Paul Nicholls: The thoughts on my runners at Cheltenham today

Will Paul bag a winner or two at Cheltenham today?

Friday brings the start of the new season at Cheltenham, and Betfair Ambassador Paul Nicholls has a full book of runners, including a bright prospect co-ownded by Michael Vaughan, Lee Dixon, and Will Greenwood...

14:10 Cheltenham - Grandioso

Proved slightly frustrating last season - he would have won but for falling two out at Hereford - but he came good off a mark of 118 in a 2m4f Ayr handicap hurdle in April. He only won by a neck, but the pair pulled 13 lengths clear of the third. Clearly finds this trip more to his liking and, although the Ayr win came on good ground, he did win his bumper for Howard Johnson in the soft, so he is adaptable if the ground does worsen a bit. However, he wouldn't want it too testing - I took him out at Chepstow on Saturday because of the ground - but the forecast I have seen is pretty good. This is a competitive race, with very promising horses such as The New One in here, but Grandioso is a much stronger horse this season. Goes chasing after this.

14:45 Cheltenahm - Domtaline

Smart handicap hurdler at his best and has taken really well to chasing, jumping soundly when winning at Ludlow in April and again when also showing a real good attitude when defying a penalty at Stratford in May. The runner-up Kingsmere won his next two starts by wide margins (and re-opposes here) and conditions should suit us. Also he goes well when fresh, so his break since May is a big plus. Clearly, this is a big step up in class for him - there are several very smart chase prospects in here, among them Go All The Way and King Of The Night, who I obviously know well - but hopefully he will put up a good show. Worked well on Wednesday.

15:20 Cheltenham - Wiffy Chatsby

His form tells you he is a bit of an in-and-out performer but there was certainly nothing wrong in the manner of his 15 length win at Stratford last time, his second win at that track. This is obviously a much more different and stiffer test for him but a mark of 125 gives him chances in a clearly, hugely competitive handicap. We know how to ride him now, so the 3m trip will give Ruby plenty of time to creep into the race.

15:55 Cheltenham - Sire Collonges

Is a horse that has always shown us a lot and promised much since coming over from France, and I hope he can really make his mark over fences this season. Is built to be a chaser and he got off to a good start over fences when winning easily over 2m6f at Fontwell in May. The opposition may have not been much there - and he clearly faces a much better class of rival here - but he jumped superbly that day, this has been the plan since, and has a lot of potential.

16:30 Cheltenham - Landscape

As you would expect at Cheltenham, this looks a competitive maiden hurdle, with good bumper horses like Population making their hurdling debut and horses with decent hurdling form already on the board. But I have to say that I have been impressed with everything that Landscape has done at home. He is owned by my fellow Betfair ambassadors - the likes of Michael Vaughan, Will Greenwood and Lee Dixon - and I think they have a decent prospect on their hands. Landscape was a decent middle distance winner on the Flat in France and he has worked and schooled very well in preparation for this. I really do like him, but he will come on for the run both physically and mentally, and I suspect 2m4f may be his trip in time, as he had form up to 2m in France.

17:05 Cheltenham - Round Tom

Has won over hurdles and fences at Worcester, but probably didn't show his best side when beaten at that track last time. Is not straightforward on occasions - he ran in cheekpieces and a tongue strap last time - but he jumps well and a mark of 117 probably reflects his ability. Was second in a novice hurdle here at this meeting last season.

17:40 Cheltenham - Dark Lover

Has yet to finish out of the first two in five starts off for us, although he has been off the track since winning at Taunton in February 2011 with a leg injury. I think a mark of 120 is possibly a touch too high on what he has achieved on the track so far, but he has been going well enough at home and clearly doesn't have many miles on the clock, so let's get him back on the racecourse and see what we have got. Ryan takes off 3lb.