Doumen Cautious Over L´ami Gold Bid

Francois Doumen is delaying a decision on committing L´Ami to this season´s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The French trainer is not yet convinced the seven-year-old is quite ready for the ultimate test, even though has performed creditably in two runs in England on his last two starts.

After finishing second to Trabolgan in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury, he was fourth behind Kicking King in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day.

Now both his conquerors have been ruled out of the Festival showpiece in March through injury.

'All I know is that Kicking King will not be there obviously. My horse is going to be entered in the Gold Cup and we´ll see what he does in the future,' said Doumen.

'He´s still a young horse and I´m not so sure if he´s ready for the Gold Cup at this stage.

'We´ll run him first, although I do not know where yet, and we´ll see what is happening.

'He´s having a nice two-week break for the moment in France and I am having a nice break too for the New Year. Then we will look to the future.'

The odds on L´Ami for the Gold Cup vary from 16-1 to 33-1.

(C) PA Sport