Tag Archive for: Cheltenham Gold Cup

Dance ‘incredibly proud’ of Bravemansgame’s Cheltenham defeat

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Owner John Dance has stressed the pride he felt in watching Bravemansgame finish a gallant second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

An impressive winner of the King George VI Chase, the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old subsequently finished a fine runner-up to Galopin Des Champs.

However, whether he runs again this season remains up in the air with connections not convinced he has shown his best at the Grand National meeting in the past.

Dance is mindful the high-class chaser has produced two below-par races at Aintree in successive seasons following runs at the Festival, finishing runner-up in the 2021 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle and last of four in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase last term.

He said: “He is possible for Aintree or Punchestown. We’ll have to see.

“The last couple of years, he’s had late-season ulcers. We have obviously campaigned him and peaked him less often this year.

“Hopefully that allows him to go a bit deeper into the season, but maybe we just want to do a few more pre-race checks.

“Even when he came second at Aintree as a hurdler behind Ahoy Senor, he never looked happy all the way round, so we will just have to see how he is.

“If he is bucking fresh, I would imagine we will scope him before and if he looks healthy, then we’ll give something a go, I’m sure.”

Any disappointment at Bravemansgame’s seven-length defeat in the Gold Cup was eclipsed by the pride Dance and his fellow owner Bryan Drew felt.

“It was kind of weird,” said Dance. “Bryan had very similar emotions, in that we’ve come runner-up in a race we dream of winning, but there wasn’t really any disappointment. We were just thrilled and proud of how he ran. We’d obviously come across a potential superstar.”

Though some questioned if he would stay the extended three-and-a-quarter-mile trip, Nicholls’ star was only run out of it after jumping the last.

Dance added: “I would argue whether he stayed the last 100 yards or so. He was just treading on water a little bit and the third and fourth were regaining some of the ground they lost on him, but I wouldn’t say he didn’t stay, but he certainly didn’t stay as well as the winner, who was a better horse over the trip.

“Watching them both take off together at the last was an incredible buzz. Our guy landed a bit tired then galloped on for a little bit before he was out-stayed.”

The feeling of finishing runner-up in the Gold Cup could not compare to when his six-times Group One-winning mare Laurens was defeated by Billesdon Brook in the 1000 Guineas five years ago.

Laurens' defeat in the Guineas hurt more than a Gold Cup reverse
Laurens’ defeat in the Guineas hurt more than a Gold Cup reverse (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Despite coming second, it was a very enjoyable one, if that makes sense,” he added.

“I remember when Laurens came second in the Guineas, that was considerably more disappointing, possibly because we were beaten by a bit of a freak result.

“To this day, I still suggest the winner didn’t get enough credit for that particular run. Everything worked out for her to run the race of her life and in terms of quantifying the performance, she never got as much credit as she deserved.

“Everything about Bravemansgame was just very different, because we were all just incredibly proud of what a huge run he put in.

“We all instantly appreciated it. If you take the winner out, he would have hacked up and probably put in a performance that would have won the last 10 renewals.

“You can’t help the generation or the opposition.”

Dance is nearing the final stages of completing the renovation of Manor House Farm, a private training facility and development stud for yearlings in Middleham. The historic yard is the birth-place of Derby winner Dante.

Sir Michael Stoute’s former assistant James Horton is his private trainer and they cannot wait to get going, once the finishing touches are complete.

“I’ll be proud when it’s finished,” said Dance. “It is all taking a bit longer than we hoped and expected, but we are excited. It has gone so well with James, so it will be great to just give him even better facilities.

“He’s a lovely guy and I would definitely say he has a touch of genius about him. He has learned from some of the greats, but individually, he definitely has a touch of genius.

“I think James and I are probably thinking, depending on runners, we’ll be set after Royal Ascot.

“We had hoped to be in for new year, then they were saying March or April, and there is still quite a bit to do, but we’re looking forward to it.”

Sounds Russian finished for the season after unfortunate Gold Cup mishap

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Sounds Russian will not run again this season after being brought down when running a big race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old had finished runner-up in both the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby and in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on his previous two starts.

Though sent off at 50-1 in the blue riband, he was in touch with the leaders at the 17th fence, only to be brought down by the fall of Ahoy Senor.

Trainer Ruth Jefferson has ruled out both the Aintree and Punchestown festivals for the consistent chaser, who has been brilliantly campaigned.

She said: “He is fine, but he is not going to be able to run again this season.

