Dan Skelton blamed a lack of fitness for Protektorat’s flat fourth in Saturday’s Cotswold Chase – but still believes “100 per cent” in the eight-year-old’s Cheltenham Gold Cup credentials.
Third in last year’s blue riband, Protektorat – part owned by Sir Alex Ferguson – ran out the 11-length winner of the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in November.
But a five-and-a-quarter length beating behind Ahoy Senor, Sounds Russian and Noble Yeats on Saturday saw Protektorat pushed out to 20-1 for the Cheltenham Festival feature.
