Nicholls team heads AON acceptors

Paul Nicholls will be double-handed in Saturday’s Aon Chase at Newbury with What A Friend and Noland among the nine entries for the reopened Grade Two.

On the 10 occasions the Aon has been run since its inception in 2000, the champion trainer has won it six times and has used it as a Gold Cup trial for Denman, Kauto Star and See More Business.

On trial this time will be What A Friend, a Grade One winner at Leopardstown and Aintree last season, but seen only once this term when a disappointing fifth behind Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase.

Noland has been top-class over two and a half miles but was pulled-up in a handicap at Cheltenham on his second run after a long injury.

“They’ll both run,” said Nicholls on Tuesday.

Nicky Henderson’s King George runner-up Riverside Theatre is also in the field alongside Chief Dan George, Dance Island, Ogee, Carronhills, Fair Along and Mahogany Blaze.