Joseph O’Brien plotting more big-race success with BetVictor hope Us And Them

Joseph O’Brien, fresh from becoming the youngest winning trainer in Breeders' Cup history, is turning his attentions to boosting his Cheltenham record with leading BetVictor Gold Cup contender Us And Them on Saturday.

O'Brien struck with Iridessa in the Filly & Mare Turf at the start of the month at Santa Anita and only sent out his first Cheltenham winner, Fakir D'Oudairies, at the start of the year.

Us And Them is a general 10-1 chance to provide O’Brien with his fourth success at the track and last season's Arkle runner-up is reported to be in prime condition after a fine third in a Grade 2 at Gowran Park on his reappearance last month.

O’Brien, whose Band Of Outlaws and Early Doors won at the festival in March, said: "The plan is to go to Cheltenham for the BetVictor Gold Cup with Us And Them. He's in very good form and has a nice racing weight, which will be a big help."

O'Brien, who nearly won his second Melbourne Cup as Master Of Reality finished second past the post, added: "We were very happy with his return effort at Gowran Park and, given ours tend to come on a lot for their first runs of the year, I'd be hopeful that there's more improvement in him. JJ [Slevin] will probably ride him and we're looking forward to it."

Joseph O'Brien: 'He's in very good form and hopefully he'll run a big race'Credit: Patrick McCann

Siruh Du Lac, the Grade 2 Plate winner at the festival, was the market mover for Saturday's feature, into 11-2 from 7-1 with Hills, usurping Slate House as favourite.

The Cheltenham ground remained unchanged on Tuesday with all three courses described as soft, good to soft in places after 0.5mm of rain.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: "We are forecast rain on Wednesday evening running into Thursday with some 7-8mm falling.

"That amount of rain would turn us soft for 24 hours but Friday, Saturday and Sunday is forecast to be mostly dry."

If the forecast proves correct, the three-day meeting is likely to start on Friday with the ground either soft, good to soft in places or vice versa.

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