Paul Nicholls is eyeing next year’s Champion Chase after Kalif Du Berlais enjoyed the biggest success of his career to date when landing the Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

The son of Masked Marvel, who was bred in France by Haras du Berlais and carried the colours of the late John Hales, arrived having finished last of four behind Handstands in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown.

However, he bounced right back to his brilliant best to see off the challenge of Brookie by three and a half lengths in the hands of Harry Cobden, who sported the same silks when triumphant on the Paul Nicholls-trained Caldwell Potter at Aintree yesterday.

Paddy Power introduced the winner at 25/1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at next year's Cheltenham Festival, something Nicholls is already eyeing up.

He said: "He's a seriously good horse, and we ran him at Sandown as I didn't want to take L'Eau Du Sud (same ownership) on (at Warwick) and John had just died, and it was probably a bad decision.

"I had nowhere else I could go, so we kept him for here today. I would have loved to have run him in the Arkle because I think he would have gone very close in the Arkle.

"He came fresh and is a very smart horse. I thought he'd win today and that's probably me dreaming more than anything. But he's a very smart horse and had been working great. He's only five, he's maturing, and the world is at his feet.

"I would like to think that is a real Champion Chase horse for next season."

On enjoying a successful three days on the Merseyside, the Ditcheat handler said: "We've just had to be patient. I've been pulling my hair out with the way some of them were running, I don't know what happened or where it went wrong.

"I actually think we vaccinated the whole lot in January, and for whatever reason, it wiped the lot of them out.

"It took them ages to come to hand, but now we're back where we want, and our horses always like better ground and spring weather.

"Regent's Stroll very nearly made it three Grade Ones for us this week, and he's a super horse to go chasing along with Caldwell Potter and this horse, it's really exciting.

"It has been a bit frustrating this year, but it's come good, and it's so exciting for next year."