Knight still dreaming of Gold Lord Noelie may have drifted (14-1 from 12-1) in the sponsors` betting for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup following the Pillar Property Chase but his trainer Henrietta Knight remains optimistic about the chances of her charge in next month`s blue riband event.The nine-year-old may have disappointed those who backed him down to second favourite for yesterday`s extended three miles, one furlong contest at Cheltenham, when he trailed home in fifth place under Jim Culloty but Miss Knight put his poor performance down to the sticky conditions.'He cannot go in those conditions,' she said today. 'Jim said he just couldn`t get his feet out of the ground.'When he raced at Liverpool he was able to run through the mud which was sloppy but yesterday the ground was holding.'I am still optimistic about the Gold Cup and Terry [Biddlecombe] feels he`ll be two stones better on good ground.'Miss Knight also paid tribute to veteran Go Ballistic who produced a heartwarming display to finish third, beaten six lengths, in the Pillar won in emphatic fashion by raider Rince Ri.'He is a lovely old horse,' she said. 'He has already been to eight Festivals and his next run will be in the Gold Cup. I don`t think any other horse has been to nine Festivals.'
