The 11-year-old ended a long losing streak when lifting the two-mile-five-furlong event last season before going on to tackle the Grand National, in which he was pulled up.

Silviniaco Conti has yet to hit the mark in four starts this term, finishing third in the King George and fourth behind the ill-fated Many Clouds at Cheltenham on his two most recent outings.

He is not entered for the Grand National, but Nicholls will be looking to Merseyside for Silviniaco Conti, who has twice won the Betfred Bowl at the National meeting.

Nicholls said: "Silviniaco Conti is not going make it (Ascot) as he's not quite right.

"He is all right, though, and he will run again this season. We will possibly aim him at Aintree as he needs a bit of decent ground.

"Next weekend will come too quick and he needs a month or two to get his condition on.

"He definitely wont go to Cheltenham, he will go to Aintree, if anywhere."