Bristol De Mai still has cup hope

NIGEL Twiston-Davies is not yet ruling out another tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Bristol De Mai.

The seven-year-old finished seventh in the blue riband last March and appeared much improved after kicking off this season with victories in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

However, he was bitterly disappointing in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and, while stomach ulcers were put forward as an excuse soon after, he was unable to bounce back to winning ways when only third in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham last month.

Connections were lukewarm on another Gold Cup bid in the immediate aftermath, raising the Grand National as a potential alternative, but TwistonDavies is in no rush to make any definite plans.

He said: “They (tests) are still on going, but we are very pleased with him.

“We will talk to the owners (Simon Munir and Isaac Souede) and we have not decided what we are doing yet. He is in really good nick, though, and that is the main thing.

“Nothing really has come to light since Cheltenham yet. A group decision has to be made on what we do.

“All the other Gold Cup contenders seem to be shooting each other in the foot, but it is up to them (owners) what they want to do.”

Bristol De Mai is a general 33-1 shot for the Gold Cup at the Festival.

COLIN Tizzard is hopeful Finian’s Oscar will be fit to run at next month’s Cheltenham Festival after undergoing a wind operation

The Grade One-winning hurdler looked an exciting addition to the chasing ranks after winning on his first two starts over fences at Chepstow and Cheltenham, but was well-beaten in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown before being touched off by Benatar in a Grade Two at Ascot.

He was pulled up on his return to the smaller obstacles in last month’s Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham but Tizzard is keeping his fingers crossed he will bounce back to his best in the spring.

He said: “He has had his palate cauterised and is back cantering.”