BY his own very high standards it was a quiet December for nine-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls. However, there is no disputing the strength in depth at Ditcheat and, as he took a well-deserved break in Barbados last week, three of his inmates went in at Doncaster on Friday and 11/8 favourite Adrien Du Pont followed up in the Grade 1 coral.co.uk Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow 24 hours later.

It is hard to read too much into a race run very nearly half a minute slower than standard but the French-bred, gradually closing on clear leader Chic Name, collared him at the last and went away to win by nearly three lengths. It was eight back to Cod Star Sivola, with the others spread out all over Monmouthshire.