Bravemansgame 'a generous price' for Betfair Chase - and Paul Nicholls has plan that he hopes can reignite his stable star

Paul Nicholls insists Bravemansgame is overpriced for the Betfair Chase and hopes the trick of applying first-time blinkers he used for Gold Cup glory 25 years ago can reignite his star chaser's career.

Nicholls famously put the headgear on See More Business for his Gold Cup triumph in 1999 and has turned to them again with the nine-year-old, who has not won since the King George VI Chase two years ago. He was underwhelming on his comeback in the Charlie Hall Chase last month when runner-up in it for the second year in a row.

With regular jockey Harry Cobden at Ascot, Sam Twiston-Davies will ride Bravemansgame for the first time and Nicholls hopes the blinkers can be the catalyst to spark his career back in the right direction.

"I hope they do a See More Business," he said. "The first time we put them on him brought a rapid transformation in the Gold Cup, then they stayed with him forever. It sometimes just focuses their mind and Harry was dead keen for Bravemansgame to have them on as he thought he was probably saving a bit for himself at Wetherby.

"They've definitely improved him and we've got nothing to lose by trying them. If they just sharpen him up then you never know, because he's schooled nicely in them, is working as well as he's ever worked and looks fantastic."

Bravemansgame will be bidding to give Nicholls a record-extending seventh Betfair Chase win, but his first since Silviniaco Conti scored ten years ago. He is 14-1 with the race sponsors behind 7-4 favourite Grey Dawning, who the trainer believes still has a bit to prove.

Bravemansgame (left): was no match for The Real Whacker in the Charlie Hall Chase last timeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Nicholls added: "I think Bravemansgame is a generous price. Some might say he was disappointing the other day but he usually rocks up and runs a good race. The current price is big for him, but he doesn't know it.

"Grey Dawning may well improve season on season, but he has to. He's a short-priced favourite after winning at Cheltenham and is progressive and undoubtedly Dan Skelton thinks he has improved, but he is a short price for his first dip in the big league."

• State Man and Lossiemouth on Morgiana collision course as Ballyburn decision finally made - plus Betfair Chase final field confirmed

Bravemansgame could possibly return to Merseyside in April for the Grand National at Aintree, but Nicholls is keen to give him more chances to prove he can still compete at the highest level, including at Kempton on Boxing Day again.

Speaking on a Jockey Club call, he said: "We've already discussed about him having an entry in the National, but we need to see how he goes over his next two runs and how his handicap mark is. The plan is to go here and the King George as he does like Kempton and then we'll make a plan for the spring, but I'm quite keen to enter him in the National.

"He's had some hard races ever since he was second in the Gold Cup, which was one hell of a hot race, and once you've had a few hard races and been at the top table for a long time, life doesn't get any easier. He was flat out at Wetherby, where it took him a circuit to get into a rhythm, and blinkers or no blinkers, he needs to be at his best to be competitive."

Royale Pagaille's rider Charlie Deutsch, who returns from a short injury absence on Friday, said: "You always look forward to getting back on him and we're very hopeful. We've got a few young guns to fend off, but it looks like Haydock always brings him alive.

"We came into it as an outsider last year but we're in a lucky position this time. It would be great if he can become a multiple winner, but he's got to go and do it first. He's been massive for my career, but whatever he does he'll always be special to me."

It is good, good to soft in places at Haydock ahead of Saturday, but clerk of the course Daniel Cooper expects conditions to ease.

He said: "We've had snow on the track since Monday, but I've got no doubt a thaw will change conditions and with rain forecast, I anticipate a going change. Saturday looks like it'll be wet and we could have 11mm rainfall by midday, but it'll take every drop without a problem."

Betfair Chase (3.05 Haydock, Saturday)
Betfair: 7-4 Grey Dawning, 9-2 Royale Pagaille, 5 Ahoy Senor, 9 Hewick, 10 Capodanno, 12 Limerick Lace, 14 Bravemansgame, The Real Whacker, 20 Gold Tweet

Read these next:

'I couldn't be happier with him' - Shark Hanlon gives green light for King George hero Hewick to enter Betfair Chase fray 

'He's in the same form as when he won at Cheltenham' - Leenders in bullish mood for Gold Tweet's Betfair Chase raid 

Racing Post Members' Club: 50% off your first three months 

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more