2016 Cheltenham Festival news: Bristol De Mai new fav for JLT

The eight-year-old, who also holds an entry in the JLT Novices’ Chase and the World Hurdle, has missed a number of potential engagements since then on account of testing conditions and with the ground at Newbury not expected to dry out sufficiently connections have decided to bypass a final prep run ahead of the Festival.

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said: “He won’t be running on Saturday because of the ground.

“We were hoping it would dry up a bit, but it’s still soft, heavy in places on the chase track. He’s in great form and Jonjo is very happy with him.

“We’d have loved to get another run into him, but Jonjo isn’t overly worried if he can’t, and it looks like he’ll probably go straight to Cheltenham now.”

Nicholls bullish about the chances of Dodging Bullets

Trainer Paul Nicholls has nominated last year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Dodging Bullets as his best chance at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

The eight-year-old has not been seen since landing the biggest success of his career when beating Somersby by 1 1/2 lengths, and is due to make his belated return to action in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Dodging Bullets has been troubled by a splint injury, but Nicholls is happy that he is now ready to return to the fray en route to defending his crown in the Champion Chase for which he is currently an 8/1 shot with Coral.

Speaking in a Racing Post Q&A, Nicholls said: “As it stands now, the best chance [of festival success] would be Dodging Bullets in the Champion Chase.

“We’re very happy with him and he has been moving as good as ever. He will improve fitness-wise for the run.

“We also might have some well handicapped horses for a change so we’re hopeful in the handicaps but we’ll see what the weights bring. I would also say Aux Ptits Soins, if he comes back to his best.”

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