Tamarinbleu's ready to end Paul Nicholls run

Whenit comes to finding the winner of the big race each Saturday, it has proved a simple formula in recent weeks: back a short-priced runner from the Paul Nicholls yard.

Following the respective victories of Kauto Star, Denman and Twist Magic, the champion trainer has three chances to land the £150,000 Grade 3 Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham tomorrow.

There were few more impressive victories at the Festival last March than that of Nicholls' Jewson Novices' Chase hero Chapoturgeon, who is vying for favouritism with stablemate Poqelin and Tim Vaughan's Atouchbetweenacara.

But it has not been plain sailing for the former since winning over the same course and distance he will encounter tomorrow. The five-year-old has fallen twice in three subsequent starts, including when going well in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham last time.

Poquelin ran a cracking race to finish second in the same race to Tranquil Sea on soft ground that was not to his liking. It was the first time over the 2m5f trip and he was ridden to get it, coming from off the pace. It is arguable that equally soft ground and more aggressive tactics will see a similar result.

Nicholls' third-string Gwanako is no forlorn hope having won three of 10 chase starts but shouldering top weight of 11st 12lb is going to be no easy task.