The former jockey had pinpointed the the bet365 Scottish Triumph Trial for his stable star but his name did not appear among the declarations.

Now Nicol is favouring the Victor Ludorum at Haydock on February 14 or a racecourse gallop following the Morebattle Hurdle meeting at Kelso on February 28.

“It was partly the ground and partly we haven’t quite decided what we want to do,” said Nicol.

“The plan for a long time was to go to Musselburgh and I’m sure he’d have been a short price if he’d gone.

“Now he’ll either go to the Victor Ludorum at Haydock or he’ll have a racecourse gallop at Kelso after the Morebattle meeting.

“It was a last-minute change of plan, just a gut feeling. There was talk of just going straight to Cheltenham but we’ll either do Haydock or a gallop.

“The only reason he wouldn’t go to Haydock was if it was proper heavy as it’s only 27 days before. Hopefully this weather front passes, you’d only need four or five dry days.

“There’s nothing wrong with him and the plan is still Cheltenham.”