Paul Nicholls could not hide his excitement as Ginny’s Destiny followed in the footsteps of Stage Star and booked his ticket to the Turners Novices’ Chase with an excellent display in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase.

A useful hurdler when trained by Tom Lacey last season, he has gone from strength to strength since sent over fences by the champion trainer this term.

Attempting to replicate the exploits of Stage Star – who won this contest 12 months ago before following up at the Cheltenham Festival – Ginny’s Destiny never missed a beat as the 4-1 favourite registered a flawless two-and-three-quarter-length victory over Theatre Man.

“I was expecting that on his homework,” said Nicholls.

“He’s improved massively from run to run and I haven’t had too many improve so much over a short period since Master Minded funnily enough. Master Minded won at Sandown years ago and kept going forward and he has done the same, his work has been unbelievable. I think he’s a really smart horse.

“From his first run when he was ordinary, he had just got better and better and better and you like to see that – there’s not many horses who do that.

“The girl who rides him every day rides Pic D’Orhy every day and she puts him on a par with him. He is 162 and if he could be as good as him, we would be really happy. He obviously jumps and gallops and that is what you want.

“I honestly thought he would win today – and I know that’s being confident – but he’s a very smart horse.”

Ginny’s Destiny was cut to 9-1 with Betfair for the Turners Novices’ Chase after winning his third-straight chase at Prestbury Park and Nicholls confirmed that a return to the Cotswolds for the Festival would be his next port of call.

“He’s a very good work horse at home, he has class, he jumps and he will come back here now for the Turners,” he continued.

“He will get three miles, but I’m not going to do that until next year. He will follow the Stage Star route now and he is a bit stronger and more robust than Stage Star. You have to train him with kid gloves whereas this lad loves his work and thrives on everything you give to him and is a proper horse.

“Stage Star carried the weight last year and if they are good enough off that mark, then it doesn’t matter what weight they are carrying. He’s a massive horse and the weight was never going to worry him and Harry gave him a peach of a ride.”

Ga Law was another horse to showcase his love for Cheltenham when making a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure in the Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase.

Jamie Snowden’s eight-year-old was a winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup in 2022 but has found victories hard to come by since, with a crushing fall at Doncaster on his next start knocking the wind out of his sail and halting his progression.

However, he was back to his best in the hands of Gavin Sheehan to tee-up either a shot at Kempton’s Coral Trophy Handicap Chase on February 24 or a return to Prestbury Park for the Plate in March.

Snowden said: “He won the Paddy Power in 2022 and fell in the Sky Bet Chase (at Doncaster) when coming to win his race and it has taken a long time to get him back in that kind of form really – he lost his confidence and lost his way a little bit.

“We always thought we would get him back, but that fall at Doncaster was pretty nasty and it’s taken us a year to get him back. He ran really well in the Coral Gold Cup but just didn’t stay and the drop back in trip on the New course has helped him here today.

“He’s back now and it was lovely. He jumped really well out in front and got into a lovely rhythm. I thought the New course might suit him better than the Old course as he’s a long-striding horse and Gavin has given him a lovely ride.

“We were going to go to Kempton next, but we might have to come here instead. We will enjoy today and think about the next day tomorrow.”

Jamie Snowden rekindled his love affair with the Grand Military Gold Cup as Farceur Du Large provided the trainer with a fifth victory in the Sandown feature.

Formerly a captain in the King’s Royal Hussars, Snowden landed the prize four times in six years as a jockey between 2002 and 2007, with three of those wins provided by champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

Having enjoyed spells as pupil assistant to the Ditcheat handler and later as assistant to Nicky Henderson, Snowden began his own training career in 2008 and is fast approaching the 400-winner mark.

With Major Will Kellard in the saddle, Farceur Du Large was an 11-1 shot to get the Snowden name back on the Grand Military Gold Cup winner’s board and found plenty for pressure from the final fence to see off the challenge of 85-40 favourite Rose Of Arcadia by four and a quarter lengths.

Farceur Du Large was making his debut for the Snowden stable, having been bought for £16,000 from Gigginstown House Stud in August with this race in mind.

“It was a very good race to me as a jockey during my short service time in the army. To come back and win it as a trainer is great as it is where it all started off,” said Snowden.