“He was just a bit sore after his race. If he didn’t go to Aintree, there wasn’t a huge amount for him, so we just thought we’d give him a bit of time to get over it and start again next season.

“He was unlucky. He jumped the fence brilliantly, but got brought down and got a bit of kicking off A Plus Tard as well, who galloped over the top of him.

“It was the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Sounds Russian started this season on a mark of 150 and opened with victory in a limited handicap at Kelso in October.

He then finished a creditable third to Grand National winner Noble Yeats in the Many Clouds at Aintree.

Jefferson feels that now on a mark of 161, options are restricted.

She added: “I suppose there are only sort of a limited number of chases you could go for. I don’t think he will go back to Kelso for the race he won last October.

“That wasn’t my initial thought, but we’ll see how he is and see what the ground is, and plot our way somewhere.

“It is very hard to know where he would have finished in the Gold Cup, really. He was a little outpaced, then came back on the bridle and then he winged the fence he got brought down at.

“Next year is a long way off, but we will have a look at races like the Gold Cup nearer the time.”

Ahoy Senor heading to Aintree if all goes to plan

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Ahoy Senor will head to the Bowl at Aintree should he get over his Cheltenham Gold Cup fall.

The Lucinda Russell-trained eight-year-old was among the top British novice chasers last season, and signed off with a clear-cut win in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree, where he defeated the likes of Grade One winner L’Homme Presse and subsequent King George VI Chase hero Bravemansgame.

Though having found life tougher this term, he bounced back after a disappointing King George run to land the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.

Friday’s return to Prestbury Park was going well as he was full of running when leading the Gold Cup field to five fences from home under Derek Fox, where he got in too close and had a heavy fall.

However, Russell’s assistant and partner, eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore, said he is none the worse for the tumble.

“He’s a bit sorry for himself. He’s sound and everything. He is that type of horse. I think he feels almost embarrassed he fell, but he’s well and a couple of days and he’ll be over it. There are no physical issues,” said Scudamore.

“He ran really well. He will probably go to Aintree, God willing. He has got four weeks, so if he can recover from that, he’ll run.

“We’d always felt we’d go to Aintree with him after this. He’s got a week of quiet and a probably a fortnight working, then another quiet week before his race.

“The extra week between the two meetings this year will certainly be a help.”

The defeat was a bitter blow following the high of Corach Rambler taking the Ultima Handicap Chase for a second consecutive year for the yard.

Corach Rambler and Derek Fox on their way to winning the Ultima for a second time
Corach Rambler and Derek Fox on their way to winning the Ultima for a second time (Mike Egerton/PA)

Though the nine-year-old had a hard race in defeating Fastorslow by a neck and scoring for the fourth time in nine attempts over fences, he is still on course for the Randox Grand National on April 15, for which he is as short as 6-1 favourite.

Speaking from Carlisle on Sunday, Scudamore added: “Corach has lost a bit of weight, but I haven’t ridden him yet.

“I spoke to him last night and he’s very pleased with himself. It’s still the Grand National all being well.”

Galopin Des Champs tops Gold Cup field

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Ante-post favourite Galopin Des Champs heads 13 declarations for Friday’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Willie Mullins’ charge famously came down at the final fence with the race at his mercy in last year’s Turners Novices’ Chase, but he has not looked back since, winning each of his three subsequent starts at Grade One level.

He has been skinny odds for the blue riband for much of the season and he will be joined by stablemate Stattler, who was eight lengths behind him in the Irish Gold Cup last time.

Bravemansgame landed the King George at Christmas
Bravemansgame landed the King George at Christmas (John Walton/PA)

Paul Nicholls’ Bravemansgame arrives unbeaten in two runs this term, following up an impressive Charlie Hall return with a 14-length verdict in the King George VI Chase and he is the next best in the market.

Last year’s victor A Plus Tard has had just one start since his history-making win under Rachael Blackmore, being pulled up in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November.

He is one of two runners for Henry De Bromhead along with Minella Indo, winner of the race in 2021 but a distant second to his stablemate 12 months ago.

A Plus Tard won last year's Gold Cup
A Plus Tard won last year’s Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

Ahoy Senor represents Lucinda Russell having bounced back from some early-season disappointments by winning the Cotswold Chase at Prestbury Park in January.

The Ruth Jefferson-trained Sounds Russian was second that day and he tries his luck again along with third-placed Noble Yeats, winner of the 2022 Grand National for Emmet Mullins, and Dan Skelton’s Betfair Chase hero Protektorat, who was fourth in the Cotswold.

