NICHOLLS AND STEWART MOB-HANDED FOR PADDY POWER

Paul Nicholls and leading owner Andy Stewart look like being increasingly mob-handed in this year’s Paddy Power Gold Cup, the first major race of the new jumps season, which is now only just over a mouthwatering month away at Cheltenham’s Paddy Power Meeting on November 14.

Both men could be represented by Tatenen, Poquelin and Nycteos, while the trainer also looks like running the David Johnson-owned Chapoturgeon.

Stewart said: “Tatenen has done absolutely fine and is terrific and will be turning up for the Paddy Power. He is our number one hope unless Poquelin wins next week at Cheltenham and goes up in the handicap.

“At the moment the pecking order is Tatenen, Chapoturgeon, and Poquelin and Nycteos in joint third.

“Poquelin runs in the decent extended two and a half mile chase next Saturday at Cheltenham. Touch wood, he and all my Paddy Power possibles are in good form.

“Nycteos won the Lanzarote Hurdle on his last run. He sustained a little injury so we decided to give him a year off, which like My Will we like to do when they get injured, but he is in very fine form. He is not eligible for hunter chases off his handicap mark so the Paddy Power looks a suitable target, although two miles five furlongs might be a bit too sharp.”

Paddy Power himself said: “Paul Nicholls has taken the place of Martin Pipe in that whichever horse appears to be his principal at the five-day stage goes off favourite for the Paddy Power. But it’s a tremendously competitive event and neither he nor Andy Stewart have managed to win it yet!”