TWO Paul Nicholls stars look to be nearing a return in a big boost to the Ditcheat team.

Topofthegame is back in work and being readied for next season with Cyrname – last seen falling at Ascot – close to full fitness.

Topofthegame won the RSA Chase at last year's Festival, notably beating Friday's Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Santini and multiple Grade 1 winner Delta Work.

Nicholls said: "Cyrname has started cantering already. He won't go to Aintree and if he does go anywhere before the end of the season it will be Sandown for the Oaksey Chase.

"Topofthegame is fine at the moment. He has been doing two or three hours on the walker for the last three months. We will start training him on Monday.

"We will do six weeks of lighter trotting and a bit of cantering. We will do a bit with him then put him away and come back in July.

"Next season he will go straight to the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury."

Meanwhile Champion Chase hero Politologue is likely to be seen again this season with Sandown or Punchestown the most likely port of call.

Nicholls continued: "I would have thought he won't go to Aintree as that might come a bit quick, but I wouldn't want to rule it out if Min and everything else went elsewhere.

"I expect we will go to either Sandown or Punchestown at the end of the season over two miles. He is good fresh and he will go on any ground, though I wouldn't risk him if it was fast.

"He loves Sandown having won a Tingle Creek and he will be fresh so it will be one of those two Grade One races we go for."

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