“If it wasn’t for these kinds of days I wouldn’t be where I am today. I remember a day at Sandhurst when I was on officer training and there was a knock on the door of the guards’ room I was in. I was ushered up to the commandant’s office thinking I was in trouble.

“It turned out that the jockey that was supposed to be riding the Royal Irish Hussars horse the following day was stuck in a mortar attack in Northern Ireland and I got the call up.

“The following day instead of going into the gas chamber (for a training exercise), I went into the commandant’s car to Sandown to ride the winner of the Grand Military Gold Cup. I then ended up at the Royal Lodge (Windsor) having a drink with the Queen and Queen Mother.

“Throughout my whole army career I ended up riding horses from that one day, and it has catapulted me into the position that I am in today.

“It is not the most prestigious of races we have been lucky enough to win, but in my heart it is a very special race.”

Kellard, 32, saluted the crowd after passing the post in front and was clearly elated.

He said: “That is my first winner full stop. I’ve been riding since about 2015. I’ve finished second in this, and I’ve come third in it. I’ve come second in point-to-points. I’ve hit the crossbar that many times so it has been a long time coming. It is some feeling.

“I would have been happy to keep on riding around here and never ride a winner, but to win the Grand Military Gold Cup is something else.

“I hope we come back here in a few weeks for the Royal Artillery Gold Cup. I’m still serving so it is a challenge to fit it all in, but to ride a couple of times around here each year makes it all worth it.”

Major Charlie O’Shea partnered Georgi Girl (7-2 favourite) to victory in the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

Having won the Grand Military Gold Cup on the same card two years ago aboard Rolling Dylan, O’Shea again hit target as he guided this Philip Hobbs and Johnson White-trained mare to a 19-length victory.

O’Shea said: “They said to me coming in that she was in good order and the stable is in top form. The hard work was done before me - I had loads of horse turning in.

“Johnson gave me a call a few weeks ago and said ‘why haven’t you been to ride out as we have got a couple of nice horses for you’. I said I would come in and this was the payback.

“When a yard like that does all the hard work for me, I just turn up, steer her around and come in grinning.”

Gary Moore enjoyed a double on the card, with Ballybentragh (6-1) initiating the brace when landing the Cardinal Wolsey ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle for his ebullient owner-jockey David Maxwell.

The point-to-point recruit coped well with conditions on his debut under rules and proved two and a quarter lengths too strong for the 30-100 favourite Southoftheborder.

Moore said: “He has always worked like a nice horse and he loves his jumping. I’ve not had him that long to be honest with you and a lot of the credit must go to Noel Fehily, who has pre-trained him with David Crosse.

“I’d like to think he can improve a bit for today. He is a lovely, big horse and he should be jumping a fence. He will go chasing next season.”

Moore doubled up with the Niall Houlihan-ridden Kotmask, who comfortably justified 3-1 favouritism in the Long Water Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

Harry Cobden booted home the last two winners of the day, landing the Hampton Court Handicap Hurdle on Havaila (100-30) and the Anne Boleyn Novices’ Handicap Hurdle on Gyllen (5-1).

Paul Nicholls views Saturday’s Paddy Power Cotswold Chase as the “perfect race” for his star novice Stay Away Fay.

The Ditcheat handler has saddled five previous winners of the recognised Cheltenham Gold Cup trial, with See More Business triumphing in 1998 and 2001 before the subsequent victories of Taranis in 2010, Neptune Collonges in 2011 and Frodon in 2019.

Stay Away Fay, a winner at last year’s Cheltenham Festival in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, has run just twice over fences, making a successful debut at Exeter before outstaying Giovinco in the Grade Two Esher Novices’ Chase at Sandown last month.

Nicholls is well aware his charge has plenty on his plate as he takes on more seasoned campaigners this weekend, but he is happy to roll the dice.

“He has got to go somewhere before the Cheltenham Festival and this gives him more time than if he goes to the Reynoldstown (Novices’ Chase) at Ascot and has a hard race. He has worked well and schooled well since Sandown and we are looking forward to it,” he said.

“This race has always been on my mind for him. For a horse like him it is the perfect race. He might have to take on some better ones, but apart from Royale Pagaille there are no real Gold Cup horses in there.

