Can Paul Nicholls Land 50th Cheltenham Festival Winner in 2025?
Craig Jones 
It's fair to say that most of the Cheltenham headlines in recent years have been written by Irish trainers, though Paul Nicholls will be hoping to get a slice of the pie next week.
If he does, it'll be more than just another Cheltenham Festival winner for him, he heads into the 2025 festival with 49 total winners to his name, one shy of the half century.
Can Nicholls get the 50 up this season? He's not got any strong fancies according to betting sites, but a handful of lively outsiders throughout the week.
No Favourites This Season for Nicholls
Once the leading British hope at Cheltenham, it's fair to say that Paul Nicholls has struggled over the past few years, and looking down the betting over the four days next week, that could continue.
In years gone past, Nicholls to have a winner would be almost a certainty, he'd probably be subject to Cheltenham free bets and betting offers around his runners, such was the interest in them.
But this year? Well he's got just one runner that's in single figures, the rest, are double figures, and outsiders at best.
Main Hopes Pinned On Jubilee Alpha
You have to wait until Thursday for Cheltenham day 3 tips to find the first talk of a Paul Nicholls runner, where Jubilee Alpha will run in the opening race on the card, the Mares' Novice Hurdle.
Looking at the mares' novices hurdle odds, she's a best price of 9/1, she's got a chance in a wide open head, and is fancied by some, but is by no means a strong fancy.
Elsewhere, there's not too much to get excited about, while there's a few that can be put into the lively outsider category.
Shearer in the Hunters Chase would have a chance, while Monmiral heads to the Pertemps looking for back to back festival wins, he was Nicholls' only winner of the 2024 festival.
Caldwell Potter, once a talking horse, heads to the novice handicap chase, while No Drama This End will represent Nicholls in the bumper, and really could be anything.
Finally, alongside Jubilee Alpha, Nicholls will likely run Just A Rose, who won a nothing race by a wide margin, and again, is a horse that really could be anything.
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