Options open for Banbridge after just falling short in Kempton foray

Joseph O’Brien is in no rush to map out plans for Banbridge after he relinquished his King George VI Chase title in a Kempton cracker on Boxing Day.

The nine-year-old was involved in a thrilling four-way finish to the three-mile highlight, having to give best by a nose to The Jukebox Man with Gaelic Warrior the same distance back in third and Jango Baie only half a length adrift in fourth.

Speaking after Home By The Lee finished fourth in Sunday’s Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown, O’Brien said: “He (Banbridge) seems to have come out of the race well.

“He ran great. We’ll let the dust settle and make plans from there.

“It was a brilliant race, and brilliant race today. The staying chase division is very open at the moment and we’re delighted to have one of the contenders.”

O’Brien took a direct route to the Cheltenham Gold Cup following that win, with Banbridge finishing a well-beaten seventh behind Inothewayurthinkin before trailing home last of four behind Galopin Des Champs in the Punchestown Gold Cup after that.

When it was put to him that it could be a cracking Gold Cup in March, he added: “There is no doubt it will be, hopefully they all get there.”