PAUL Nicholls makes hardly any mistakes in terms of strategy. He was prepared to overlook one spill over fences but not two, so classy hurdler Saphir Du Rheu reverted to the smaller obstacles and took the Grade 2 galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle by a hard-fought neck from Reve De Sivola. Un Temps Pour Tout finished a creditable third following his long absence.

Reve De Sivola, 10 now, is a credit to Nick Williams and ran another cracking race, leading for virtually the whole way until Sam Twiston-Davies, anxious not to go past too soon, drove the winner into the lead 120 yards out. Un Temps Pour Tout could not quite get to the pair but has relatively little to find.

Nicholls is the Saturday man ‘par excellence‘, however, and Saphir Du Rheu will be aimed at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle now, with 6/1 the going rate. The big question mark concerns reigning champion More Of That, who was clearly below his best when reappearing at Newbury.

There are interesting similarities between Saphir Du Rheu and four-time World Hurdle hero Big Buck’s, also trained by Nicholls for the Stewart family. Big Buck’s also changed course after unseating at the last fence in the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury and won the Cleeve on his way to greater glory.

“Yes, but this horse is a phenomenal jumper of fences at home whereas Big Buck’s didn’t want to know,” Nicholls said. “Saphir can go back chasing at any time but for now we’re going for the World Hurdle. Reve De Sivola won last time and I’ve never seen him look better and I know the Pipes thought theirs (Un Temps Pour Tout) would win. I can get him better than he was today and better ground will suit him.”

Twiston-Davies also believes there is more improvement to come but mentioned that Reve De Sivola was conceding 4lb. The way Big Buck’s accounted for Reve De Sivola on several occasions without turning a hair shows what a great horse he was.

It was a riveting contest last week with a slightly surprising market. Such was the confidence behind Un Temps Pour Tout that he started at 7/4 favourite with the winner available at 3/1 - almost unthinkable during the morning. The principals will all be back for the big one in March.