So what are we to make of this year's betting at Paddy Power? Well, looking at the prices it is a pretty open race as far as the betting is concerned. Silviniaco Conti heads the field at 3/1 favourite. Bar Paul Nicholls hope all other horses are priced at double-figure odds with the exception of the Irish-trained Road To Riches.
This Irish bred son of Gamut - a talented Group 1 winning sire who raced over the Flat for Sir Michael Stoute - has crept under the radar for this year's Gold Cup.
There's one thing you can guarantee, the talent of this bay gelding, owned by Gigginstown House Stud, is no surprise to Noel Meade. With fifteen races under rules he has won eight times. This bay may have fell on his debut but his performances since have been pretty much unblemished. The last six races saw four wins and two narrow defeats by less than one length. In less than a year this eight-year-old has risen 22lbs in the official handicap and although needing to improve to win at the highest grade this rapid rise to fame could see a bold show when competing at Cheltenham for the first time. A horse who could hold each-way claims and keep those Irish eyes smiling.