War is ready for Gold Cup battle, insists Morris

"He's not been disgraced, but I was slightly disappointed by him in the Lexus. As long as he gets his ground I still think that the Gold Cup is his class. There's not a lot between those at the top and the bottom this year.

"He arrived there in the John Durkan Chase going really well and probably should have kicked on but he wasn't disgraced."

Morris will have been heartened to hear the latest weather and going reports from Cheltenham indicating that the Festival will be run in warm and sunny conditions which could result in good ground.

The going is currently good to soft, good in places, but clerk of the course Simon Claisse, said: "There is a chance of high pressure building during Festival week which will give drier and more settled weather."

Meanwhile, last year's Gold Cup winner Denman will be sent for a racecourse gallop next week with trainer Paul Nicholls believing the nine-year-old has improved for his return outing at Kempton. "He doesn't need a racecourse gallop for fitness, but just to spark him up," said Nicholls.