Paul Nicholls on Liari – who partners Harry Cobden – and his other eight horses as he hopes Knappers Hill can extend his record at Chepstow

Trainer Paul Nicholls has nine horses in action on Saturday, including Knappers Hill at 15.10 at Chepstwo, ridden by Harry Cobden. 

Other Nicholls-trained horses in action are Liari, Threeunderhtrufive, Switch Hitter, Flic Ou Voyou and Kap Boy. 

Here, Betfair ambassador Nicholls goes through nine of his horses set to ride on Saturday.

13:55 – Liari

He is an interesting new recruit by Cracksman and won over ten furlongs at Toulouse in France in the spring in the colours of the Aga Khan. He has done plenty of schooling and I’m hopeful he will can be a useful juvenile.

14:30 – Switch Hitter

He is a fun horse but lightly raced and after a little setback ran only twice last season, winning nicely at Wincanton in February. Although he is probably handicapped to the hilt, he is fit and well and Bryony Frost gets a good tune from him.

14:30 – Threeunderthrufive

He started life with an amazing strike record and its frustrating that he didn’t manage a single success last season. Yet the handicapper has been slow to cut him some slack. This race is a handy starting point for Threeunderthrufive who finished fourth in the Scottish Grand National in April and could have another crack at that race in the spring or maybe head instead to Aintree.

15:10 – Knappers Hill

He’s a standing dish at this meeting, having won here for each of the last three years. So this race was the logical choice for his debut over fences and if things go well he will then head to Wincanton for the Rising Stars Chase. As a youngster he wasn’t the most natural over hurdles but he was very slick over them last winter and I’m very pleased with his schooling over fences. I can’t wait to see how what he can do as a chaser.

15:40 – Flic Ou Voyou

He’s another regular at this meeting because he goes well fresh and enjoys the better ground at this time of year. He won this race twelve months ago and I’m hopeful of another big run from him. The chase track should be fine for him but he is unlikely to run if the ground turns soft.

16:15 – Lallylag

A full brother to Lalor, he improved throughout last season, winning three of his four starts in the West Country, and wasn’t at all disgraced when we upped him in class. Our talented claimer Freddie Gingell is taking off a handy 7lbs from his back and we have the option to switch Lallylag to fences at some point this season.

16:15 – Sonigino

Highly progressive, he is another of ours who won at this meeting a year ago. He ended last season winning at Huntingdon before he ran easily his best race at Aintree where he came from an impossible position, finishing stoutly into third place, despite being brought to a standstill early on the first circuit. He must have a leading chance in this and will then go chasing.

16:50 – Afadil

A talented juvenile he thrived on racing and won threes times including the Scottish Triumph Hurdle but I have a feeling he might just need this run after having a wind op when he came back into training in July. I’ve done as much as I can with him at home but I suspect that win, lose or draw he will improve for the outing. Further ahead he will have an entry in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham. All ground comes alike to him.

17:22 Kap Boy

He has been with us for almost two years, goes nicely and is by one of my favourite stallions Kapgarde out of a mare from a nice family. Like almost all our store horses he spent a season with Will Biddick’s academy and also had a racecourse gallop in the spring. Kap Boy been back in training since July 10. It’s always hard to assess unraced bumper horses at home but we are looking forward to his debut.

Best chance. Knappers Hill. 15.10. 

Has pleased with his schooling and has a solid chance of extending his fine record at Chepstow.