Reports that Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Teeton Mill had suffered a setback were dismissed as "a joke" by Venetia Williams yesterday.

The trainer gave her King George VI Chase winner a clean bill of health, despite a newspaper story claiming that the gelding "faces an uphill battle" to be fit for Cheltenham.

"He's absolutely fine and there is nothing at all wrong with him," Miss Williams said. "They can say what they want but it's a joke."

But the trainer stressed that Teeton Mill, 4 to 1 joint market leader for the Gold Cup with Florida Pearl, is not certain to take up his engagement in the Mitsubishi Shogun Ascot Chase tomorrow fortnight.

"He might run there but I have always said there is no definite plan," she said.

The trainer also revealed she is about to take the wraps off Smurfit Champion Hurdle gamble Happy Change.

Her ex-German Group Three winner, now quoted as short as 16 to 1 third favourite with William Hill for the Cheltenham race despite never having raced over jumps, is set to reappear later this month.

"He will be out soonish, probably in two or three weeks," the trainer said.

"He could well go for the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton, though there is no definite plan yet."

The Kingwell, on February 25th, was the stepping-stone for classy Flat racer Alderbrook who went on to land the Champion Hurdle itself in 1995.