Richard Johnson today leapt to the defence of Racing Post Chase winner Gloria Victis.
The jockey poured scorn on claims that the gelding will not handle the track or the longer trip in next month's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, for which he is 6-1 co-second favourite with the sponsors.
And he admitted he would be keen to take the ride again, having deputised for Martin Pipe's suspended first-choice jockey Tony McCoy when Gloria Victis romped to a 10-length victory under top-weight at Kempton last Saturday.
Asked whether the six-year-old will handle the left-handed Cheltenham track, Johnson said: "I can't see why not. He jumped slightly right-handed but on the whole very, very straight."
And he does not believe that lack of stamina will be the gelding's downfall a fortnight on Thursday.
"I think he'll definitely get the trip," the jockey said on the 'Pipeline' premium-rate telephone service.
"To be honest he wasn't doing much in front and when I asked him to quicken at Kempton he quickened up well up the straight so there is no reason why he won't get the trip.
"If I could I would love to ride him in the Gold Cup - but I think Tony would have other ideas!"
Gloria Victis still has 11lb to find on See More Business according to the official handicapper.
The six-year-old turned in a career-best performance to take the Racing Post Chase off top-weight on Saturday and leapt to prominence in ante-post lists for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.
But British Horseracing Board assessor Phil Smith revealed today that he had raised the handicap mark of Gloria Victis by 15lb to 166 after his success, still short of the 177 on which Gold Cup favourite See More Business stands.
"A wide-margin winner is always difficult to assess," said Smith.
"But if I was working for another organisation, I would put a little 'p' after his name. He has improved with every run and has been very progressive.
"Some might wonder why Go Ballistic is on 167 but he has done it in good company while Gloria Victis has yet to."
Smith also revealed that the weekend's other big winner The Last Fling has been raised 12lb to 158 after his success in Haydock's De Vere Gold Cup.
