CHAP'S THE LAD FOR NIC; Grey can deliver in Paddy Power.

Byline: Garry Owen

PAUL NICHOLLS has had plenty of chances to land the Paddy Power Gold Cup but the Ditcheat Maestro has always drawn a blank at Chelters - so far.

Nic saddles three good 'uns today and you can build cases for and against each one, but I believe Chapoturgeon can deliverthe goods forthe brilliant Timmy Murphy.

The David Johnsonowned gelding has developed a great relationship with the Irish jockey and Murphyhas ridden the grey to all his four career wins, including a glorious win in the Jewson Chase over 2m5f here at the Festival in March.

He travelled on to Aintree where he was sent off a hot favourite for the Grade 2 Novices' Chase, but sadly for those who lumped on, the grey only got as far as the first fence where he was hampered and fell.

Nicholls brought him out again two weeks later back at Cheltenham but it may have been a race too many, or the grey might have taken a confidence knock, but the 4-9 chance was turned over by Charlie Mann's Gauvain.

Owner Johnson is fairly confident and said: "Paul says he is in good shape, has schooled very well and acts on any ground. He was schooled earlier in the week and again yesterday and it went very well so hopefully his jumping will hold together for Saturday. He appears to have improved at home but you only find out on a racecourse but Paul is extremely happy with him and everything has gone to plan."

The handicapper has raised him 18lb but I reckon we have still to see the best of him. He ticks all the right boxes for this race and in what is likely to turn into a war of attrition I hope to see Timmy putting the grey into the race coming down the hill to finally lay to rest the Nicholls Paddy Power hoodoo.

Racing on Channel 4 kicks off with the Servo trophy Handicap Chase and what a tough race it looks too.

There's a few old Cheltenham favourites in the field and in what is certain to be a real test of stamina, I give a big shout to Victor Dartnall's RUSSIAN TRIGGER (1.55). The son of Double Trigger is a proven out and out stayer, landing the Kent National at Folkestone in February, before following up in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter the following month. Still a lightly-raced sevenyear-old, the gelding will have no problems with today's conditions and looks a real prospect for the top staying chases and I wouldn't be surprised to see him at Ayr come April time.

Wetherby stage two competitive handicaps over hurdles and fences to be shown on Channel 4 and in the totescoop6 Hurdle I'm siding with KING IN WAITING (2.55) who managed to lose his maiden tag at the 11th attempt at Newcastle last month.

He appears straightforward and can follow up for Keith Mercer. Trainer James Hetherton has been very patient with the Sadler's Wells gelding and said after the victory at the northern track:

"He is beautifully bred and when he was with John Oxx they were talking in terms of the Derby. He wasn't bred to be winning maiden hurdles at Newcastle but he needed a bit of confidence."

The Jardine Thompson Hurdle at Cheltenham looks an ideal chance for LIE FORRIT (3.10) to run a big race and redeem his reputation after blotting his copybook at Aintree last month. The five-year-old was moving through to challenge at the second last when he jinked and unshipped Campbell Gillies, who was then struck by another horse as he tried to get off the track.

The gelding started to put it all together last November when he landed a bumper in heavy going at Hexham. He failed by a neck to score in a novice hurdle at Ayr two weeks later but got off the mark with an impressive win back at Ayr in January.

He wound up his season with another victory at the west coast track in February, staying on strongly for Campbell Gillies on the soft ground.

Trainer Willie Amos thinks the world of this horse and I'm sure Lie Forrit won't let his supporters down off this mark.

Back at Wetherby, the totesport Chase can go to Charlie Mann's GAORA LANE (3.25). The eightyear-old Anshan gelding has been a bit frustrating but has dropped back to a reasonable mark and ran a fine race to chase home Mister Apple's at Cheltenham last month. Ian Williams's nine-year-old gave that form a solid look when running a fair third at Cheltenham yesterday. Hardly progressive, with only one win to his name, he is though lightly-raced for a nag his age and I'm sure his shrewd trainer will place him to get his nose back in front again. With question marks against a few of his rivals, today might be the day.

The novices' handicap hurdle at Cheltenham has it all, from three-year-old Alazan, to ten-year-old High Bird Humphrey.

The one I want to be with though is DINARIUS (3.45). The four-year-old made his handicap debut at Carlisle two weeks ago and under a confident ride from Paddy Merrigan landed his first win over hurdles. The soft ground was clearly appreciated by the gelding and that victory will have given his confidence a huge boost.

Hopefully Punchestown gets the all clear today with DUNGUIB all set to take on 10 rivals in the Ballymaloe Country Relish Hurdle. Dunguib is favourite at a general 5-2 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

He is even being quoted for the Champion Hurdle at a top-priced 25-1. At Punchestown tomorrow, HURRICANE FLY and Solwhit feature among a final field of just four runners in the Dobbins & Madigans at Punchestown Hurdle.

Hurricane Fly swept all before him during his novice campaign, rounding off the season with a hugely impressive display at the Punchestown Festival. Solwhit also enjoyed a lucrative end to the season as he registered Grade One victories at both Aintree and Punchestown.

Best bet on the card at Chelters tomorrow is REVE DE SIVOLA (3.30) who looks a progressive sort and looked very smart at Chepstow.

CAPTION(S):

GREY POWER: Timmy Murphy and Chapoturgeon storm home in the Jewson Chase at the Festival TIMMY MURPHY Can steer home Chapoturgeon