“This would do him good and it is all good experience and that is what you need. He has not been over fences around Cheltenham and that is why we are quite keen to do it.

“He is fit, stays well and he is in good order and we think he will run a nice race.”

While Nicholls has given Stay Away Fay an entry in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, he is currently planning to revert to novice company come the big meeting in March.

He added: “I’ve given him an entry in the National Hunt Chase and Gold Cup, but I would say he would be one for the Brown Advisory at the Festival after this.”

Stay Away Fay is set to face five rivals over an extended three miles and a furlong, with last year’s winner Ahoy Senor and Betfair Chase hero Royale Pagaille heading the field.

The Real Whacker won his first three starts over fences at Cheltenham last season, including a Festival win in the Brown Advisory, but has not troubled the judge in two starts so far this term.

Jamie Snowden’s Coral Gold Cup winner Datsalrightgino and the Willie Mullins-trained Irish raider Capodanno complete the line-up.

Paul Nicholls introduced an exciting prospect at Kempton in Kalif Du Berlais, who galloped on strongly from the front to win the Play Coral ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free Juvenile Hurdle by seven and a half lengths at 4-5.

Nicholls was quick to play down his chances of heading to the Cheltenham Festival, with a future chasing career his long-term target, but that didn’t stop punters from backing the French import into 12-1 with Betfair for the Triumph Hurdle.

Kalif Du Berlais had previously scored impressively on his racecourse bow at Compiegne and Nicholls told Racing TV: “We thought he was a smart horse.

“My only reservation was that he hasn’t been in this country all that long and normally they need a bit of a break to acclimatise, but because I knew we were going to have to give him a run, I just kept going straight on with him and he’s just thrived on everything.

“He’s never looked back from the minute he came in the yard and he’s a gorgeous horse – he’s a chaser, that’s what he was bought for, so we need to mind him. He won’t have too many races this year; we need to look after him and we will.

“His jumping is brilliant but he’s not a Triumph horse is he! All those types like him in the past – Clan Des Obeaux, Frodon – they always finish in the middle and end up superstar chasers, so I don’t see a point in running them in the Triumph Hurdle.

“He could come back here for the Adonis, although we’ve got a few runners for that, so it might be one more run and possibly look at Aintree. All options are open, but I don’t see him as a Triumph horse because he’s the wrong type.”

Nicholls feels Kalif Du Berlais has leapt to the top of the pecking order among his juvenile hurdlers but added: “He’s all about the future and I don’t see any point staying around over hurdles with him for too long, he might have to go chasing in the autumn as a four-year-old.”

Flegmatik secured a third course victory in the New Bet-In-Race With Coral Handicap Chase over three miles, scoring by two lengths at 7-2.

Tristan Durrell gave Dan Skelton’s charge a positive ride and his 3lb allowance came in handy as they saw off the late challenge from top-weight Chianti Classico.

Assistant trainer Bridget Andrews said: “He’s been a great horse for the owners and obviously has a love for Kempton.

“He definitely bounces off the bit better ground, although it looks a bit tacky today, but I don’t know what it is about Kempton.

“He’s a strong traveller and we’d normally hold on to him a little bit more than we did today, but it was always happening a bit slowly for him lately and he was taking a bit to get going, so we said if he does get to the front today, just press on – and Tristan gave him a great ride.

“I was pleased to see him push on when he did, the horse has sometimes pulled up a bit when in front but he never gave me that impression today and stayed on really well.”

Nicky Henderson’s Gentle Slopes survived a stewards’ inquiry to claim the Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices’ Hurdle at 4-5, having edged right on the run-in before shading Junkanoo by a nose.

Paul Nicholls’ Kabral Du Mathan looks to have a very bright future after he cruised to victory on his British debut in the Weatherbys Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle.

A winner in France on his only previous start, he had to carry 8lb more than all his rivals but it mattered not a jot.

There were four other previous winners in the race and one of those, Dan Skelton’s Kartoon And Co, led them until halfway down the back straight when he suddenly came under pressure and dropped to last.

Alan King’s Whispering Royal was the next to crack but by the second last, Harry Cobden had loomed up on Kabral Du Mathan (100-30) and breezed by Latin Verse to win by a length and a half.

