National on Neptune's battle plan

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Nicholls will officially retain his title at Sandown on Saturday and, with £2.89million won already could still conceivably be the first to crash through the £3m mark in Britain.

Scroll down to read more:

Chasing king: Neptune Collonges

Neptune Collonges, an 8-1 shot ridden by Ruby Walsh, won just over £100,000 to reinforce the strength in depth of the staying chasers at Nicholls' stable.

Neptune Collonges had finished eighth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup to stablemate Kauto Star.

His neighbours in the Nicholls' stable include outstanding novice Denman and Star De Mohaison.

Nicholls said: "He ran OK in the Gold Cup but when they quickened they caught him flat-footed. I don't think Cheltenham really suits him. He would probably be more of a Grand National horse then a Gold Cup horse."

The six-year-old tracked Robert Alner's eventual runner-up, a back-to-form Kingscliff, for much of the race before taking up the lead with four fences to jump.

He stayed bravely to win by three and a half lengths with the favourite In Compliance seven lengths away third and Racing Demon fourth.

Focus of day three of the Festival is the step up to three miles of former Champion Hurdler Brave Inca and his clash with Mighty Man in the Stayers' Hurdle.

OTHER NEWS

JOHN DUNLOP issued an upbeat statement about Nell Gwyn Stakes winner Scarlet Runner, one of 32 fillies still left in the 1,000 Guineas run on Sunday week, despite her drift to 65-1 on Betfair yesterday. He said: She is absolutely fine and takes her chance.'

FOLK OPERA, the Sheik Mohammed filly who entered the Oaks picture with an impressive win on her seasonal comeback at Newbury last week for Michael Jarvis, has joined the Godolphin stable.