Paul Nicholls on Friday's Cheltenham Festival runners and his Gold Cup tip

Trainer Paul Nicholls is yet to saddle a winner at this year's Cheltenham Festival but the Betfair ambassador believes Jubilee Alpha “could run very well” in the County Hurdle.

His daughter Olive Nicholls takes the ride aboard Golden Son in the Hunters' Chase and he also gives his idea of the Gold Cup winner.

14:00: County Hurdle - Jubilee Alpha

She has been a bit frustrating at times this season but she has run some really good races, albeit on very heavy ground over two miles and five and she didn’t really finish them off.

Two runs ago at Sandown, she looked all over the winner but didn’t quite finish. The step back in trip will help her and as long as she can get a nice position and a nice start, which as we’ve seen this week is important, I think she could run very well.

16.40 - Hunters’ Chase — Shearer /h2>

He was a tad disappointing at Haydock. The jockey Gina Andrews said he didn’t really like the tacky ground and he has always been a better horse on good ground.

He is not the easiest to train these days. He ran ok in this race last year so if he repeats that performance he could run OK on Friday.

16.40: Hunters’ Chase - Golden Son

He is definitely our best chance in this race. He is a 135-rated chaser and that is what you need to win this race. We did it with Pacha Du Polder who was the same kind of horse.

Golden Son has won twice this year impressively and he loves what he is doing. If it goes well, he has a lovely chance. I always thought he would make a nice Foxhunter horse, down in grade a little bit — not in one of those handicaps where they go frenetic and carry a biggish weight — because he is much more at home in this sphere and he has plenty of experience. I’m hoping he will run really well.

Jango Baie has a lot going for him in the Gold Cup

The Gold Cup is very open this year. If there is no rain overnight, the ground is going to be very fast, so you want to be looking at good ground horses in the field.

I’ve just got a feeling about Jango Baie Nicky’s [Henderson] horses are in good form, Jango Baie acts on the ground, he stayed on strong up the hill last year in the Arkle and he’s got plenty of boot which you need, so he might be my choice for a winner.

I’ve always thought Gaelic Warrior would have a good chance but some of his better form has been on slower ground. He could still be a big danger, though, if he gets the trip, so it is a very intriguing, competitive race.

Paul’s Best Chance of the Day

Jubilee Alpha Each-Way

Horse Paul’s looking forward to most on Friday

“I’m looking forward to Olive Nicholls riding Golden Son.”