As the countdown to the Cheltenham Festival intensifies, Tom Scudamore has hailed the chances of the “best horse he has ever ridden” in Friday’s Gold Cup.

The Giant Bolster has been placed in the last three renewals of the Cheltenham showpiece and Scudamore believes he has every chance of at least equalling those efforts in a race he felt he was unfortunate not to have won 12 months ago.

Scudamore and The Giant Bolster were denied by less than a length in a desperately close finish on that occasion and the jockey felt they might have done better but for a jumping error two fences from home.

“I don’t think the Bolster has quite had the credit he deserves,” he said in a newspaper interview.

“He took a great whack two fences out last year otherwise he may well have won.”

Scudamore has not ridden The Giant Bolster in any of his three starts since that race but after he finished fourth back at Cheltenham in January, he feels he is once again in a good place going into the Festival.

“I see no reason why he can’t finish in the prize-money again. It is a competitive Gold Cup but I don’t think it is a better field than last year,” Scudamore added.

“If he is as good as he was, and all the signs are that he is, I’ll be disappointed if he is not there or thereabouts.”

The first five home in last year’s Gold Cup are expected to line up once again on Friday including winner Lord Windermere and previous Gold Cup hero Bobs Worth.