Gift bypasses Cotswold outing

Iris’s Gift is set to have his prep race for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup next month after connections decided to miss a possible engagement on Saturday.

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained grey was not among the entries for the Letheby & Christopher Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham, and two races on February 18 are now being considered for the 2004 Stayers’ Hurdle winner.

They are the totesport Chase at Lingfield, in which he finished fifth on his fencing debut last year, and the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock.

“I’ve spoken to Jonjo and we just thought we’d give him a bit more time, but he’s in good form,” said owner Robert Lester. “We’re just giving him a confidence boost to get himself right.

“There’s nothing wrong with the horse and he’s still on target for March 17.

“There’s that race at Lingfield he went for last year, a race at Haydock - there’s a few options.

“He’s in great form at home. Jonjo wanted to give him an extra week or two, then one spin and straight for the big one.”

Iris’s Gift, a top-priced 25-1 for the Gold Cup, fell at the fourth-last fence when leading in a Warwick novice chase on his latest start.