GAELIC WARRIOR might have a new rival if Willie Mullins’ star tries to defend his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown.
Major French trainer Francois Nicolle has given a warning to trainers ahead of next year’s festival showpiece.
Gold Cup-bound? 🏆
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Not seen since November 2024, Kingland delivers a facile success on his return at Auteuil and has some big targets in his sights… 👀 pic.twitter.com/qg27a5QwoS
Nicolle’s prized six-year-old Kingland returned from nearly two years off with a convincing win over hurdles over 2m2f at Auteuil on Tuesday afternoon.
And it sparked discussions of a Cheltenham Gold Cup challenge, with the French trainer seeming to have huge faith in his star horse.
Speaking to Sky Sports racing, Nicolle said: “Maybe we will aim for a bigger hurdle at the end of the season.”
Nicolle hinted at a sensational Gold Cup bid, saying the horse will need to start a steeplechase campaign if they want to go to Cheltenham.
He added: “I want to go to Cheltenham because maybe it is my last challenge. A big steeplechase next year, Cheltenham, yes, okay, maybe.”
Nicolle continued to stress the need to go steeplechasing if they decide to target the Gold Cup, before cheekily saying: “I’m sorry for the English trainers.”
While it might be assumed that Nicolle meant English AND Irish – it’s an Irishman who could be the main danger to his Gold Cup dreams.
‘ Gaelic Warrior in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup with a stellar performance in the 3m2½f feature.
It would surely take something very special from French star Kingland, who has not gone further than 2m3½f or jumped a fence in public, to produce a real challenge to the current evens ante-post favourite from Closutton.
Despite the big race being six months away, it’s not the first time the Cheltenham Gold Cup has made headlines recently – champion trainer made a .
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