PAUL NICHOLLS and Sam Twiston-Davies, who took major honours at Cheltenham last Saturday, can further cement their exciting relationship by dominating the action at Haydock this afternoon.

Twiston-Davies took over the plum job as number-one jockey to the champion trainer this season and the success of Caid Du Berlais in last Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup did much to highlight his proven talents in the saddle.

Today, the newly-found partnership have excellent prospects of pulling off a four-timer, starting off with The Brock Again in the £20,000 Feel The Rush At Betfair Novices' Hurdle, which carries Listed status.

Previously trained in France, The Brock Again made a most encouraging British debut when finishing third to Exitas in a hot race at Sandown a fortnight ago. That run should be brought him to boiling point and this useful recruit to the Nicholls yard can lift this prize.

Virak can follow up for Nicholls and Twiston-Davies in the Betfair Home Of The Price Rush Novices' Chase. He looked a horse to follow when winning at Fontwell last month.

Nap selection Vago Collonges is most certainly a horse to follow. He was a useful bumper horse and there was much to like about his runner-up effort behind the high-class Thomas Brown on his hurdling bow at Exeter earlier this month. He can go one better here before rising up the hurdling ladder.

Nicholls saddles an interesting runner in the concluding Racing Welfare National Hunt Flat Race. Abdijan won one of his two races in France before crossing the Channel. He is hard to assess, but he has been found a good opportunity this afternoon and is taken to contribute to what promises to be a productive afternoon for Nicholls and Twiston-Davies.

The most interesting runner in the Oak Loans And Mortgage Graduation Chase is Turban, sent to Haydock by top Irish trainer Willie Mullins. A dual-winner over fences and rated just over 150, he will be partnered by Ruby Walsh.

At Ascot, the in-form Philip Hobbs may prove the trainer to follow. The Minehead handler is fancied to complete a double with The Skyfarmer and Al Alfa, who should have benefited from his comeback outing at Wincanton last month when he finished fourth and performed as though needing the race. Normal improvement from first run to second should see the seven-year-old in a different light this afternoon. He is fancied to make a bold bid.

The Skyfarmer makes his fencing debut in the Sodexho Beginners' Chase.

The six-year-old has an impressive profile. He won a point-to-point and a bumper before transferring to hurdles, winning three of his five starts and reaching a rating of 137. He ticks all the right boxes for a horse now transferring to the major obstacles. He will surely be hard to beat under Hobbs' number one jockey Richard Johnson if producing clear round.

In the Felix Rosentiel's Widow & Son Introductory Hurdle, Jolly's Cracked It, trained by Harry Fry, is selected to confirm his superiority over Clondaw Banker after beating him by more than three lengths on this course three weeks ago.

Clondaw Banker, whose jumping left something to be desired last time, is now set to meet his conqueror on 5lb better terms, but it may not be enough to turn the tables.

Henderson may have better luck with Saint Charles (1.00), who pulled too hard when failing to justify favouritism on his only outing under hurdles last season at Ayr in April, and Sweet Deal (3.50), seeking a hat-trick of wins after scoring at Aintree and Uttoxeter.

Selections

Haydock today
12.50 Storm Of Swords, 1.20 Turban, 1.55 The Brock Again, 2.30 Virak, 3.05 Vago Collonges (NAP), 3.40 Abidjan.

Ascot today
1.00 Saint Charles, 1.30 The Skyfarmer, 2.05 Jolly's Cracked It, 2.40 Al Alfa, 3.15 Howard's Legacy, 3.50 Sweet Deal.

Today's other meetings
Ffos Las and Wolverhampton.

Tomorrow's meetings
Ascot, Haydock, Huntington, Lingfield and Wolverhampton.