Djakadam, the runner-up in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, suffered a cut on his chest when falling in the BetBright Trial Chase at Cheltenham but is expected to recover in time to line up for the Gold Cup on 18 March.
“It’s not an ideal prep run,” Rich Ricci, Djakadam’s owner, said. “Luckily, it’s a flesh wound and he’ll be fine. That’s the best news of the day.” Djakadam drifted slightly in the ante-post market after his fall, as his stablemate Vautour, also owned by Ricci, moved to the top of the betting at 9-2. Djakadam is now a 6-1 chance, while Gordon Elliott’s Don Cossack splits the two Willie Mullins-trained runners at 5-1.
