Paul Nicholls believes Poquelin will be lining up in one of the best races of the season when he tackles Friday's John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree.
Several Grade One winners are in the field with the likes of Albertas Run, Monet's Garden, Kalahari King and Forpadydeplasterer bringing top-class form to the table. Poquelin was second to Albertas Run in the Ryanair Chase and while Nicholls is not doubting that he had a hard race, he expects him to be in the mix again.
"He'll like the track and will appreciate the drying ground but it's a fantastic race, I do think it's one of the best fields I have seen all season, there are so many good horses in there," said Nicholls.
"He had a hardish race at Cheltenham, but I suppose he hasn't had a lot of racing this season. We were second in the Ryanair so we have to be in with a chance, but we've got the likes of Albertas Run to beat again."
Another expected to prefer Aintree rather than Cheltenham is Tom George's Tartak. He was last seen finishing fifth in the Grand Annual behind Pigeon Island but won at the Grand National meeting last year, beating the reopposing Deep Purple in the Manifesto Chase.
"He absolutely loves Aintree. For some reason, Cheltenham doesn't seem to suit him," said George. "He's badly treated with a few of them, but he will improve enormously at that course."
Ferdy Murphy's Kalahari King finished third in the Champion Chase on only his second start of the season. He arrives fresher than all of his rivals and has apparently thrived in the three weeks since his last run.
"He's won over two and a half miles before so we think the trip will suit," said Murphy. "He's very well, the ground looks like it will be ideal and he seems very well. He's had two runs so is fresher than most and I couldn't be happier with him.
"They went a fairly lively pace in the Queen Mother and turning into the straight he looked like being a moderate fourth, but he stuck his head out up the hill and got up to be third.
"He has shown his best form in the spring, too, he was very good here last year and he'd had a bit harder campaign then. He seems fresh and I couldn't be happier."
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