Gift Heading Straight To Cheltenham

Iris's Gift will go straight to the Cheltenham Gold Cup without a prep run.

The 2004 Stayers' Hurdle hero, a faller on his last chase start at Warwick, was being considered as a possible for the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

But after much consideration, trainer Jonjo O'Neill and owner Robert Lester decided that going fresh to the Festival represents the best line of attack for their enigmatic gelding.

'We both decided with it being four weeks on Friday until the big day that we'll just keep him ticking over instead of finding another race,' said Lester.

'He's in good old form with himself and he's had one or two little niggles which we've now sorted out.

'He goes well fresh and we'll go there in good spirits. We just didn't want our big race to be Haydock on Saturday.

'You must keep in mind he only had one prep race when he beat Baracouda in the Stayers'.

'Jonjo is quite bullish about it and said he will produce him as good on the day as when he beat Baracouda at Cheltenham.'

Iris's Gift is currently a best price of 20-1 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 17.

? PA Sport