Lord Noelie is set to return to the scene of his greatest triumph, it was revealed today.
The Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner is due to run in the #40,000 Chubb Fire Chase at Cheltenham on Friday week, having been pulled out of Saturday`s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury because of unsuitable ground.
Trainer Henrietta Knight explained: 'It`s extremely difficult to find a race to run him in so we are looking at an open handicap chase at Cheltenham on December 8th.
'It`s very, very difficult for a second-season chaser with a handicap mark like his.
'He has only had five races over fences, he`s relatively inexperienced and if he is a Gold Cup horse we need to get more runs into him.'
The gelding has shown all his best form on good ground and was withdrawn from the Hennessy after rain changed the going to heavy.
'The ground was absolutely fine on Friday and I was getting quite excited but then the rain came and the going changed,' Miss Knight added.
'The horse is so well and he wants to run.'
Lord Noelie is a best-priced 33-1 chance for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup with Ladbrokes.
