Trainer Tom George has ruled Bun Doran out of this month's Cheltenham Festival — despite his impressive victory at Doncaster on Saturday. 

The 11-year-old claimed the fourth chasing success of his career in the extended two-mile Virgin Bet Handicap Chase at Town Moor, landing the victory by a neck from Dan Skelton's King D'Argent. 

A run in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival (March 16) had been mooted for Bun Doran prior to his victory on Saturday.

But George has now ruled his charge out of the Prestbury Park meeting altogether. 

The Stroud handler instead plans to give the Crossed Fingers Partnership-owned gelding a chance to recover from his Doncaster exploits before plotting his next move. 

George said: "He won't be going there, but he did well.

"It was a good day for him. He probably won't go to Aintree either. He is an old boy who owes us nothing, so we will probably wait and see, take our time and see what pops up for him. We don't have any firm plans for him."

George is no stranger to Cheltenham success, having led both Summerville Boy to victory in the 2018 Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Galileo in the 2002 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. 

However, with Bun Doran set to miss this year's Festival, George's hopes of Cheltenham glory in 2022 appear to rest with Come On Teddy, who began his chasing career with a victory at Uttoxeter in December. 

Since then the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates-owned gelding found L'Homme Presse too strong when finishing fifth in a Grade Two Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on New Years' Day, before he showed promise when coming second to Omar Maretti at Newcastle on his most recent start. 

A run in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham appears to be the next port of call for Come On Teddy, although he also holds an entry in the Ultima Handicap Chase. 

Either way, George has confirmed his charge will definitely be heading to the Festival, which is due to get underway on Tuesday week. 

George said of Come On Teddy: "He is entered in both the Ultima Handicap Chase and the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase.

"However, I don't know if he will get into the Ultima. We will have to wait and see. 

"The plan is to run at Cheltenham regardless. We are very happy with him and he is in good form."