Nicholls All Out For Topham Glory

Champion trainer-elect Paul Nicholls saddles four of the 30 runners in the John Smith's And Spar Topham Chase at Aintree tomorrow.

The Ditcheat handler is responsible for Almost Broke, who will be ridden by Ruby Walsh, Nycteos, Lou Du Moulin Mas and Le Passing, who must shoulder top weight in the extended two-mile-five-furlong event.

Le Passing, who finished runner-up to Sir Oj in the Robin Cook Memorial Gold Cup earlier in the season, was last seen when finishing seventh behind Non So in the Racing Post Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.

And despite carrying 11st 12lb in the Topham, his jockey Joe Tizzard believes the seven-year-old will go well over the Aintree fences.

'It will be his first time over the big fences but he jumps for fun and, touch-wood, he'll be a really good ride,' he said.

'He had a splint just after Christmas so he missed some work. He went to Cheltenham with the intention of coming for this race.

'We were chuffed with him. He felt a bit rusty at Cheltenham but he stayed on really well.

'The trip will be ideal for him and I think the big fences will suit him. Although he's got top weight, I think he'll run a big race,' Tizzard told At The Races.

Nicholls expects all four of his entries to do themselves justice.

'Le Passing ran a nice race in the Mildmay Fleet at Cheltenham ? even though he was carrying top weight,' he reasoned. 'He again carries quite a bit of weight and I can see him running really well.

Almost Broke won at Wincanton in February and goes particularly well for Ruby Walsh.

'Nycteos is interesting and has only had three runs over fences.

'He's more unexposed than the others and has done loads of schooling. If he takes to it, he should go well.

'Lou Du Moulin Mas always runs well and will give Sam Thomas a great ride,' Nicholls told Teletext.

Cregg House will again line up in the Topham after he held off Haut De Gamme by a length to win last year's renewal at odds of 50-1.

Shane Donohoe's 11-year-old has been slightly disappointing since that Aintree triumph but his County Cavan-based handler thinks the big fences at Liverpool will bring out the best in him.

'I don't know about a repeat performance but he's in good form,' said Donohoe.

'I'd have really liked a run in him at Cheltenham but we couldn't get in any of the handicaps.

'If the rain holds off he has his ground, he certainly has his trip and he obviously loves Aintree.

'If he runs as well as last year, he should be bang there at the finish.'

Sam Waley-Cohen, successful aboard Katarino in the John Smith's Fox Hunters Chase on Thursday, expects Liberthine to launch a bold bid in the race ? despite only finishing 14th behind Cregg House last term.

'She goes tomorrow and she should have a fantastic chance,' the rider told BBC Sport.

'She's already done well there once and hopefully she can do the same.'

John Spearing is looking forward to a good run from course winner Hakim.

'He'll go well and he likes it round here,' said Spearing.

'He's in good order and he must have a bit of a chance.

And Jonjo O'Neill is optimistic of a prominent showing from Be My Better Half.

He said: 'I don't know that much about him because I've only had him a short while.

'He's in great order at home and jumped well schooling over National fences.

'He's in tip-top form and I'm looking for a big run from him.'

John Smith's Topham And Spar Handicap Chase

Totesport bet: 9-1 Hakim, 11-1 Nycteos, 14-1 Better Days, Dunbrody Millar, Euro Leader, Star Clipper, 16-1 Almost Broke, Be My Better Half, Cregg House, Liberthine, 20-1 Ground Ball, Kings Glen, Mixsterthetrixster, The Bandit, 22-1 Le Passing, Tamango, 25-1 bar.

(C) PA Sport