Eight entered for Nicholson

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition will face a maximum of seven rivals if he takes his chance in Saturday’s James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Mouse Morris’ seven-year-old notched an effortless success on his reappearance at Punchestown earlier in the month and his trainer believes the Grade One contest is the next logical step on the way to Cheltenham in March.