Silviniaco Conti the one to beat, insists Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls is adamant ante-post favourite Silviniaco Conti is the one to beat in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Although the nine-year old failed in two previous attempts to win the blue riband of jumps racing, the Ditcheat handler feels it could be a different story back at the Festival on March 13.

Since losing on his seasonal reappearance at Wetherby, Silviniaco Conti has gone from strength to strength, winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock and a second King George VI Chase at Kempton.