PAUL Nicholls won the first two races and will be eyeing the Triumph Hurdle itself after Quel Destin’s game victory in the Grade 2 trial which opened proceedings.

Impressive at Kempton last time, the French-bred was given a handy lead by Nicky Henderson’s Never Adapt, who was keen to post and again during the race. She was collared by Alan King’s Cracker Factory with two to jump but Quel Destin (100/30), none too fluent at that flight, joined issue and stayed on the better under Harry Cobden to score by just over a length with Never Adapt rallying in third.