Charlie Davies, assistant trainer, said: “It was a very pleasing performance. He has done everything nicely in Ditcheat. When they come over from France, you don’t know what to expect and we were very nervous about having to give all of them 8lb.

“He has jumped brilliantly, done it all very professionally and I think he has done it quite cosily. Hopefully he might be one for the Fred Winter (Boodles) in March.

“I think he is more a Fred Winter horse as to be a Triumph Hurdle horse you have got to be a really good horse, and you would have to take on Burdett Road, while Sir Gino looked very smart the other day.

“I think we will go the Fred Winter route for the time being. He has got to have one more run and maybe we will run him in a decent race and see how good he is.

“You couldn’t be more pleased with how it went as he travelled and jumped brilliantly. It was a very taking debut, giving them all 8lb.”

Ben Pauling was delighted to get Tellherthename’s career back on track with a straightforward success in the Arkle Finance EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.

Pauling has made no secret of the regard in which he holds the £200,000 purchase but the wheels came off when upped to Grade One company at Aintree last time out.

Back down in class and following extensive tests, the five-year-old landed odds of 1-4 with the minimum of fuss under Kielan Woods.

“We are back on track. We turned a lot of stones to try to find out what happened at Aintree. We found a few little bits and bobs, but nothing that put us out for that long as you could see,” said Pauling.

“I was just keen to get his season back on track before we dwelt on it for too long. The ground there was soft enough and it is not the good to soft that they have advertised, but he has handled it very well. He is an unbelievably class horse.

“That now gives him his fourth run so he has got the option of the Betfair Hurdle, but the ground would have to be spot on for that otherwise we will go straight to the Supreme with him.

“I think he is a class horse with gears galore and I sometimes think they are best fresh. They go such a gallop in that race (Supreme) and if you are anything but absolutely ready for the day, then you might get caught flat-footed.”

Lucinda Russell’s Giovinco has Sandown and Cheltenham options after pulling up in the Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The seven-year-old claimed his first win over fences at Aintree in November and then chased home Paul Nicholls’ useful Stay Away Fay in the Grade Two Esher Novices’ Chase at Sandown next time out.

He was subsequently entered in the Kauto Star, a Grade One run over the same trip of three miles, but under Stephen Mulqueen he never seemed to hit his stride and was eventually pulled up as Il Est Francais went on to win impressively.

There was less than three weeks between the gelding’s last two runs, a time-span Russell suspects may have been too short with hindsight.

The Scilly Isles at Sandown and the Festival Trials Day card at Cheltenham could now appear on Giovinco’s agenda, both of which would involve a step down to the near two-and-a-half-mile trip he was successful over twice as a hurdler.

“He might go to Sandown, we’ve got a couple of options with him,” said Russell.

“We might even go to Cheltenham and go over two miles four (furlongs) there.

“He was quite tired after Kempton and we felt, in hindsight, we’d gone to the well just a bit too quickly with him.

“He seems well now, he had a quiet time over the New Year and he’s back to being his usual self again.”

It was an eventful start to the weekend for champion trainer Paul Nicholls but he is targeting more glory at his local track Wincanton on Saturday.

Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard was caught in a flash flood on Thursday evening, forcing staff to evacuate half a dozen horses from their stables.

However, as soon as the water levels rose they dissipated again, allowing Nicholls to resume his well-oiled routine.

So it will be business as usual for Nicholls, whose first runner Paddy De Pole in the Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle might be his least favoured of the four

“He won an Irish point-to-point in February at the sixth attempt and ran all right on his debut for us when keeping on to finish a distant third at Chepstow late last month. He will be suited by stepping up in trip here, but this looks quite a competitive race and he probably needs more experience before going handicapping,” said Nicholls.

Old favourite Magic Saint carries top-weight in the Virgin Bet Extra Places Handicap Chase and might just need the run.

“While he runs well fresh and handles soft ground he’s had a load of problems, is not easy to train and always improves for a run,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“He might be suited by starting at two miles. But I can’t be confident even though he has dropped a long way to a mark of 125 from a career-high rating of 159.

