Without a win in 2021, the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding bounced back from a disappointing run in the Grade 1 King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, to be a ready winner of the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti back at Kempton Park last Saturday.

Twice now, the eight-year-old has tried a trip of three miles or more and failed to complete, and you would have to think that the odds would be on him heading for the Ryanair, as he did last year.

He was easily able to lay up with the pace at Kempton, and his stamina would undoubtedly still be tested at the business end of that event.

That extended 2m 4f trip appears to suit him much better than the extended 3m 2f of the Gold Cup, and James Potter, who owns the horse under the James and Jean Potter Ltd banner, tends to agree: "We will leave any decisions as to where he runs next to his trainer, but we would obviously love to go to Cheltenham and the Ryanair Chase would seem the most logical race," Potter said.

It was fantastic to see Mister Fisher win the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton on Saturday.

"Nicky Henderson, along with all of the team involved at Seven Barrows, have done a brilliant job in getting him back to his best - especially Jan, who rides him every day, and his groom Sarah Shreeve.
"He has always been a very high class horse, ever since he won a bumper on his racecourse debut, and seemed to really enjoy himself on Saturday when jumping and travelling with great fluency under a wonderful ride by James Bowen, who rode him with such confidence."
Though Mister Fisher's King George bid ended prematurely, connections took heart from the performance and were buoyant ahead of his run in the Silviniaco Conti, a race for which he started as the 15-8 favourite.
"He ran well in the Grade 1 King George on his first run of the season off the back of an interrupted preparation on ground which was against him, so we were pretty hopeful going into Saturday's race," Potter said.
Those paying the bills are keen for a Festival run but will ultimately leave Henderson to make the final call on which contest the seven-times winner will line up in.