Nicholls 'excited' about Silviniaco Conti Paul Nicholls, who struck with Neptune Collonges in 2012, has a six-strong team for the Grand National, headed by dual King George hero Silviniaco Conti. "I have always thought that Silviniaco Conti would be a National prospect and he is very much in the mould of Neptune Collonges, maybe a little more classy," said the Ditcheat handler. "He won very well the last time at Ascot and is a laid-back and relaxed horse. "I'm not one bit worried about the trip. He's always been a stayer and we've always wanted to make plenty of use of him. "He's been given a chance by the handicapper. It's a National and you need a lot of luck, but you've got to be excited about his chance and he is our main hope. "Unioniste wasn't quite right last year and lost his confidence jumping. We've got that back, he won well at Kelso and ran well behind Many Clouds the other day. "If he could be anywhere near them jumping the third-last, he'll definitely gallop all the way to the line. He's definitely got a chance. "Wonderful Charm loves good ground and there was no point wasting our time running him during the winter. "We haven't been able to give him a prep but he goes well fresh. He is a horse who could run very well. "Just A Par, who won the bet365 race at Sandown last season, stays well and, as long as the ground is not too bad and he gets jumping, he is not without a chance. "Rocky Creek has been disappointing. He seems to run his best race first time up. "If he was back to his very best, he'd have a chance, but there is a big question mark in my mind." Black Thunder is Nicholls' sixth hopeful, and will be ridden by top amateur Sam Waley-Cohen after being sold at the sales to a syndicate that includes the jockey's father, Robert.
