But French-bred jumps horses are naturally precocious. Cyfor Malta was only five when he gave an unforgettable exhibition of fencing at speed for Martin Pipe in this race in 1998 and Nicholls won it with another former French-trained five-year-old, Gwanako in 2008.
Course specialist Dev will be a danger having crept into the race at the foot of the weights and Fine Parchment has clearly improved in recent weeks. But Mon Parrain could be a class apart.
The duel for this year's trainers' championship will almost certainly be decided at this prestigious three-day meeting. Nicholls, the present champion, appears to be holding the aces with such a strong team primed for action this week.
Nicky Henderson, his closest rival in the title race, is also sending a powerful team to Liverpool, spearheaded by Binocular, who was forced to miss the Champion Hurdle when he tested positive for a substance used to treat a skin allergy.
The gelding is said to be in sparkling form ahead of the Grade One Aintree Hurdle on Saturday.
Before then, Henderson will be hoping Mossley, who finished runner-up in a Grade One race at the Cheltenham Festival, can deliver in Friday's Sefton Novices' Hurdle.
Henderson is double-handed in the day's most valuable race, the £175,000 Melling Chase. Here he fields French Opera and the imposing Mad Max, who is performing at the highest level despite undergoing several breathing operations.
But the best this pair can hope for tomorrow is place money behind last year's winner Albertas Run, who again bids to complete a big-race double after landing the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.
Nicholls will also have a say here with Master Minded, who was already struggling before a blunder put an end to his chance in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
A step up in trip to two-and-a-half miles may bring about some improvement in the talented eight-year-old but Albertas Run is a confident choice provided the ground is not testing.
Selections - 2.00: Topolski, 3.05: Albertas Run, 3.40: Mon Parrain.