Conflated represents Gordon Elliott having won the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December while Hewick bids to complete a remarkable rise through the ranks for Shark Hanlon, having landed the bet365 Gold Cup, Galway Plate and American Grand National in the last year.

King George second Royal Pagaille lines up for Venetia Williams with Joe Tizzard’s Eldorado Allen completing the field.

The Real Whacker was the only horse not declared as he contests Wednesday’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase instead.

Nicholls – I would dearly love to win another Gold Cup

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In the slightly dotty world of jump racing, Paul Nicholls has ticked just about every box, yet the fixation on possibly the most uninspiring trophy to look at outside of cricket’s Ashes remains.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup weighs 644 grams of nine carat gold and is plated in 18 carat gold. No matter the actual size – its stature is immense.

For Nicholls – master of 13 championships – training the fastest horse over the 22 fences, up hill and down dale, over three and a quarter miles of the Boodles-sponsored Gold Cup is the Holy Grail.

“I would love to win the Gold Cup,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to win it four times, but I’d love to win it again.

“It’s hard to describe what it feels like to go to that winner’s enclosure when you win a Gold Cup. It is like a drug and you want it again.”

See More Business (1999), Denman (2008) and Kauto Star (2007 and 2009) brought the trophy to Ditcheat, Somerset, and he will rely this time on the aptly-named Bravemansgame.

Winner of six of his seven starts over fences, he has been seen just twice on a racecourse this season, landing both the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

He has raced beyond a three-mile trip just once before and it produced his sole defeat, when last of four to Ahoy Senor at Aintree in April.

“I think we have a nice team for Cheltenham,” said Nicholls. “But to have a real, live chance in the Gold Cup is the most important thing to me.

“That’s what we do it for, that’s the most exciting thing. That is what I am really looking forward to.”

The eight-year-old Bravemansgame gives Nicholls arguably his best chance in 14 years of winning the blue riband for a fifth time. It looks an open contest, with current favourite Galopin Des Champs also not having raced beyond three miles and last year’s champion A Plus Tard having an interrupted preparation.

“I think we have a lovely chance,” Nicholls said of the John Dance and Bryan Drew-owned gelding.

“It is a competitive race. We have got to step up again, but I think we are in there with a chance.

Co-owner Bryan Drew with Bravemansgame
Co-owner Bryan Drew with Bravemansgame (John Walton/PA)

“He is good fresh, so we didn’t need to run him in between his last run on Boxing Day and now.

“He won the Charlie Hall, he won the King George. You’ve got to stay to win those races, so I don’t think the trip is going to be a problem.

“Galopin Des Champs is a bit like Bravemansgame – they both galloped strong through the line in the races they ran over Christmas, so it would be interesting.”

Cheltenham, of course, is all about the Irish invasion. Increasingly so, in fact – two years ago Irish runners won 23 of the 28 races across the week.

The Irish make this a special place – and have had a vice-like grip on the prize-money in recent years, with Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead leading the charge.

Mick Fitzgerald and See More Business gave Nicholls the first of four Gold Cup victories
Mick Fitzgerald and See More Business gave Nicholls the first of four Gold Cup victories (John Giles/PA)

Mullins won a record 10 races last year and is the most successful trainer at the meeting, victorious 88 times.

Competing against the Irish battalions, never mind beating them, brings pressure, as Nicholls concedes.

“Cheltenham is a hard week – it is hard to prepare and people think Cheltenham is the be-all and end-all of everything,” he said.

“You don’t feel the pressure, but it is there, isn’t it? You’ve got to deal with it and I think we deal with it quite well.

“We have some great horses in this country and some great racing. We just have to stop worrying about what the Irish are doing and just focus on what we do, and we will be a lot better off.”

There are several stables, particularly over the Irish Sea, where there is a concentration of firepower. It is not uncommon to see Mullins and Elliott having multiple runners in each race.

Nicholls and Nicky Henderson dominate in Britain, yet the champion fears the sport suffers for the assembled talent in a select few yards.

“Can you imagine, if in every race me or Nicky had six runners or 10 in a handicap? People would go mad. It is not good for racing. It wouldn’t work in this country.

“Myself, Nicky and Dan Skelton have good teams, but we don’t completely take over everything and have six in every race.

Kauto Star, under Ruby Walsh, on his way to a second Gold Cup victory in 2009
Kauto Star, under Ruby Walsh, on his way to a second Gold Cup victory in 2009 (David Jones/PA)

“I wouldn’t want that and I couldn’t train that number of horses, 150 for us is plenty to do it properly.