In the feature Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Chase Huelgoat is another top-weight for the yard

“He loves Wincanton, will not mind the ground and Freddie (Gingell) won on him at this track in November so he should have a nice chance,” said Nicholls.

“I think you can put a line through his last run at Sandown where he didn’t stay the three miles. Harry Cobden blamed himself for being too positive on Huelgoat that day.”

Individualiste is another with strong claims in the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle.

“He is turning out again quickly after hacking up at Taunton a week ago. It wasn’t the greatest race but he is only 4lb higher now and relishes heavy ground so must have a solid chance of following up with Freddie claiming 5lb.”

Several horses at champion trainer Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat base in Somerset had to be moved from their stables on Thursday evening as heavy rain in the area flooded part of their yard.

Nicholls described the rain as a “once in a 15-year event”, but was able to report on Friday morning that as quick as the flood appeared it had soon receded.

Racing is scheduled for Wincanton on Saturday, Nicholls’ local track, but officials are confident racing will take place and the handler echoes their optimism given how quickly the water disappeared.

“It’s a once in a 15-year event really when you get so much rain in the area through Somerset and Wiltshire and it all ends up coming down the rivers,” Nicholls told Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast.

“We are right by the River Aller and as everything backs up and the river bursts its banks everywhere, all the drainage in the village and in our yard just backs up and our bottom yard floods.

“We have six or eight horses that when it gets like we have to move out and at 10.30pm last night we were having to move them out.

“Astonishingly once the water levels drop it’s like someone pulls a plug, it just disappears and it’s all gone today.

“The problem is higher up, they get so much rain it feeds into the river and nothing can cope. It’s just sheer volume of water.

“I must say I’ve never seen rain like it, or water on the roads, last night. I took my dad to the pub last and I basically had to rescue him, it took an hour to get home and it’s basically half a mile down the road. I’ve never seen anything like it, but it’s all good this morning.

“It doesn’t surprise me Wincanton might race as there was so much water it just ran straight off, it didn’t get chance to sink in.”

Options are open for Tahmuras after he made amends for a below-par chasing debut with a pleasing Aintree victory.

The Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old was a Grade One winner over hurdles after taking the Tolworth at Sandown this time last year.

He was previously a point-to-point and bumper winner and was well-fancied to land his chasing debut at Chepstow in November.

Under Harry Cobden he never appeared to take to the task, however, and came home last of three in a performance that showed little of his previous ability.

He then headed to Aintree on Boxing Day to try again over fences and this time he was successful, winning by three lengths.

Noel Fehily heads the syndicate that own the gelding and the former jockey was pleased to see him regain his form.

“We were pretty happy with that run the other day, he looked a bit more like the old Tahmuras,” he said.

“He hadn’t actually done that much wrong, his first run over fences didn’t go to plan but it was nice to see him put it all together the other day.

“He was under top weight and it was a good performance, we were happy with that. He’s come out of the race well so I’m sure Paul will have some plan up his sleeve.”

On the same card the ownership group ran Fergal O’Brien’s Kamsinas, winner of the Grade Two Newton Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock and a 15-2 chance for the William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle – the same race Tahmuras won last season but relocated and renamed.

Under Paddy Brennan the seven-year-old finished sixth of nine runners and although he was hampered by a late faller, Fehily considers him to have been beaten at that point regardless.

“I thought he was beat at the time, he’s probably not quite a Grade One horse and he got found out a bit,” he said.

“At the same time I think he ran OK, but I don’t think there are any excuses for him.

“We’ll see what Fergal has got in mind for him but I suppose we’ll look for a handicap now.”

Paul Nicholls has reported that Stage Star returned “a tad sore” after his disappointing run at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

A winner at the Festival in March, he also landed the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November and was having his first run since that success.

However, the combination of heavy ground and a handicap mark of 166 meant he was soon struggling and when his chance had gone coming down the hill, Harry Cobden took the decision to pull him up.

The champion trainer is not too concerned, though, and believes with over three months to go before his next target – the Ryanair Chase back at Cheltenham – he can get him fit and firing once more.

“He was a tad sore when he finished and when he trotted up this morning he wasn’t quite 100 per cent, so I’m guessing he’s pulled some muscles somewhere,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“He’s had a few little issues in the past. He made a couple of mistakes going up the hill and I wasn’t sure he was going that well before then in that ground.

