair enough weight for his race. He looks a proper horse."
BIG BUCKS (World Hurdle: day three)
"If you'd told me at the start of the season he'd be one of the favourites for this, I'd have laughed.
If you'd told me at the start of the season that Big Bucks would be one of the favourites for this, I'd have laughed
"He did well novice chasing last year, and we kept him to run in the Hennessy at Newbury in December, when he unseated Sam at the last.
"I said to [owner] Andy Stewart that we ought to try him over hurdles, and look after him until next year. Hence he went hurdling and won at Cheltenham over Christmas, and then went back and beat Punchestowns the last day. And although he was getting eight pounds it was a progressive run.
"Kasbah Bliss was impressive at Haydock, but we've got to live with the hope that different ground, a different day and different track may suit us."
PRIDE OF DULCOTE (Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle: day four)
"The race looks very competitive on paper but he is a major player for us. He's done very well this season and improved enormously. He stays and although he gave Ruby a horrific fall at Cheltenham in November he jumps really well, though Ruby's ridden him three times, and he's been on the deck three times. He will make a lovely chaser next season."
DENMAN (Gold Cup: day four)
"Obviously, much has been written about him since he was beaten at Kempton when returning after his heart problem, but it proved he does not like racing right-handed. He prefers going left like they do at Cheltenham.
Based solely on that Kempton run the other day Denman is not what he was last year, but that can change
"He had to go to Kempton, or there would have been nowhere to give him a run, and just going there, giving him a day out brought him on enormously, both mentally and physically.
"Yes, he didn't run up to form, but if you'd taken the winner [Madison Du Berlais] out he'd have beaten last year's RSA Chase winner, Alberta's Run, by 25 lengths, and he'd have been red-hot favourite so I don't think all was lost that day.
"He was obviously not as ready as we thought, and he's always been a horse that's needed a run, so don't be writing him off. He's improved, but he has to improve. Based solely on that run the other day he is not what he was last year, but that can change."
NEPTUNE COLLONGES (Gold Cup: day four)
"He fell in a Grade One at Leopardstown, won by Exotic Dancer, and although we will never know whether or not he'd have won, he does gallop all the way to line as he showed when winning the Hennessy there.
"He's eight, and a year younger than Denman and Kauto Star, and there will be still be improvement in him, and he's right in the mix in the Gold Cup. The race was run to suit last year - it was an end-to-end gallop - and he was a close third and he goes back with a leading chance. Christian Williams will be riding."
KAUTO STAR (Gold Cup: day four)
"He didn't beat much first time out at Down Royal but won well.
I think that Kauto Star is the one they've got to beat, on form
"Then nothing went to plan at Haydock, but we had him right again for Kempton [and a third King George VI Chase success], where he was as good as he has ever been.
"There aren't many horses around that have had the defeats that he's had, like the one behind Denman in the Gold Cup last year, and bounced back, showing top-class form.
"We think that he's got a great chance. I think that he's the one they've got to beat, on form."
POQUELIN (Grand Annual: day four)
"He needs a fast-run race and decent ground on a left-handed course, like Cheltenham. He's already won at Cheltenham this season despite nearly falling at the water jump and staying on from behind. The race will suit and then he will run through the spring on better ground."
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