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Paul Nicholls is hoping the application of first-time blinkers will work the oracle for Bravemansgame in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.
The 14-time champion Jump trainer has landed the Betfair Chase on no fewer than a record six occasions and whilst quick to point out his latest contender is "not in the same league" as the great Kauto Star, who landed the Merseyside prize four times, he does believe Bravemansgame is overpriced with race sponsors at 14/1.
Bravemansgame has failed to find the winners' enclosure since landing the 2022 King George VI Chase at Kempton, but he has posted some high-class efforts in defeat, including when chasing home Galopin Des Champs in last year's Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
With regular jockey Harry Cobden at Ascot, Sam Twiston-Davies will ride Bravemansgame for the first time.
Paul Nicholls said: "Sam Twiston-Davies rides Bravemansgame for the first time on Saturday. Bryan (Drew) who owns him was quite keen for Sam to ride him so it's ideal."
The nine-year-old was beaten in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall at Wetherby for the second consecutive season three weeks ago and Nicholls, who famously applied blinkers to See More Business for his Gold Cup victory in 1999, will turn to the same headgear as he attempts to spark some improvement into Bravemansgame.
"I hope they do a See More Business," said Nicholls. "The first time we put them on him brought a rapid transformation in the Gold Cup, then they stayed with him forever. It sometimes just focuses their mind, and Harry was dead keen for Bravemansgame to have them on as he thought he was probably saving a bit for himself at Wetherby.
"He worked and schooled nicely in them this morning. I am hoping the blinkers can bring out some improvement in him and perhaps there is some improvement in him from when he ran at Wetherby, which he needs to show.
"I thought they went flat out at Wetherby and the ground was lively enough for him. A bit more of a stamina test on Saturday might suit him.
"It looks quite an open race on Saturday and if the blinkers bring about some improvement in him then you never know. Blinkers or no blinkers, he'll have to run to his best to be competitive on Saturday."
Should things go smoothly in the Betfair Chase, Bravemansgame could return to Kempton in an attempt to regain his King George crown before a potential return to Merseyside, with the Ditcheat-based handler confirming he will have an entry in the Aintree Grand National.
"We've already discussed him having an entry in the National, but we need to see how he goes over his next two runs and how his handicap mark is," explained Nicholls when speaking on a Zoom call organised by the Jockey Club. "The plan is to go here and the King George as he does like Kempton and then we'll make a plan for the spring, but I'm quite keen to enter him in the National."
Bravemansgame is a 14/1 shot with race sponsors Betfair, with Grey Dawning heading the market at 7/4. However, while respectful of Dan Skelton's charge, Nicholls believes his contender is a 'generous price' against the current favourite, who will have his first outing in open company at Grade 1 level.
He commented: "I think Bravemansgame is a generous price. Some might say he was disappointing the other day, but he usually rocks up and runs a good race. The current price is big for him, but he doesn't know it.
"Grey Dawning may well improve season on season, but he has to. He's a short-priced favourite after winning at Cheltenham and is progressive and undoubtedly Dan Skelton thinks he has improved, but he is a short price for his first dip in the big league."