“The Irish are having a good run at Cheltenham. It doesn’t change overnight. It will take two or three years to turn things around. Nicky has a few nice chances. Dan has, too.

“It is probably cyclical. All those years ago when I had all those super ones that won everything, it was probably the other way then.

“I’m sure it will turn, but I’m not bothered. We just get on with our own thing and do the best with what we’ve got.”

It seems odds-on that Nicholls will add to his 46 Festival winners, with the likes of Hermes Allen (Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle), Irish Hill (Coral Cup), Hitman (Ryanair Chase), Il Ridoto (Magners Plate Handicap Chase) and Secret Investor (St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase) all having leading chances.

Nicholls (right) holds the Gold Cup with part-owner Paul Barber and 2008 winner Denman
Nicholls (right) holds the Gold Cup with part-owner Paul Barber and 2008 winner Denman (Barry Batchelor/PA)

Yet Nicholls admits he would swap another championship for a Gold Cup and his ambition to train the most National Hunt winners in Britain remains undiminished.

He added: “I want to train 4,000 winners and would love to keep on winning the championship, but I’d dearly love to win another Gold Cup.

“You just need to keep doing your best, keep training loads of winners.

“We are only about 400 off training 4,000 GB jump winners and nobody has done that, so that would be a nice thing to do.

“All those things drive you, but to win another Gold Cup would cap it all.”

Snowden admits Ryanair would be ‘sensible’ shout for Ga Law

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Connections are still considering the best route to take with Ga Law – and whether the “sensible” option would be to run in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next week and forgo a Grand National bid this year.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup winner is also in the Boodles Gold Cup, a race which offers Ga Law a potential route to the National in that a first-four finish would secure his qualification criteria for Aintree.

He is, however, a big price for the blue riband and much shorter for the Ryanair – and the dilemma comes as Ga Law needs a top four finish over three miles for the National after falling in the Sky Bet Chase, a race he was very much in contention for at the time.

Snowden said: “If he is going to be a progressive horse in graded races next season, then this is the year to have a crack at the Grand National.

Ga Law and jockey Jonathan Burke after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup
Ga Law and jockey Jonathan Burke after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup (David Davies/Jockey Club)

“But he fell at the last on his most recent start at Doncaster and even though the handicapper suggested he showed improved form over three miles, he is not qualified for the Grand National as he has not finished in the first four over three miles.

“The sensible route is to go to the Ryanair and forget about the Grand National. The Gold Cup is a seriously competitive race and we would have to run our heart out to finish fourth and if we did, it is only four weeks then until the Grand National.

“I think we confirm for the Ryanair and we confirm for the Gold Cup and we sit and wait until declarations and see what it all looks like and make a decision at the time. We have got ourselves into a tricky position, but a lovely position.”

Looking at options beyond the Ryanair, should that be the race he goes for, Snowden said: “If we went for the Ryanair, you could then have a look at one of the Grade One races at Aintree or the Grade Two Oaksey Chase at Sandown Park on the last day of the season.

“We don’t need to decide yet. We have the money in the bank from the Paddy Power and we can pay for the confirmation stage at Cheltenham and see what it looks like. We have come this far, so let’s kick the can down the road a little bit further.”

De Bromhead’s Gold Cup contenders thriving as big day looms

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Henry de Bromhead believes A Plus Tard is on the right track as he continues preparations for a Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup defence.

The Cheveley Park-owned runner reversed the 2021 result with stablemate Minella Indo when powering to an impressive 15-length verdict in the blue riband last March.

A Plus Tard has had just one run since that triumph, when pulled up as an odds-on favourite at Haydock, with a planned Christmas outing at Leopardstown scuppered by a last-minute setback on the day of the Savills Chase.

De Bromhead reports A Plus Tard to be well over that knocked joint and feels the nine-year-old is showing all the right signs, although he admits his lack of recent action is not ideal.

He told talkSPORT2: “The first half of the season has been really frustrating. Haydock just didn’t happen at all, we thought we were all set to go at Christmas and he banged himself, he just wasn’t right and we couldn’t (run), so we had to commit to going straight there (Cheltenham).

“It’s a tough ask. He’s a very good horse, he was extremely impressive last year and we feel he’s coming all the time for us. Hopefully he will arrive on schedule.

“I suppose there’s probably not many that go into it without a run, so the numbers would be against him. Last year he ran at Christmas, so that was still a fair old break. You’d love to have had one good run under your belt this season, unfortunately we haven’t but he seems to be really coming to himself and hopefully we’re being led this way for a reason.”

