We knew Paul Nicholls would come back swinging - but it's Dan Skelton who is now the top dog in Britain

To let you in on some of the behind-the-scenes machinations at the Racing Post, at one point last Saturday there was a live news story prepared on the possibility of Paul Nicholls running through the card at Wincanton.

We were all on high alert after the 14-time champion trainer stormed through the opening three races and ready to hit 'go' should Insurrection have won the Rising Stars Novices’ Chase half an hour before Rubaud was set to go off a very short-priced favourite for the Elite Hurdle.

As it was, Insurrection lost all hope when badly hampered by the falling Handstands at the third-last. Nonetheless, Rubaud did go on to justify those short odds and a winner in the bumper provided Nicholls with a fabulous five-timer and an emphatic return to form following a desperate October during which his yard sent out just four winners, his lowest total in that month since 1993.