Paul Nicholls: My expectations for Dodging Bullets were too high

Paul Nicholls admits he was probably expecting too much from Dodging Bullets on his first start of the season at Newbury on Saturday.

The reigning champion chaser was beaten 10 lengths by Top Gamble in the Game Spirit Chase, with his Queen Mother odds lengthening as a result.

Having had an interrupted campaign, though, Nicholls likened Dodging Bullets to a footballer returning from injury.