Jockey Tom Scudamore is convinced The Giant Bolster can maintain his superb record in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

David Bridgwater's popular 10-year-old has finished in the frame in the last three renewals of the great race, and showed at Cheltenham in January he is coming back to the boil at just the right time.

Scudamore told the Daily Star: "He is the best horse I have ridden. I love him and David Bridgwater has done a tremendous job to get him to the Gold Cup four years on the bounce."

He went on: "But I don't think the Bolster has quite had the credit he deserves.

"He took a great whack two fences out last year, otherwise he may well have won.

"I see no reason why he can't finish in the prize-money again. It is a competitive Gold Cup but I don't think it is a better field than last year.

"If he is as good as he was, and all the signs are that he is, I'll be disappointed if he is not there or thereabouts."