Those are strong words and I do think they’re worth listening to. With Cheltenham an unlikely destination for him this campaign after two pretty hefty defeats in the Gold Cup, Nicholls will be tuning him up for three shots at Grade One glory; this race, the King George and something in the spring at either Aintree or Punchestown.

That’s different to his last two seasons and this has a nice set up for Sam Twiston-Davies tactically, as well, as Bristol De Mai should tow him into things - and while neither he nor Lostintranslation can be confidently ruled out of calculations, like everything in betting, this is a price thing.

And with Lostintranslation 11/8, Bristol De Mai 9/4 and Clan Des Obeaux 11/4, it’s the latter that makes plenty of appeal.

At his best, those two King George victories, he is the most talented of this trio and while teams Tizzard and Twiston-Davies are in and out of form, Nicholls just continues to fire in winner after winner with his Wincanton treble on Thursday taking his incredible November tally to 27 wins from 72 runners at 38%.

Clan Des Obeaux has had wind surgery since we last saw him and has had 253 days off the track, but his trainer has explicitly told us that this is no stepping stone to Kempton.

It’s a Grade One, it’s the Betfair Chase and it looks very winnable for a 171-rated dual King George winner who doesn’t have to worry about peaking in March. At 11/4, it simply has to be Clan.

Has Master Tommytucker put his jumping woes behind him?