Paul Nicholls admits Dodging Bullets needs to raise his game significantly if he is to successfully defend his crown in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The eight-year-old was sidelined for the best part of a year following his Cheltenham heroics last March and the champion trainer was left disappointed after he was beaten 10 lengths by Top Gamble on his return to action at Newbury earlier this month.

Nicholls expects his charge to raise his game at Prestbury Park, but admitted at a Cheltenham preview after racing at Ascot on Saturday that last year's Arkle Trophy hero Un De Sceaux will be a tough nut to crack in the two-mile chasing championship.

"Dodging Bullets probably ran OK but I was a bit disappointed as Harry (Derham) my nephew rides him every day, and although he is a good work horse, he convinced me he was going to win," said the Ditcheat handler.

"He had probably only been back in training for eight weeks from his injury. We expected him to win a championship race on his first run which was probably asking a bit too much. He needs to improve and he probably will improve.

"If Un De Sceaux turns up like he did at Ascot he will be very hard to beat."