PAUL NICHOLLS could give his main Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Silviniaco Conti a serious final tune-up back at an old haunt over the next fortnight.

A faller three fences from home in last year’s renewal, the chestnut has taken his game to another level this season as he reversed the placings from November’s Betfair Chase by catching Cue Card to hand his trainer an eighth King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

‘‘We did it differently this year,’’ said Nicholls.

‘‘Last year we wanted to win the Betfair Chase so we ran in the Charlie Hall, and this year we wanted to win the King George so we started off in the Betfair.

‘‘He was way fitter at Kempton and he’ll have a racecourse gallop in ten days.

“I haven’t sorted out where, and if it (weather) goes on like this he could end up at Kempton on the all-weather – I’ll be talking to (clerk of the course) Barney Clifford about it anyway.’’ Silviniaco Conti has no other experience at Cheltenham over fences, but the trainer is not unduly concerned.

‘‘I watched the Gold Cup again the other day,’’ hs said.

‘‘He was travelling really well and I suspect he would have finished first or second (if not for falling) but who knows?

‘‘I didn’t want to run him in the Argento on this ground but he’ll do a lot of schooling and I think he’s got a really good chance.

‘‘They are all good horses in the Gold Cup. Bobs Worth is unbeaten at Cheltenham and he’s probably the one we’ve all got to beat.’’ In support will be Rocky Creek, who returned from a minor hiccup after his second place in the Hennessy to fill the same position behind The Giant Bolster in last month’s Argento Chase around Prestbury Park.