Wincanton takes centre stage after Sandown Park’s Veterans Chase Day was abandoned due to the a waterlogged track, and trainer Paul Nicholls will be hoping to dominate at his local course.

Wincanton takes centre stage after Sandown Park's Veterans Chase Day was abandoned due to the a waterlogged track, and trainer Paul Nicholls will be hoping to dominate at his local course.

The champion trainer runs four at Wincanton , including Magic Saint in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Chase. In his column with Betfair, Nicholls said: "While Magic Saint runs well fresh and handles soft ground he's had a load of problems, is not easy to train and always improves for a run."

Conditional jockey Freddie Gingell is set to get the leg-up on Huelgoat and Individualiste for Ditcheat, with both horses boasting competitive chances.

"Huelgoat loves Wincanton, will not mind the ground and Freddie won on him at this track in November so he should have a nice chance," added Nicholls.

"I think you can put a line through his last run at Sandown where he didn't stay the three miles. Harry Cobden blamed himself for being too positive on Huelgoat that day. Individualiste is turning out again quickly after hacking up at Taunton a week ago. It wasn't the greatest race but he is only 4lbs higher now and relishes heavy ground so must have a solid chance of following up with Freddie claiming 5lbs."

Paddy Le Pole, third on his debut under rules at Chepstow, completes the quartet in the Virgin Bet Novices Hurdle and Nicholls is hopeful the gelding will find improvement: 

"He won an Irish Point-to-Point in February at the sixth attempt and ran all right on his debut for us when keeping on to finish a distant third at Chepstow late last month. He will be suited by stepping up in trip here but this looks quite a competitive race and he probably needs more experience before going handicapping."