Leading jockey Brian Hughes believes that 2011 Gold Cup outsider Tidal Bay could make his presence felt at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

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The highly talented ten-year-old has ended up finishing second from well of the pace twice this season, once behind Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and then when he finished runner-up to Neptune Collonges in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham two weeks ago.

Hughes believes that the frenetic gallop in the Gold Cup could give his mount a serious chance of landing a blow in the showcase event and he explained:  "Tidal is in great form and we're looking forward to Cheltenham.

"It's great for me to have a ride in such a big race and to have the ride on a horse with a lot of ability.

"Everyone calls him names but tell me another horse who can give Imperial Commander 20 lengths and catch him?  I felt the last day had they gone a bit quicker, I'd have won. The Paul Nicholls horse (Neptune Collonges) was tired at the finish and he had it all his own way early on.

"No disrespect to Mon Mome and Carruthers, but they were third and fourth in the Gold Cup last year and Tidal Bay has more ability than the two of them put together.

"It's a Gold Cup and I'm sure they'll go a good gallop. We'll drop in behind them and hunt away and we deserve to be there.  Hopefully we'll be staying on at the end."