Nicholls Shows Trust In Classic Hope

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is likely to be represented by the hat-trick-seeking Trust Fund as he attempts to land his own three-timer in Saturday's £70,000 totesport.com Classic Chase.

Nicholls has sent out Eurotrek and Ladalko to win the last two renewals of the stamina-sapping Grade Three event at Warwick and only has the 10-year-old to choose from among the initial 20-strong entry.

Trust Fund will be taking a big step up in class but has been on the upgrade since joining Nicholls, winning two from two this season.

Assistant trainer Dan Skelton said: 'He won at Wincanton first time when he jumped left-handed and we thought going the other way would suit him a lot better.

'He then won at Newbury and I don't think he'll have ever had a task like this on his plate before, but he's going the right way,' he told At The Races.

'He stays and jumps very well and he obviously holds a big chance but this is his biggest ever task.'

Other notable entries in the three-mile-five-furlong handicap include David Pipe's trio of Dom D'Orgeval, Not Left Yet and Sixo, while Kilbeggan Blade and Blue Splash also take the eye.

(C) PA Sport