Poquelin checks in for Ryanair raid
The eight-year-old has won four times at Prestbury Park and was last seen claiming the Vote AP Gold Cup at the track in December.
He chased home Albertas Run in this race 12 months ago, but the champion trainer is confident his charge can go one place better.
“He loves the New Course, where the race is run, and where he won a race in December,” said Nicholls.
“He loves to be fresh and is a much stronger horse this year.
“He’s getting the trip better and, on form, he’s the one to beat.
“Ferdy (Murphy) thinks Kalahari King will go well, although it’s a long time since he has won, and I think Poquelin will be hard to beat.”
Ruby Walsh has already enjoyed a successful Festival and he is hopeful Poquelin can add to his tally.
“He goes well at Cheltenham and the drying ground is definitely a help,” said the jockey.
“Poquelin likes it here, and has to go left-handed. He’s in really good nick and has a big shout.
“He’s settled down a bit as he’s got older and he’s an easier ride now.
“It’s a competitive renewal but he’s got as good a chance as anything else.”
Next in the betting is the Ferdy Murphy-trained Kalahari King.
The 10-year-old finished fourth in a Supreme, second in an Arkle and third in a Champion Chase at the last three Festivals.
Murphy hopes this step up in trip will see him in an even better light.
“His preparation has gone well, he’s been to the beach a few times and he seems well in himself,” said the West Witton handler.
“The only down side is he’s getting on in years, but 10-year-olds have a decent record in the race, so we’d be confident enough he’ll run well.
“Poquelin seems to keep his best for round here and he’s probably the one we all have to beat, but it’s an open race.
“The ground is right for him and obviously with the trip, we won’t know for sure until tomorrow, but I think he’ll actually be better than he is over two miles.
“Our horse has run well at the Festival for the last three years, so we’d be hopeful.”
J’y Vole was third in the race 12 months ago but her trainer Willie Mullins admits she has not been in as rich a vein of form this season.
“She did run well last year but she hasn’t had as good a preparation this season,” said Mullins.
“The ground will be quicker than she has run on this season, but I’m not sure that is going to make a difference, to be honest.
“She’s travelled over all right.”
Voy Por Ustedes won an Arkle and a Champion Chase for Alan King and found only Imperial Commander too strong in this race a couple of years ago.
Recent form figures are not so inspiring but he has recently moved to Nicky Henderson and the Seven Barrows handler believes he deserves his place in the field.
“I don’t know him very well. Alan had him for a long time, he was a serious horse and I’ve only had him two months,” said Henderson.
“The entries had closed and I put him in the Coral Cup, as his hurdle rating is a lot lower than his chase rating. The project is Aintree.
“It’s a bit brave and I had to convince Sir Robert (Ogden, owner) to stump up 13 grand to supplement him. He wasn’t entered in the first place.
“It’s not a long-shot, it’s better to run back here with a chance rather than running round in a 28-runner hurdle. He’s in very good order and is on his racing weight.”
Jessica Harrington’s Roberto Goldback has been running well in defeat all season and the Irish trainer believes the quicker ground he will encounter at Prestbury Park could bring about improvement.
“He’s just been a bit unlucky this season. He’s been second three times and third in a Grade One,” said Harrington.
“He’ll definitely appreciate the good ground as the better the ground, the better it is for him.”
