Coole Cody's team believe the Cheltenham legend has "still got it" as he bids to regain his Paddy Power Gold Cup title – and provide another shock result.
The chasing veteran, a game winner of the race in 2020, was in with every chance when he tipped up at the penultimate fence 12 months ago.
Evan Williams' gutsy campaigner righted the record in the December Gold Cup, before he shocked several leading Festival fancies in March.
At odds of 22-1, he rallied strongly for Adam Wedge to scoop the pot in the Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase. He has also won other races at Cheltenham at 10-1 (twice) and 14-1.
Connections have given him a warm-up run for Saturday's £160,000 contest – and believe he has leading claims once more.
"Coole Cody has still got it," said owner Wayne Clifford. "He needed his prep run. I give him a good chance, the betting won't. I know he will try his best, there's no doubt about that."
Coole Cody is 14-1 with Coral, in a market which is headed by the Mouse Morris-trained French Dynamite (9-2).
The seven-year-old is yet to run in Britain and the last Irish-trained horse to take the spoils was Tranquil Sea in 2009.
But punters are still keen to get behind the Grade 3 novice chaser scorer at the ante-post prices.
"Irish success at Cheltenham is something we are used to seeing these days, and in French Dynamite, Mouse Morris has the clear favourite to land another big prize for his compatriots at Prestbury Park this weekend," said the firm's spokesman David Stevens.
Another leading fancy, Fan De Blues, did not feature among the 21 confirmations for the big race..
Coral latest betting for the Paddy Power Gold Cup: 9-2 French Dynamite, 8 Ga Law, Stolen Silver, 10 Happygolucky, Il Ridoto, Midnight River, 14 Demachine, Shakem Up’arry, Fontaine Collonges, Mister Fisher, Editeur Du Gite, Simply The Betts, Coole Cody, 16 Galahad Quest, Umbrigado, 18 Nassalam, 25 Bar