Minella Indo beat A Plus Tard in 2021
Minella Indo beat A Plus Tard in 2021 (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Minella Indo is set to be in opposition once again, with the 10-year-old having kicked off his campaign with victory in Tramore’s Savills Chase on New Year’s Day.

While A Plus Tard is as low as 11-2 for the Gold Cup, Minella Indo is a general 20-1 shot – but De Bromhead is not ruling him out of the equation.

He added: “He seems in great form, that was a fantastic day for us at Tramore and we’re really happy with him.

“Obviously he’s a bit older now, but he loves Cheltenham and he always comes to life at this time of year. We’re really excited to get him there.”

Rachael Blackmore celebrates aboard Honeysuckle last year
Rachael Blackmore celebrates aboard Honeysuckle last year (David Davies/PA)

De Bromhead has won the last two Champions Hurdles with Honeysuckle and he is anticipating a huge swell of emotion should she sign off her exceptional career with another Festival win.

While she is set to tackle the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle rather than take on Constitution Hill in the main event, De Bromhead thinks the 10-year-old will still face a stern test.

Honeysuckle surrendered her unbeaten record when third in the Hatton’s Grace on her return, while Champion Hurdle-bound State Man was too good at Leopardstown last time. But judged on the reception she received at the Dublin track, the Kenny Alexander-owned mare is likely to be cheered to the rafters whatever the result.

De Bromhead said: “There won’t (be a dry eye in the house). I think a lot of people would love to see it happen, it’s great she’s getting the opportunity. But we have to win it first, so that’s still a long way away.

“It’s a tough task, it’s a very competitive Mares’ Hurdle, there’s plenty in it, but we just feel it’s a better option for us now.

“She’s in great form, she loves it there and she’s won the race before. She’s a year older and we will have to see. We look forward to getting there on the day hopefully and taking our chance.

“In an ideal world, if I could have changed the ground for Fairyhouse and Leopardstown, better ground over two and a half and soft over two, she probably would have finished a lot closer in both, but there you go, it’s not an ideal world and we couldn’t.”

Bravemansgame carries Nicholls’ confidence in Gold Cup quest

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Paul Nicholls is optimistic Bravemansgame has what it takes to provide him with a fifth victory in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

It is 24 years since the Ditcheat maestro first landed the blue riband with See More Business (1999) and he went on to win three successive renewals between 2007 and 2009, with Kauto Star’s two triumphs sandwiching the victory of his formidable stablemate Denman.

Nicholls has since seen a couple of dual King George winners come up short at Prestbury Park in the form of Silviniaco Conti and Clan Des Obeaux, but is hopeful it will be a different story in little over a fortnight’s time for his latest winner of Kempton’s Boxing Day highlight.

Speaking at a press morning at his yard on Monday, the champion trainer said: “He’s done nothing wrong at all this year and I don’t think he was right last spring.

“We re-cauterized his palate during the summer, he’s had some time and I didn’t want to make the mistake of running him again between Kempton and Cheltenham.

“He’s brilliant fresh and brilliant very fit. He’s twice the horse now as a model compared to what he was last year.

“We learnt a few things about him last year, you never stop learning how to train one and I think we’ve got it right now.”

There have been suggestions that Bravemansgame is in the same camp as Clan Des Obeaux and Silviniaco Conti in that Cheltenham may not be his ideal track – but Nicholls does not subscribe to that theory.

Bravemansgame and Paul Nicholls at his yard
Bravemansgame and Paul Nicholls at his yard (Adam Davy/PA)

He added: “With Clan we always had little doubts about the track, and Conti – but Bravemansgame has run there once and finished third in the Ballymore as a six-year-old. He got beaten by a horse (Bob Olinger) who on the day was an aeroplane and now can’t raise a gallop.

“He’s won on all sorts of tracks and he’s the finished article now. I can assure you when he was six years old he wasn’t half the horse he is now.”

Another question Bravemansgame will need to answer in the Cotswolds is whether his stamina will last out over the the extended three-and-a-quarter-mile distance.

Nicholls, though, is confident in his staying power, saying: “The one thing he did in the King George was he stayed on really strongly. He didn’t get the best passage that day and horses who win King Georges win Gold Cups.

“In the Gold Cup you turn into the straight and the best horse on the day wins and the horse that stays the best wins.

“I don’t know how he’ll get on up that hill, no one knows, but it was the same with Kauto Star. We didn’t know if he was going to get three and a quarter miles because he’d been winning at Kempton, but he did.

