27 February 2023 , 17:38
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PAUL Nicholls has robustly defended Bravemansgame's Cheltenham Gold Cup credentials amid fears he will not relish the track.
The 13-times champion trainer insists the 8-1 shot in the ante-post book can throw down a stern challenge for jump racing's cherished crown.
Third on his only Cheltenham appearance in the 2021 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, Bravemansgame has since thrived at flatter racecourses.
Kempton's 2022 King George VI Chase career best tops the pile, the £370,000 purchase's second top level success there.
Asked if he had any doubts about Bravemansgame's ability to handle Cheltenham's undulations, Nicholls said: "How can you? He has had one run there, ran third in the Ballymore. It was a brilliant run, he just got beat because he wasn't good enough on the day.
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"I can assure you when he was six-years-old, he wasn't half the horse he is now."
Paul Nicholls with Bravemansgame at his Ditcheat yard on Monday (AFP via Getty Images)Nicholls is particularly keen to see if the three-time Grade One winner can bring Ditcheat a fifth Gold Cup – and emulate stable legend Kauto Star who also excelled at Kempton.
"To have a real live chance in the Gold Cup, that's the most exciting thing of the week for me," said the trainer of 46 Cheltenham Festival winners.
Hermes Allen is the shortest price of Nicholls' stars to bolster the record in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.
Impressive in a Grade 2 trial at Prestbury Park, the 5-2 favourite is tasked with stalling the Irish pursuit of a sixth straight triumph.
Nicholls is heartened by the proof that all ground comes alike to the Challow Hurdle hero.
"It's a very competitive, good looking race but he has done very well, keeps on winning and hopefully he'll go very close," he added.