Connections bullish about Gungadu

Gungadu is on target to tackle the John Smith’s Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot on Saturday before preparations for the Cheltenham Festival gather pace.

The Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old has won two of his three races this season and has the gruelling National Hunt Challenge Cup firmly on his agenda in March.

Cork-based Cashmans make him just 2-1 to lift that prize, but owner Harry Findlay is not put off by the price.

“I’ve always looked at Gungadu as a great horse to back at short prices,” he said.

“Gungadu has always been a good jumper. He’s the sort of horse you want to have fences coming quickly at because he’s so good in the air.

“Ordinarily if Paul (Nicholls) didn’t have Denman he’d probably be in the SunAlliance. With the way the race is cutting up he would very nearly be favourite.

“But the plan now is the four-miler and the stepping stone to that is the race on Saturday – we’ll find out more then,” he told At The Races.