The Paul Nicholls trained Clan Des Obeaux is said to be in the form of his life at home ahead of his upcoming challenge in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and his trainer is very happy with his preparation for the Grade One so far.
Clan Des Obeaux is his best shout this season having seen the demise of Cyrname throughout the term and his star chaser Topofthegame being ruled out for the campaign and the King George winner looks to have a huge chance at a big price.
The dual King George winner enters the contest off the back of landing the Kempton feature in December and now being fresh and waited on this season it should be the difference in his performance at Cheltenham with him previously drawing a blank in his five previous visits to Prestbury Park.
Nicholls has not won the feature contest at the festival since 2009 and believes that Clan Des Obeaux can join the likes of Denman and Kauto Star and become and Gold Cup winner for the yard.
(Credit At The Races) Nicholls said: “He hasn’t won at Cheltenham yet, but perhaps it will happen in two weeks’ time. Some have said he doesn’t act at Cheltenham, but he hasn’t run too badly there.
“He wasn’t beaten much by Whisper in a novice chase there and he carried top-weight, and he was second in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup when he was half the horse he is now.
“He ran well in last year’s Gold Cup, he was fifth and jumped the last bang there with them, but didn’t quite finish.
“I think Clan has got a great chance and I’m quietly confident he will give us a good race.”
Frodon has been working alongside the eight year old and finished off the better of the two when nearing the line that pleased his trainer.
He added: "He looks absolutely fantastic in his coat and did a proper workout with Frodon over two miles.
“It was part of their prep to go somewhere this week. I was thrilled with how this lad worked – he went particularly well.”