Richards to pass on Monet's Gold bid

Cheltenham Festival options for impressive Ascot winner Monet’s Garden are set to be whittled down to two tomorrow.

The Nicky Richards-trained nine-year-old showed his King George VI Chase flop to be well and truly behind him with an authoritative success in the Commercial First Ascot Chase over two miles and three furlongs on Saturday.

His Greystoke handler mentioned the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase as his potential targets in the immediate aftermath.

But speaking after saddling Camden Bella to success at Carlisle today, he told Racing UK: “I think we’ll probably take him out of the Gold Cup tomorrow and he’ll be left in the Ryanair and the Champion Chase.

“We’ll let the dust settle, discuss it over the next few days and hopefully make the right decision. He's fine and he’s come out of the race well. He’s been out in the paddock this morning and everything is looking good.

“He’s got a great owner who wants to do the best for him and we will try and do that.”