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Paul Nicholls provides the lowdown on his best Cheltenham Festival chances

Triumph Hurdle hope Solo is paraded around the yard at Ditcheat
Triumph Hurdle hope Solo is paraded around the yard at DitcheatCredit: Harry Trump (Getty Images)

Alcala
St James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase
Alcala will probably run. He hasn’t had a great prep because he had to go to Fontwell on Sunday. He’s had two hard races in a week and he’s got to get over those. If we can get him back to his best he’s got a chance – it’s a very open Foxhunter this year.

Brelan D’As
Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase
I expect he will run in the Plate. He was second in the BetVictor Gold Cup in November and the track and trip suits him.

Capeland
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup
He’s had a good season. We’ve kept him fresh and he’s in the Grand Annual, which I suspect is what he’ll run in. He’s not the best handicapped horse in the country and stands in no man’s land as he’s probably a Grade 2 horse. He’s fresh and ready, and a big field where they go flat out over two miles will hopefully suit him really nicely.

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West Country correspondent

Published on inCheltenham Festival

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