“The vet is in this morning, he’ll give him a full MOT and we’ve plenty of time to get him sorted before the Ryanair. That’s why I was so keen to get a run into him now rather than in a month, as there weren’t many options really.

“We’ve got time to get him back to himself. He had a couple of runs last year when it didn’t go quite right.

“Yesterday morning I was looking for any excuse not to run him and that is unlike me because I’m always positive and always want to run, but when he trotted up and everything, it was all positive, he gave us no reason not to run.

“It wasn’t to be yesterday but I’ve been there a million times before with horses like this, we can just put a line through that run. We’ve loads of time before the Ryanair on spring ground and we’ll get him back for that.”

On a brighter note, Nicholls landed yet another edition of the Challow Hurdle through Captain Teague at Newbury a few days earlier.

“I was pleased with him, he’s improving physically and mentally all the time and he jumped a lot better than he did at Cheltenham – he just idles a little once he’s in front,” said Nicholls.

“I haven’t spoken to Johnny (de la Hey, owner) about what we’re going to do in the spring with him, but ultimately we’re building his career to be a novice chaser this time next year.”

Paul Nicholls hailed Frodon as a “fantastic horse” and a “wonderful servant” after announcing the retirement of his stable stalwart following his fourth outing in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The hugely popular 11-year-old memorably landed the Boxing Day highlight in 2020 under his regular partner Bryony Frost, one of 19 victories in a 52-race career.

Frost steered Frodon to the majority of his big-race triumphs, with the 2019 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the 2021 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal also featuring on his CV.

Having given a bold sight in front for a long way in his latest bid for King George glory, the veteran weakened to come home last of five finishers on Tuesday and Nicholls feels the time has come to give his charge the retirement he so richly deserves.

“Frodon ran a good, solid race again, he just hasn’t got the legs, so I’d like to announce this morning that we’ve taken the decision to retire him,” he said in his Betfair ‘Ditcheat Diary’.

“We’re not going to ask him to run again. He’s been a fantastic horse winning King Georges, Ryanairs and Festival handicaps, you could go on and on.”

The champion trainer confirmed Frodon will spend his retirement with Frost, alongside a former stablemate in Black Corton.

He added: “He’s been a wonderful servant since he was a three-year-old and he’s going to have a wonderful home along with Black Corton with Bryony down on Exmoor.

“What a wonderful horse he’s been – I wouldn’t mind a few more like him. He’s finishing in one piece and Bryony is going to give him a home for life.”

Paul Nicholls believes there are “plenty of ifs, buts and question marks” about the field for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The champion trainer targets the Christmas highlight like no one else and will be seeking his 14th success in the race as he saddles last year’s winner Bravemansgame in the Grade One contest.

See More Business was his first winner in 1997 and he regained the title two years later. Kauto Star then dominated, eclipsing Desert Orchid’s four victories by winning five between 2006 and 2011, before Nicholls sent out two more dual winners in Silviniaco Conti and Clan Des Obeaux.

The Ditcheat handler also runs 2020 big-race hero Frodon, but it is Bravemansgame who has Nicholls dreaming of more glory, despite two defeats already this term, in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

While that puts a slight mark against the defending champion, Nicholls feels the case for favourite Allaho is not totally clear, while Shishkin is on a retrieval mission after refusing to start on his seasonal bow at Ascot.

“We got outstayed at Haydock by Royale Pagaille, but he has run well there (Kempton) before and it suits him well,” said Nicholls.

“Allaho came back and won the other day from his time off, but is he as good as he was? There are plenty of ifs, buts and question marks, but we are very happy with Bravemansgame.

“I think he has got a great chance there is no doubt about it. The previous year’s winner of the race is always the one to beat and he has definitely taken a step forward since Haydock.”

Harry Cobden will be on board again and he told Planet Sport: “The track just really suits him and seems to bring out the best in him. He’s a very strong traveller and his jumping really keeps him in the race. If he can reproduce what he did last year, he’ll definitely take a bit of beating.

