Kauto Just Edging Gold Favouritism

Sponsors totesport make Kauto Star their even-money favourite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the second successive year following the confirmation stage for the great race on Friday.

Stable companion Denman has been put in as the 11-8 second-favourite. However, the market could be all change if the rains arrive.

Spokesman Damian Walker said: "They´ve pretty much all stood their ground and Friday can´t come soon enough.

"We have Denman as a big ante-post loser, but our positions on the day will almost certainly be determined by the ground. On good ground we´d favour Kauto Star, while Denman would probably start favourite on softer going."

The two Paul Nicholls runners appeared among a list of 20 at the six-day declaration stage with the champion trainer also responsible for Neptune Collonges and Star De Mohaison.

Noel Meade´s Afistfullofdollars was supplemented at a cost of #22,500.

Last year´s runner-up Exotic Dancer now appears to be over the scare that was troubling connections last week and Tony McCoy, who was on board 12 months ago, is hoping to go one better.

"I´ve ridden him three or four times in the last fortnight and I´m very happy with him," he told Racing UK.

"He´s going as well as he has done for a long time so I´m expecting a big run."

Totesport Gold Cup: Sponsors bet: Evens Kauto Star, 11-8 Denman, 12-1 Exotic Dancer, 25-1 Neptune Collonges, Halcon Genelardais, 28-1 Knowhere, 33-1 Afistfullofdollars, Mossbank, Star De Mohaison, 50-1 Racing Demon, 66-1 Celestial Gold, 100-1 bar.

(C) PA Sport