Nicholls pair poised to step up Gold Cup preparations

Paul Nicholls will step up the work of his Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders Silviniaco Conti and Sam Winner in the coming days.

Since winning the prestigious King George VI Chase at Kempton for a second time, Silviniaco Conti has just been going through the motions at Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard.

He will be running in the Gold Cup for a third time having fallen when still going well in 2013 and then finished fourth last year after jumping the last with a clear advantage.