'Protektorat will take some beating' - bullish Hales bids to end Gold Cup hoodoo

PROTEKTORAT ridden by Bridget Andrews wins at AINTREE 4/12/21Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723

Protektorat: owner John Hales is confident his star can win him the Cheltenham Gold CupCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

John Hales is bullish Protektorat can end his lifelong quest to win the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup next week, with the leading owner convinced it will take a "bloody good horse to beat him".

Hales may be tied as the most successful owner in the Queen Mother Champion Chase thanks to the victories of One Man in 1998, Azertyuiop in 2004 and Politologue in 2020, but he is yet to win the festival's marquee event.

While he described himself as "nervous", Hales is also full of belief in the seven-year-old, who was one of 13 left in the Gold Cup at Saturday's confirmation stage.

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Stuart RileyDeputy news editor

Published on 12 March 2022inNews

Last updated 18:38, 12 March 2022

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