Banbridge will bid to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, when he lines up in the Punchestown equivalent next week.

The winner of the King George at Kempton on St Stephen's Day, the Joseph O'Brien-trained nine-year-old could only manage seventh at Prestbury Park.

"Banbridge will run in the Gold Cup," O'Brien revealed at Gowran on Wednesday.

"He came back well after disappointing at Cheltenham (ninth in the Ryanair) last year. Obviously it is three miles this year as compared to two miles last year, but he has prepared well.

"It should be lovely ground on the easy side of good."

The Carriganog handler went on to give an update on Champion Chase fourth Solness, with this dual Grade 1 winner also now Punchestown bound.

"Solness has danced every dance - we have campaigned him aggressively. He'll go for the (William Hill) Champion Chase and I'd be hopeful that he could collect some prize money."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee