OLVESTON-BORN trainer Paul Nicholls is adamant that although he is taking fewer horses than usual to the Cheltenham Festival next week, his chances of winning with his 25-strong team are as good as ever.

Eight-time Champion trainer Nicholls is pleased with the condition of his horses ahead of the prestigious event, where with 34 winners he is the second most successful trainer ever.

But Nicholls’ novice hurdlers will be conspicuous by their absence at Cheltenham on the opening day of the festival, with not a single runner in either the Sky Bet Supreme, the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett. However Sam Twiston-Davies, who is first jockey to Paul Nicholls, will be riding his father’s horse, the much-fancied ‘The New One’, in the Champion Hurdle, thanks to a clause in his contract.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, who trains within ten miles of the Prestbury Park course, is confident that The New One will go close in the first day's big race.

"The New One is one hundred per cent. It is a bit nerve-wracking." said Twiston-Davies, speaking at a stable visit last week.

Having won the Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2012, many thought The New One was the one to beat at his first attempt at the Champion Hurdle 12 months ago. However, The New One’s chances were scuppered when he got caught up in the fall of the ill-fated Our Connor, coming from behind to finish in third place in a fast finish behind the eventual winner Jezki.

Other favourites in the race include the Irish challenger Faugheen, who has won every one of his eight starts to date, including the Neptune Investment Novices Hurdle, and last year’s winner Jezki, who is being ridden by AP McCoy in his final Champion Hurdle before his retirement which was announced last month. Twice-winner Hurricane Fly still stands a chance, despite being a relative veteran now at the age of 11.

On Wednesday, under the watchful gaze of the Duchess of Cornwall, Nicholls has two much-fancied horses running in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase: Dodging Bullets and Mr Mole.

Nicholls said: “Dodging Bullets probably on form deserves to be the favourite for the Champion Chase, but he is not. He has had a fantastic season. He won the Tingle Creek at Sandown and then the Clarence House nicely at Ascot the other day, beating Sprinter Sacre.

“He is a really staying two-miler. The Champion Chase is run on the Old Course which I think is an easy two miles so I would like to see the ground quite testing. He is in really good form.

And Nicholls added: “Mr Mole maybe deserves the title of the most improved horse in training. He has won his last four races and followed what Master Minded did. Master Minded won the Champion Chase the same season. I hope that is a good omen. Mr Mole is a hugely talented horse and mentally he is a lot more mature this year. AP (McCoy) has worked out it is better to bowl along in front rather than hold on to him.”

The Champion Chase is a particularly open race this year with returning heroes Sire de Grugy and Sprinter Sacre also in the running.

Cheltenham Festival takes place next Tuesday to Friday and is the highlight of the Jump race calendar. Over the four days of the Festival, there are 27 competitive races, culminating in the prestigious Gold Cup on Friday.