“It’s a good race and it will be hard to win, as any Gold Cup is, but I think he’s got a lovely chance – I think he’s one of our best chances of the week.

“He’s the best staying chaser in England, I think he’s proved that, and now he’s got to go and run probably the biggest race of his life.”

Ruth Jefferson mulling Gold run for Sounds Russian

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Ruth Jefferson will leave Sounds Russian in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup and “chill for a bit” before deciding whether or not to take on Galopin Des Champs in chasing’s blue riband.

The eight-year-old Sholokov gelding has been a model of consistency, winning four of his nine starts over fences and finishing runner-up on three more occasions.

Sounds Russian ran Into Overdrive to half a length when second in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day and then chased home Ahoy Senor in the Grade Two Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham last month.

The Norton-based handler will now take a step back and deliberate whether or not to go for Gold after watching Galopin Des Champs win the Irish Gold Cup with some ease at the weekend.

“We’ve left him in it and will consider pondering it,” said Jefferson.

“Galopin Des Champs was good. If you want to find the only negative you could possibly find, it is that the time was slow.

“It is like anything, you can make pros and cons to every horse in the race, including mine. So we will just chill and sit for a bit, and go from there.

“Whether it is a good Gold Cup or a bad Gold Cup, it will take a bit of winning. I’d rather win a bad Gold Cup than never win one.”

Sounds Russian is a general 20-1 chance for the extended three-and-a-quarter-mile March 17 feature.

Under Sean Quinlan, he had former King George VI Chase winner Frodon and Grand National winner Noble Yeats behind when producing an eye-catching run on his Prestbury Park debut.

Jefferson feels he has every right to line up, given his dependability.

“Sounds Russian is Mr Consistent, so we will leave him in and continue thinking about it,” she added.

“You can sit and make a case for him being there. So for the time being, we will leave him in and see where we are at.”

Bravemansgame ‘twice the horse’ he was at Cheltenham last year

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Paul Nicholls is increasingly bullish about the chances of Bravemansgame in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Owned by John Dance and Bryan Drew, the eight-year-old took the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day with a degree of ease, beating Royale Pagaille by 14 lengths.

It was his second success of the season, having sauntered to another easy victory in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby in October.

Though he has yet to tackle the extended three-and-a-quarter-mile test the Gold Cup presents, the champion trainer is happy to keep him under wraps until March 17.

“He is fine. We think he has a lovely chance,” Nicholls said.

“He is unbeaten this year, a different horse to last year. He is big and strong and well – a lovely chance he’s got.”

A best-priced 9-1 for the Gold Cup, which Nicholls has won on four occasions – including saddling the first three home in 2008 – Bravemansgame has yet to prove he has the stamina for this trip.

On his sole visit to Cheltenham, he finished third to Bob Olinger in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs in 2021.

Nicholls is left non-plussed by the naysayers. He said: “No one knows if he will stay three miles two (furlongs), as he has never been three-two.

“All I know he has won a King George and horses have got to stay to win a King George, and plenty of mine who have won a King George have won a Gold Cup.

“He won a point-to-point when he was four. You just take no notice of criticism and know your own thoughts.

“He wasn’t right last year. He ran at Cheltenham and he was third in that, but that was when he was a five-year-old. He was a young horse then and is twice the horse he was. He has strengthened up and is totally different.”

Bravemansgame travelled supremely well under Harry Cobden at Kempton and was not stopping at the end of the race.

Nicholls believes he will put it up to last year’s Gold Cup winner, the Henry de Bromhead-trained A Plus Tard and Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs, who is the current favourite, having landed the John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown before Christmas.

Paul Nicholls feels Bravemansgame has a big chance in an open Gold Cup
Paul Nicholls feels Bravemansgame has a big chance in an open Gold Cup (Nigel French/PA)

Nicholls added: “He got the trip beautifully at Kempton. What I like about him, if the ground is half-decent, he has got enough pace to travel and he jumped well. He can just save and turn in, then I think he has got a lovely chance.

“I’m very happy with his prep and I think we are doing the right thing by not running him. He is very fresh and very fit.

“He will go on anything, but hopefully on Gold Cup day, unless we get torrent of rain, on that track you usually get good to soft, which will be perfect.

“It is an open race. The short-priced favourite is short enough, because of where he is trained. He has done well, but is short enough probably. But he’s the one we all have to aim at.

“It’s a Gold Cup and there are lots of good horses in the race, but it is an open contest. The waters were muddied a bit on Saturday (Cotswold Chase) and it is an interesting old race you know, but we are looking forward to it.”