Nicholls rules out third Clan crack at Gold Cup

Paul Nicholls says Clan Des Obeaux won't be heading back to Cheltenham for a third crack at the Gold Cup in 2021.

The eight-year-old made his second appearance in the Gold Cup on Friday but struggled in a very competitive field.

He finished fifth in 2019, 11 lengths shy of Al Boum Photo, and came home eighth this year, 17 lengths behind the same winner.

Nicholls says he has no plans to take up a third entry in the showpiece race at Prestbury Park and will instead favour the King George VI.

‘We are not going to go to the Gold Cup next year.

We will stick to going right-handed,’ Nicholls said.

‘We won’t even consider him as a Gold Cup horse next year.

We can do better if we place him right.

‘He obviously doesn’t like it around Cheltenham.

‘Next season it will be Down Royal (for the Champion Chase in November), the King George, then Punchestown – and he might have something else in between Kempton and Punchestown.’

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