Paul Nicholls believes Denman will be "very hard to beat" as he bids to get off the mark for the season in the totesport Bowl at Aintree.

The nine-year-old looked to have the steeplechasing world very much at his feet when winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup last year but things have not gone to plan so far this term.

A fibrillating heart problem caused his seasonal reappearance to be delayed and even when he did return, at Kempton in February, he looked a shadow of his former self as he was left trailing in the wake of Madison Du Berlais.

However, his second to brilliant stable-mate Kauto Star in the blue riband at Prestbury Park last month was much more like it and having made significant progress, it looks ominous for his Aintree opponents.

Nicholls said: "While the track is tight enough for him, he is at least going the right way round.

"He has improved enormously since Cheltenham and he will be very hard to beat."

Exotic Dancer was not beaten far into third in the Gold Cup and Barry Simpson, racing manager to the owner Sir Robert Ogden, anticipates another bold showing on Merseyside.

"He's come out of Cheltenham well and we have been pleased with his preparation," said Simpson.

"We've got a bit to make up on Denman but we will see how we go."

Ogden has two chances of success in the race, with Star De Mohaison also set to run.

Charlie Mann's Air Force One also failed to cut any ice in the feature event of the Festival and Mann is hoping a good run round Aintree will set him up nicely for a trip to Ireland.

"I don't really know what to think about his run in the Gold Cup but he came out of it a bit too well for my liking," said Mann.

"He was disappointing and I don't really think he likes Cheltenham.

"The race we really want to run him in is at Punchestown and I'm not sure he'll beat Denman or Exotic Dancer, but he should run a nice race."

Both of David Pipe's entries need to put poor Cheltenham efforts behind them to make their presence felt in the Grade Two contest.

Our Vic edged out Kauto Star by a nose to lift the prize 12 months ago but has been pulled up on both of his starts this season.

Madison Du Berlais has had a good season, winning the Hennessy Gold Cup and beating Denman in the Levy Board Chase.