Trainer Oliver Sherwood © Photo Healy Racing
Oliver Sherwood believes there is every chance Saturday's Cheltenham hero Many Clouds can improve again ahead of his date with destiny in the Betfred Gold Cup in March.
Making his first appearance since his popular triumph in the Hennessy at Newbury in late November, the eight-year-old proved his worth at Prestbury Park with a determined victory in the hands of Leighton Aspell.
Sherwood admits he would prefer similarly testing conditions in the blue riband, but is not unduly concerned about the prospect of better ground.
He said: "I was very impressed with him. He's improved since the Hennessy and who is to say he's not going to improve again? Confidence is sky high with him at the moment, which is very important.
"I'm 99.9 per cent certain Many Clouds knows he's done good, he knows that he's won and he thinks he's King Kong at the moment!
"I still think we've got a bit to improve to warrant taking on or beating Silviniaco Conti. He's got to prove it around Cheltenham and if you take him out of the race, it is a very open Gold Cup.
"Last year's Gold Cup had a very strange end and the one thing (Many) Clouds will do is he will get the trip and if he gets in a battle I know who will win the battle, that will be Many Clouds."
Asked about the importance of soft ground, the trainer told At The Races: "It is quite important. I'm not saying it's essential, but he handles soft ground whereas some others don't. He'll handle good ground, but soft ground plays to his strengths.
"The timing of Saturday's race was absolutely perfect. We've six weeks to go to the Festival and I don't have to do much with him. He'll train himself.
"I'm very happy with where we lie at the moment."
