'He surprised me how quick he was' - bullish Deutsch keen on Gold Cup chances

L'Homme Presse, who is set to clash with Irish stars Bob Olinger and Galopin Des Champs, may be getting most of the headlines among Venetia Williams' powerful Cheltenham Festival squad but Charlie Deutsch has warned Royale Pagaille should not be overlooked in a wide-open edition of the Gold Cup.

A distant sixth behind Minella Indo when still a novice last March, Royale Pagaille emerged as a contender for the Boodles-backed prize following his weight-carrying heroics in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock in January.

Deutsch says the team were thrilled with his prep run in the Denman Chase, even though the eight-year-old finished runner-up to Eldorado Allen and is one of the stable's few flagbearers not to be heading to the Cotswolds off the back of a win.