The Real Whacker set to test Cheltenham Gold Cup credentials in crucial Cotswold trial

The Real Whacker will attempt to get his season back on track in the Cotswold Chase this month and trainer Patrick Neville warned he should not be underestimated for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old narrowly beat Gerri Colombe in a thrilling Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last March, but has suffered two defeats this season when pulling up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, then finishing fourth in the King George VI Chase.

However, Neville believes his ten-length defeat by Hewick at Kempton on Boxing Day was a step in the right direction and is eager to get his stable star back out at Cheltenham in the Grade 2 on January 27.

"We're going to run him in the Cotswold Chase later this month as he's fresh and ready to go. Hopefully, it'll dry out a bit more so it's nice ground, and it'll be to the Gold Cup thereafter," Neville said. "He's in great form and we were actually delighted with the way he ran in the King George.

"It was a funny race as it was like a two-mile chase, the way it rode. It was probably a shock to his system at the start and he was then chasing them, but he was doing his best work at the end and Sam [Twiston-Davies, jockey] hadn't got stuck into him."

Patrick Neville: "I was delighted to see what he did at Kempton"

His rivals on Festival Trials Day could include Gerri Colombe, last year's winner Ahoy Senor and Coral Gold Cup hero Datsalrightgino, but Neville said The Real Whacker was still coming back to his best.

"He's only going to improve a long way from his last run," he added. "Everything was wrong in the Paddy Power. We drew a line through it straight away and I was delighted to see what he did at Kempton, especially as it was his first time going right-handed over fences and was his first real start in open company."

The Real Whacker is 66-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with last year's hero Galopin Des Champs the even-money favourite. While his Brown Advisory form took a knock after Gerri Colombe's comprehensive defeat in the Savills Chase, Neville is happy for The Real Whacker to be an outsider for March's big target.

"It takes the pressure off everything, but it's funny when you see Gerri Colombe sitting third or fourth favourite," he said. 

"We're not taking any notice of that though. I'm not getting too carried away, but it's a non-existent race by the sounds of the bookmakers with Galopin Des Champs, but that's never the case, something always turns up. We'll take him on as the track and ground will be in our favour too."

3.30 Cheltenham, March 15, Boodles Cheltenham Gold CupPaddy Power: Evens Galopin Des Champs, 4 Fastorslow, 8 Shishkin, 9 Gerri Colombe, 14 Hewick, 16 Bravemansgame, 20 Corach Rambler, Gentlemansgame, L'Homme Presse, 25 bar

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