East team left ruing Cheltenham rain Alan Fleming is confident there are more major races to be won with Tully East following his creditable effort in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Having won over the course and distance at last season's Festival, the Barry Connell-owned seven-year-old returned to Prestbury Park as a leading contender for one of the first major handicap chases of the campaign. He ultimately had to settle for sixth, but Fleming feels the result could have been different had the Cotswolds not been hit by heavy rain throughout the day. "It was an awful pity the rain came as that was never going to suit us and the horse went there on fire," said the Curragh-based trainer. "He missed the second-last and you'd have to be delighted with him really, considering the ground went against him. "He lives to fight another day, which is the main thing, and I would imagine he'll end up back at Cheltenham at some stage, but I don't think he'll be going back before March. "He's come out of the race well and we'll probably try and find something at home for him, maybe at Leopardstown or somewhere like that."
