Nicholls – Silviniaco Conti can follow Bullets

Paul Nicholls says Dodging Bullets’ victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase bodes well for Silviniaco Conti’s hopes in the Gold Cup.

Dodging Bullets has been a reformed character for Nicholls this season, winning both the Tingle Creek and Clarence House Chase on his road to Cheltenham.

The Ditcheat handler said he felt his charge should have been favourite going into the Queen Mother based on that form and also put forward his belief that Silviniaco Conti can give an improved performance in Friday’s Blue Riband.

Dodging Bullets came through strongly for Sam Twiston-Davies to collar long-time leader Special Tiara and win the Champion Chase and Nicholls admitted afterwards it has taken some time to get the best from both his leading chasers.

“It can take forever to learn about a horse. I’m always trying to think why a horse might not be performing to their best level and hopefully now with him and with Silviniaco Conti we know why now,” Nicholls told Racing UK.

Gold Cup favourite Silviniaco Conti was found to be suffering from ulcers after failing to win last year’s race having jumped the last with the lead.

Nicholls revealed it has been a similar story with the often under-performing Dodging Bullets and he feels the Queen Mother win casts a positive light on his chances of securing a chasing double.

“He’s been suffering the exact same as Conti, they’re both treated the same and I think they have both turned around the same. So hopefully it will all go well for Conti on Friday,” he added.