Conti & Menorah clash in International Paul Nicholls is keen to find out if he has a Champion Hurdle prospect on his hands when Silviniaco Conti tackles the StanJames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham tomorrow. The five-year-old has won each of his three starts in hugely impressive style since joining Nicholls from France, and proved much too good for his rivals in last month's Coral Hurdle at Ascot. "The horse is in good form. It's a bit disappointing we've got to give the other two (Menorah and Cue Card) 4lb but it's a good race. He couldn't have done any more at Ascot last time and the whole race will answer a lot of questions," said Nicholls. Menorah is also giving off the right signals for the Philip Hobbs team. Last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner looked the real deal at Cheltenham last month when defying a big weight to claim the Greatwood Hurdle. With his Minehead yard having escaped unscathed from the big freeze, Hobbs feels the likelihood of faster ground at the weekend will also play to Menorah's considerable strengths. He said: "We've coped pretty well with the conditions. It has been freezing, but we've had no snow at all, which has been to our advantage. We schooled them on the grass on Wednesday and that went well, so they should all be pretty fit. "Menorah's preparations have gone well. It's a step up, but his work has pleased us and we are very much looking forward to the race. He doesn't want the ground too soft so we very much think that will be to his advantage."