“Allaho looks the main danger to me. He’s a very smart horse and Willie (Mullins) doesn’t send them over for nothing. He jumps a little bit left which wouldn’t be ideal around Kempton and with Frodon in the race, he won’t have an easy time of it. Hopefully that will play into our hands.”

Ireland’s champion jockey Paul Townend has his first ever ride in the race on Allaho

“I can’t wait to ride in a Ladbrokes King George VI Chase. It is a very prestigious race which I haven’t been to before so it is all new and I am looking forward to it,” he told Ladbrokes.

“Allaho is as good a chance I will get of winning a King George. It’s a class race without it being a massive field. You can make a case for everything in it.

“My horse is a dual Ryanair winner, along with a Punchestown Gold Cup winner, so we are hoping he stays and that the track suits him. Obviously, I am disappointed to be missing some very big rides at Leopardstown, but having a crack on Allaho in this race makes up for it.”

Nicky Henderson retains full faith in Shishkin’s ability as he tackles a staying trip for just the second time under rules.

Winner of the 2021 Arkle, Shishkin won the Aintree Bowl over three miles and a furlong at the end of last season, but his refusal to race at Ascot means he comes into the King George without a prep run – and slightly under the radar, in his trainer’s opinion.

“When he won the Supreme he was a very good horse, and he is still a very good horse,” said Henderson.

“It has taken us a bit longer than it should have done to make us realise he is a three-miler not a two-miler, but if you win the Supreme, not surprisingly, you are thinking along the two-mile route, not three.

“He has proven what he can do over three miles, so let’s stick to it. He is the sort of forgotten person in the race and no one has mentioned him.

“The only thing I would say is don’t judge him on this, because I think it is very unfair coming into a race like this without a run. It doesn’t mean there aren’t bigger and better things to come. He might run very well and not quite get home.

“Kempton is not a stamina track, except in the King George you have got to stay and be fit because this is the one race where there is no hiding place.”

Patrick Neville’s The Real Whacker is the only horse who has managed to beat Gerri Colombe to date, but he was pulled up on his return to action in the Paddy Power Gold Cup when he went lame.

He will be ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies again and he told William Hill: “Among many, his biggest asset is his jumping and at Kempton the jumps come quick and thick.

“Paddy Neville is really happy with him and says he’s in good form at home despite bits and pieces going against him at Cheltenham last time.

“You can put a line through that as it didn’t really happen for him that day, but he seems to have turned a real corner since then so we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do, especially now he’s got a run under his belt.”

The Christmas racing programme is always stuffed full of thrills, but this year sees any number of National Hunt heavyweights poised to take a starring role. We look forward to five of the most eyecatching contests in prospect over the next few days.

Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, Kempton, December 26

The Christmas showpiece is always an event to savour, but this year’s contest offers a level of intrigue, too. The Paul Nicholls-trained Bravemansgame beat the reopposing Royale Pagaille by 14 lengths in 2022, before going on to chase home Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This season has not gone to plan so far though, with defeats in both the Charlie Hall and Betfair Chase – in which he was beaten by Venetia Williams’ Royale Pagaille – putting a slight question mark over his claims. Shishkin definitely has to answer a question after he refused to race at Ascot on his seasonal bow, leaving the Willie Mullins-trained Allaho seemingly in pole position. An impressive winner at Clonmel on his return from a 561-day injury lay-off, there is no doubting the Irish raider’s class, but can he avoid the dreaded ‘bounce’ factor in Sunbury?

Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle, Kempton, December 26

After the weather put a spanner in the works, Nicky Henderson will finally take the wraps off reigning two-mile champ Constitution Hill at Kempton. After a sterling novice season, the six-year-old made a seamless switch to full company and a 17-length win in this contest preceded a demolition job in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham back in March. It will only be a small field at Kempton, with none of the contenders anywhere near Constitution Hill’s class, so if everything goes to plan, we will not learn too much – but we can hopefully enjoy a true superstar in action.

Racing Post Novice Chase, Leopardstown, December 26

Facile Vega was a headline horse even before he set foot on a track. A son of six-times Festival winner Quevega, by top-ranked jumps sire Walk In The Park, it was little surprise to see the Mullins-trained gelding cut a swathe through the bumper ranks before continuing his effortless progress in his first two starts over hurdles. The wheels came off in dramatic style at the Dublin Racing Festival though, when he raced with the choke out and stopped quickly, before having to settle for second best at Cheltenham and getting back on track at Punchestown. He emerged victorious on his chasing bow, but his jumping was certainly not flawless and it will be interesting to see if he is up to the task in tougher company.

