Bravemansgame has had two cracks at the Cheltenham Gold Cup, finishing runner-up to Galopin Des Champs in 2023 and fifth to the same horse in 2024.
The horse won the King George for trainer Paul Nicholls at Kempton in 2022 but has not passed the post first since then despite some admirable performances in defeat.
Name: Bravemansgame |
Age: 10 |
Weight: 11-10 |
Trainer: Paul Nicholls |
Winnings: £341,223 |
Cheltenham Festival wins: 0 |
Runs | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
25 | 9 | 7 | 4 |
Bravemansgame is currently 10 years old.
Bravemansgame weighed in at 11-10 for his most recent run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Bravemansgame has won nine of his 25 races in total with three hurdles wins and six chase victories.
His King George success in 2022 remains his last win, but he has had several near misses since then, finishing second in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup and third in the Irish equivalent at Punchestown that same year.
Last season he opened with three runner-up finishes, including in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and on the defence of his King George crown where he was only beaten by Hewick.
However, in last year's Gold Cup at Cheltenham he went off at 14/1 but was outpaced from three furlongs out and weakened approaching the last fence to finish fifth, 18-and-three-quarter lengths behind winner Galopin Des Champs.
This season Bravemansgame again finished second in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase behind The Real Whacker and has since placed third at Haydock and eighth back at Kempton for the King George.
According to trainer Nicholls, Bravemansgame could swerve this year's Cheltenham Festival and is likely to instead focus on the Grand National at Aintree on 5th April.
As part of his preparations for a first crack at the National, Bravemansgame is expected to run in the Denman Chase at Newbury on 8th February - a race that also tends to serve as one of the principal trials for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
As it stands, Bravemansgame is priced at 50/1 to win the Grand National and deliver Nicholls his first success in the race since Neptune Collonges in 2012.
Bravemansgame is owned by Bryan Drew, having previously been owned in partnership with John Dance before Drew took sole ownership in 2023. He was purchased for £370,000 at the 2019 Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale.
Bravemansgame has spent his whole career in the care of Paul Nicholls at his Ditcheat yard.
Nicholls has been training since 1991 and has been Britain's leading National Hunt trainer 14 times.
He has trained 49 Cheltenham winners with Monmiral adding to his total with a victory in the 2024 Pertemps Final.
Nicholls won the Grand National with Neptune Collonges in 2012 and has taken the King George VI Chase a record 13 times, with his top performer Kauto Star winning that race five times in addition to two Cheltenham Gold Cup successes.
After finishing eighth in the 2024 King George, Bravemansgame has an official chase rating of 157, his lowest rating since winning the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton in 2021.
Bravemansgame is also rated 149 over hurdles.
Bravemansgame has earned an impressive £341,223 during his career to date, with £304,964 coming via his chase career and the remaining £36,259 over hurdles.
After two near misses in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, it looks like Bravemansgame will not be heading to Prestbury Park this year, instead Nicholls' is focusing the 10-year-old on a crack at the Grand National.
As part of his preparations for the National, he is also expected to run in the Denman Chase at Newbury.
While his presence at Cheltenham will no doubt be missed, Nicholls will be hoping the change of path can help Bravemansgame finally return to the winners' enclosure for the first time since that King George success now more than two years ago.