The champion trainer saw his Bravemansgame finish second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and filled the same spot behind Hewick in the King George last month; he is expected to line up at Newbury before running in the Gold Cup again
Monday 8 January 2024 11:58, UK
Paul Nicholls has raised the possibility of Bravemansgame contesting the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury next month en route to a second tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The nine-year-old had to make do with the runner-up spot in his bid for back-to-back victories in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, with Nicholls of the belief he may have held off the fast-finishing Hewick had he not been hampered by Shishkin's exit two fences from home.
Last season Bravemansgame headed straight from the King George to the Gold Cup, in which he finished second to Galopin Des Champs, but admitted in his latest 'Ditcheat Diary' instalment with Betfair that he is having a change of heart as how best to approach the blue riband this time around.
"He's come out of the race very well actually, he's had an easy time and has kept his condition this year better than ever before," said the champion trainer.
"There's lots of debate going on about who would have won and I think if Shishkin and Bravemansgame hadn't got in a bit of a muddle, it would have been really interesting. He (Bravemansgame) definitely showed signs he's coming back to his best and I think it would have been very close.
"I was going to go straight to Cheltenham and I haven't spoken to Bryan (Drew, owner), but I've spoken to Clifford (Baker, head lad) and I said 'look, every time we went to the Gold Cup with Kauto Star or Silviniaco Conti or Denman, we always ran in the Denman Chase en-route to Cheltenham'.
"I just thought why not change tack a little bit and rather than being too hard on him at home, keep him nice and fresh and have a look, possibly, at the Denman Chase and then go on to Cheltenham.
"The Denman Chase is a possibility, I'm not saying it's definite, but we could try to do something different with him and train him a little bit differently."
Bravemansgame is one of two Gold Cup entries for Nicholls along with star novice Stay Away Fay.
Nicholls expects the latter to stick to novice company at the Festival at this stage, although that could change if he takes his chance and impresses in the Cotswold Chase on Festival Trials Day.
He added: "He's very unlikely to run in the Gold Cup, I just put him in that because we were in the Cotswold Chase.
"He's on schedule to run possibly in the Cotswold Chase, or the Reynoldstown is the other good option for him, and if you're not in it (Gold Cup) you can't run.
"Let's just see how we run on our next start. I don't think I've ever run a novice in the Gold Cup, but novices have won it, so it is possible.
"Last year's winner (Galopin Des Champs) looks the one to beat - he looks head and shoulders above everybody else - but has he improved that much from when he beat Bravemansgame seven lengths last year?
"In that race the other day in Ireland (Savills Chase), he looked good, but I can't believe he's that far in front of all the others. Maybe he is, but we've got to keep all our options open."
