'A horse like Kingland comes along once in I don't know how many years' - French raider introduced to Cheltenham Gold Cup market after winning return

French horse Kingland, trained by Francois Nicolle, made a stunning return from a near two-year absence (667 days) by winning at Auteuil on September, defeating his nearest rival by 11 lengths despite almost falling at the penultimate hurdle. The six-year-old, who last ran in the Grade 1 Prix Renaud du Vivier in November 2024, has been introduced at 33-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 19 by Paddy Power and Sky Bet. Nicolle, who has trained 22 Grade 1 winners, expressed interest in targeting Cheltenham but noted Kingland would need to compete in a steeplechase first before making the trip.