The 14-times British champion jump trainer Paul Nicholls opened the doors to Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat on Monday for a media visit organised by The Jockey Club ahead of next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Looking ahead to the biggest week in jump racing, Nicholls said: “I think we have some good chances but as is always the case, it all has to go right for you whatever you run. It’s always hard to win and always competitive up against the likes of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott.

“I think we’ll have around a dozen runners over the course of the week and I’ve learnt over the years it’s better to have a small but select team where they all have good chances.

“In particular, I think our chasers all have chances and should be thereabouts.

“I had been training eight years before I had a Cheltenham winner and then I had three in a week which was just amazing.

“We’re up to 48 Cheltenham winners now and it would nice to get the 50 up this year.” There will be added emotion for the whole team at Manor Farm Stables this year following the tragic passing of staff member Keagan Kirkby, who was killed in a point-to-point on February 4th.

Nicholls said: “We have his funeral next week and it has been a very tough time for everyone from the day he died.

“It’s been a tough year for me with also losing Mr (Paul) Barber at the start of the season and having him not around.

“We’ve kept the winners flowing and I know Keagan will be up there watching us. He loved Cheltenham and everything to do with horses. He loved the game.”

Leading Festival contenders

Bravemansgame

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup

“Obviously he was second in the Gold Cup last year and ran an absolutely screaming race. This season just hasn’t worked out brilliantly for him. The first day he went to the Charlie Hall, as he did the previous year when he won on ground that suited him. This season the ground was heavy and he had a harder race – he probably wasn’t quite 100% ready and got a bit tired at the back of the last.

“Bryan Drew (owner) was then quite keen to go to the Betfair Chase, which was also run on testing ground and then I didn’t have a lot of time to get him to his absolute best for Kempton. I thought he actually ran a really good race. In my view, he and Shishkin would have been first and second. Cobden (Harry, jockey) has his view and Nicky (Henderson, trainer of Shishkin) has his.

“I don’t think we saw him at nowhere near his best so far this season but he is right back there now. Harry schooled him last Tuesday and he jumped brilliantly. I am very happy with him now and saw he was 20/1 which, after finishing second last year and running solidly this season, looks massive. Obviously Galopin Des Champs is the one we all have to beat and I think us, Shishkin and Fastorslow are all much of a muchness. If he runs like last year, he will be thereabouts.”

Captain Teague

Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

“He won his bumper last year and then finished third in the Cheltenham bumper, when he wasn’t beaten far. We sent him hurdling and he won a small novices’ hurdle at Chepstow and then was second at Cheltenham when we learned a lot about him.

“He then went to the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury over Christmas, when he stayed on dourly and won very nicely. He’s going to Kempton (Tuesday) and will work with Bravemansgame. If the ground is like it usually is at Cheltenham I think I would be slightly leaning towards the Albert Bartlett but I will leave the decision until late.

“I am convinced the trip and coming up the hill in the Albert Bartlett will suit him well given the way he stays on is his races. There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree.”

Ginny’s Destiny

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

Turners Novices’ Chase

“He must be one of the most improved horses in training, arguably. He has won his last three races, all at Cheltenham, and was very good on New Year’s Day and on Trials Day when the New Course suited him well.

“He’s made all on his last three runs, jumped well and stayed on well up the Cheltenham hill. He was so backward and needed his first run for us. He’s improved massively and is a good, solid horse, who jumps and gallops well. I’d say he is one of our best chances and I think he is still improving. He’s very straightforward and a proper horse. I think he is nearly favourite for the Turners.”

Hitman

Ryanair Chase

“He was third in the Ryanair Chase last year, when he ran very well, and goes again. He had a wind op in the autumn and needed the run at Cheltenham on Trials Day. He ran a blinding race when second to Shishkin in the Denman. He has got loads of talent and that was arguably one of his best runs. If the ground is good to soft, he’d have a chance.”

Liari

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

JCB Triumph Hurdle

“He’s a juvenile that has run three times this year and has won all three. He won at Wincanton first time out, then a listed race at Aintree on very heavy ground and then at Musselburgh three weeks ago when he won another listed race when he made all.

“He has two options, off 134 (11st 7lb) in the Boodles or in the Triumph. I expect it will be the Boodles off that mark or the Triumph if it looks like being a small field. He’s a smart horse who I don’t think we have seen the best of. He’s got plenty of speed and jumps well.”

Stage Star

Ryanair Chase

“Obviously he won the Turners last year and needs to be fresh. He has a few little issues and is not the easiest to train but when he is right, he is very good. He won the Paddy Power Gold Cup off top-weight very nicely despite making a mistake at the last.

“I wish now I hadn’t run him at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. The ground was against him as it was absolutely bottomless, he made a couple of mistakes and I don’t think he was quite at his best. I was just struggling to get a run into him going left-handed in this country before Cheltenham and he needs a gap between races. He’s since had lots of physio and is back where we want him. If he hadn’t run on New Year’s Day I’d say he’d be favourite for the Ryanair. He loves the New Course and goes there with a great chance – Chloe who rides him every day is going round with a smile on her face which is good! Good to soft would be perfect.”

Stay Away Fay

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

“He won the Albert Bartlett last year and has had a good season novice chasing. He improved enormously from when he got beaten at Doncaster last year and Cheltenham and hopefully he will do the same again for his run on Trials Day this year ahead of the Brown Advisory.

“He won first time out at Exeter and won very well at Sandown. He also ran well in the Cotswold Chase, which was a bit of a muddling race and turned into a bit of a sprint. It did give him valuable experience against older horses though and we were pleased with that. He stayed on strongly late on and I think the Old Course in the Brown Advisory will suit him better. He is a good solid jumper.”

Teeshan

Weatherbys Champion Bumper

“He won an Irish point-to-point in the autumn impressively and Tom Malone bought him for Johnny de la Hey. He had loads of time to acclimatise. He made his debut for us at Exeter and cantered round and bolted in. He is obviously a talented horse but who knows what he has beaten. Last year we were in a similar position with Captain Teague, who finished third at Cheltenham. He loves soft ground and looks a smart young horse.”

Quebecois

Weatherbys Champion Bumper

“He is a nice young bumper horse. He is a half-brother to Brindisi Breeze and was second in an Irish point-to-point. We always liked him and he went and won at Exeter without coming off the bridle.”

Sonigino

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap

“He is in the Coral Cup and the Martin Pipe off 143. I’d favour the Martin Pipe with Freddie Gingell riding him. He’s won two nice handicaps including at Aintree off top-weight. Harry said they never went quick enough in the Lanzarote as he needs a fast run race.