Taquin Du Seuil© Photo Healy Racing
Jonjo O'Neill has conceded that Taquin Du Seuil did not stay three miles at Newbury on Saturday and that he is a likely runner in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival rather than the Gold Cup.
Winner of the JLT Novices' Chase at the Festival last year, O'Neill had hoped he would develop into a contender for the blue riband this season. He ran well in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby but was pulled up in the Betfair Chase at a time when O'Neill's string were under the weather. There appeared no excuses in the Denman Chase on Saturday, when he could manage only fourth behind Coneygree
"It was a properly run race on Saturday and we didn't get the trip," O'Neill told the Gloucestershire Echo.
"He seems to have come out of it fine. He was right at the weekend.
"For me he is a real two and a half miler. He ran a bit free early on.
"A staying horse (Coneygree) won the race and he looked very good. We thought we would get the trip.
"We will discuss it but the Ryanair Chase (two miles, five furlongs) would be where I would go with him."
O'Neill may run another of last season's Festival heroes, Holywell in the Ivan Straker Memorial at Kelso on Thursday.
