CHELTENHAM NEWS

Gold Cup run for Royale Pagaille

Joe Chambers has confirmed that the Gold Cup will be Royale Pagaille's target at the Cheltenham Festival.

Connections hope the seven-year-old can become the first novice since Coneygree in 2015 to win the Friday feature and he heads to Prestbury Park on the back of three wins from as many runs, the most recent coming in the Peter Marsh at Haydock.

Royale Pagaille also held entries for Tuesday's National Hunt Chase and Wednesday's Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, but will instead be aimed at the blue riband race.

Venetia Williams revealed the news to the Racing Post on Sunday, after speaking to owners Rich and Susannah Ricci.

The Riccis are said to be hoping for the ground to ease a shade in the Cotswolds between now and Friday and the couple's racing manager Chambers says they are all excited to see how the son of Blue Bresil fares on his Festival debut.

“He's set for the Gold Cup,” he said, as quoted by the Racing Post. “We spoke last night and Venetia was happy to go for the Gold Cup and collectively that's what we agreed, assuming everything remains okay with Monkfish.

“Once the horse was okay this morning, we said we'd let people know before declarations for the National Hunt Chase.

“He's rated 166, whether he merits it or not time will tell, but we might as well find out in the Gold Cup than elsewhere and wonder whether should we had. He's been the surprise of the season and it's something to look forward to.”