Paul Nicholls: Cheltenham and Aintree Stable Tour including Jubilee Alpha, Caldwell Potter and Kandoo Kid

The days when Paul Nicholls could count on the likes of Kauto Star, Denman and Master Minded supplying him Cheltenham Festival success might be long over, but it would be foolish to write off his chances of victory at this year’s meeting.

Despite not having a Grade One superstar to call upon, the Ditcheat master will be sending a team to the four-day meeting which still boasts more than enough potential to make their presence felt.

Exciting mares Jubilee Alpha and Just A Rose hold solid claims in the Grade Two Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, while Shearer could find the back of the net under Nicholls’ daughter Olive in the St James’ Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase.

And despite not having the superstars of yesteryear to go to war with, Nicholls is still looking forward to battling with the best of them in search of securing winner number 50 at the prestigious meeting.

Nicholls said: “It is not as strong as when you had Kauto Star, Denman, Big Buck’s and Master Minded. They were amazing horses and I was lucky to have them. I’m realistic to know you can’t overface horses and you have to run them in the right races on the right day. We will do the best we can with what we have got.

“I think the two mares Jubilee Alpha and Just A Rose have got good chances and it is hard to split them. No Drama This End could have a chance, but the Champion Bumper is a hard race to win and I’ve never won that. Shearer would have a bit of a squeak.

“There are chances there and like everybody you want to go there with chances. Only one horse can win and then you have 19 or 20 that lose in each race, so it is hard to have winners there.

“I’m not saying this will win, or that will win, but they have got chances. They have not got throw away chances, and touchwood, I’ve not got any owners putting pressure on me to have runners at Cheltenham unless they are good enough."