Paul Nicholls insists it’s wrong to question Bravemansgame’s Gold Cup credentials

Manager Paul Nicholls insists it is wrong to doubt Bravemansgame’s Gold Cup credentials because he is not at his best at Cheltenham.

The winner of the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day is just 6-1 for the heart of the National Hunt Festival in March.

But most of the eight-year-old’s nine rules-of-law wins have come at flat courses like Kempton and Newbury, which has led to speculation about Bravemansgame’s ability to handle the waves of Cheltenham.

Coach Paul Nicholls insists it’s wrong to question Bravemansgame’s Gold Cup credentials

His only run at the track was a third place finish behind Bob Olinger at the 2021 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

Champion trainer Nicholls has no qualms, however. He said yesterday: “He had one run at Cheltenham and ran OK. He’s the double horse now, bigger and stronger.

“We didn’t avoid bumpy tracks, it’s just that all the races that were right for him were done on flat tracks. I’m not worried about that. He can drive on any track. He used to take his races pretty hard but I’d say he’s barely lost a pound after King George and he’s already looking great.’

Nicholls (left) has no qualms about Bravemansgame’s form at Cheltenham despite doubts

The next round of Bravemansgame will be the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Nicholls confirmed that Hermes Allen, his winner of Saturday’s Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury, is also going straight to the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the festival.

After a below-par loss at Newbury on his last run, the Nicholls-trained stage star got his rookie career back on track at Plumpton on Monday with an 11-length win over lone opponent Mortlach.

Nicholls said the ground at Newbury was not soft enough for Stage Star, who will have one run to go before a decision is made on possible spring targets at Aintree and Cheltenham.