Bristol De Mai is up for the challenge of the Gold Cup, despite a poor showing in his last outing.

The much fancied grey finished well behind Native River at Newbury last time out,  but he reported lame after the race after taking a knock – but connections of the horse are now confident looking ahead to the Cheltenham Festival next month.

“The day after he ran Nigel reported he was very lame,” said Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

“He gave his near-fore joint a whack and it took him a few days to get over it, but he was cantering again at the weekend.

“He also got a cut on the same joint and Daryl (Jacob) said that very early on he knew he wasn’t travelling and he didn’t feel like the same horse.

“I think there was a combination of factors, Haydock probably took more out of him than we thought and he may have hurt himself jumping the first as he landed very steeply.

“We don’t think it was his true running, he didn’t jump like he can so we think he has a valid excuse.

“We’re under no illusions, he’ll be going to the Gold Cup as an outsider but it looks like being a big field and where else can you go with a horse with his rating?

“Nigel thinks he can get him back to where he was at Haydock and we’ll roll the dice.”