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase, Chepstow, December 27

The withdrawal of ante-post favourite Monbeg Genius prompted a market shake-up, with Jamie Snowden’s Super Survivor assuming the position at the top of the betting for what is one of the first real markers for the Grand National in April. Iwilldoit won the Welsh edition in 2021 and was among the leading lights for Aintree back in April but could not complete the qualifying criteria in time. A victory in this race would surely thrust him back into the spotlight, though it will be a tough test under top-weight in what is usually testing conditions at Chepstow, with the likes of recent Becher Chase winner Chambard in the mix.

Savills Chase, Leopardstown, December 28

This looks like being a proper Christmas blockbuster, with no less than three Cheltenham Gold Cup hopes set to cross swords. We have the reigning champion, Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs, facing up to his nemesis in Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow. A shock 20-1 winner in the Punchestown Gold Cup, Fastorslow proved that was no flash in the pan when beating Galopin Des Champs into third in the John Durkan on their respective returns. Add into the mix Gerri Colombe, rerouted from Kempton by Gordon Elliott due to concerns about the quicker King George ground. Beaten just once as a novice, he was merely workmanlike in winning Down Royal’s Champion Chase on his reappearance, so this could be something of an acid test for the young pretender.

Stage Star will seek more Cheltenham glory when he returns to the scene of some of his finest triumphs on New Year’s Day.

Connections did have the option of Leopardstown’s Savills Chase for a festive outing, with Lingfield’s £165,000 Fleur de Lys Chase at the end of January another possibility ahead of a tilt at the Ryanair in the spring.

However, the decision has been made for the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old to kick off 2024 back at Prestbury Park – the place where he supplemented his Tutners Novices’ Chase win at the Cheltenham Festival with a thrilling Paddy Power Gold Cup victory on reappearance.

He lumped a hefty burden to success on that occasion and will be tasked with a similar weight-carrying assignment when lining-up in the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase worth £100,000.

“We decided against Ireland in the end and we’re going to run him at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day in the handicap,” said Owners Group’s Dan Downie.

“He will carry top-weight obviously, but it is a trip we know he operates over and a track he loves. It means we don’t have to travel all the way over there (to Ireland) and we thought it made sense.”

The Owners Group could also seek a valuable handicap pot with their former Triumph Hurdle champion Pentland Hills, who made an encouraging reappearance at Doncaster on Saturday when finishing second.

Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old could now be set for a second crack at Kempton’s Lanzarote Hurdle having pulled-up in the race when out of sorts last season.

“He’s come out of the race well and we’re happy with him,” continued Downie.

“Nicky has actually been really happy with him this season and we have no firm plans, but we will probably have the Lanzarote in our minds as a possible target for him.

“He just wasn’t in any sort of form last year. He didn’t take to chasing and then it is always difficult to come back and the ground was pretty awful. I think you can draw a line through last season.”

Bryony Frost will be on the sidelines for a couple of days following a fall while schooling on Monday.

Frost, who has been in a rich vein of form in recent weeks, hopes to be back in action at Ascot on Friday and then again on Saturday when she is due to ride the Paul Nicholls-trained Red Risk in the Howden Long Walk Hurdle.

She had been due to ride at Fakenham on Tuesday and Newbury on Wednesday, but has sat those out in an attempt to ensure she is fit for the weekend and, further ahead, the ride on Frodon in the King George on Boxing Day.

Her agent Iain Turner said: “She’s had a spill while schooling and we’re planning on her being back at the weekend.

“It’s one of those – with Boxing Day coming up it’s just a case of not taking any risks, which is frustrating as she had some nice chances at Fakenham.

“She’s been on a good run since her injury, and of course she was just touched off in the December Gold Cup on Il Ridoto on Saturday so this has just halted everything.

“As far as I know everything is set for her being back at Ascot on Friday, then she’s got Red Risk in the Long Walk and Frodon on Boxing Day to look forward to.”