Gold plan for Fundamentalist

Fundamentalist could run in the Gold Cup despite being just six years old

Fundamentalist will still be aimed at the Cheltenham Gold Cup despite being beaten at Newbury on Saturday.

The highly-touted six-year-old was mooted as a Gold Cup possibility after a flawless victory in the Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham's Open meeting earlier this month.

But he was let down by his jumping at Newbury where he handed the race to Vodka Bleu after running down the final fence and veering dramatically off course.

However, despite that setback, trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said on Monday that the Gold Cup was still on the agenda.

"The plan is to go for the Dipper Chase at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, followed by the Pillar Chase at the end of January," said Twiston-Davies.

"He'll be taking on established horses in that trial and how he runs will decide which race we go for at the Festival, but obviously by running him in that we are showing our hand, which is that we want him to run in the Gold Cup.

"Should things go wrong there I would not be against the idea of reverting to two miles for the Arkle Trophy, but I think it's unlikely he'll end up going for the SunAlliance Chase."

The trainer added that he was unfazed by Saturday's disappointment.

"I think Carl (jockey Carl Llewellyn) has blamed himself for the defeat but in a funny sort of way the pressure is now off."