Rising star Cyfor Malta heads the betting for the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday. Martin Pipe's five-yearold, as short as 2 to 1 with Victor Chandler, is a general 5 to 2 chance to lift the 21-furlong steeplechase.

"He is due to run there and Tony McCoy will probably ride although I have not fully discussed everything with everybody else yet," said the champion trainer, who also has Northern Starlight in the £75,000-added contest.

Cyfor Malta won the Murphy's Gold Cup last time and may renew rivalry with Simply Dashing, who finished runner-up that day and is set to meet Pipe's runner on 9lb better terms.

However, connections are keeping their options open for Simply Dashing.

The seven-year-old's trainer Tim Easterby said: "He's in the Tommy Whittle as well as the Tripleprint so we'll have a look at the races before deciding. I'm also thinking of running him in the King George."

The Habton trainer is not convinced his charge will be able to reverse Murphy's placings with Cyfor Malta. He said: "He got interfered with by a faller and got behind but the winner might have had 9lb in hand.

"But Simply Dashing has come out of the race very well and is in good form. Wherever he runs he will wear a visor to help him concentrate. He is ultra-game but very lazy."

Both Cyfor Malta and Simply Dashing are the joint-top weights on 11st 13lb for Saturday's feature, for which 17 horses were confirmed at yesterday's five-day stage.

Red Marauder, winner of the First National Bank Chase at Ascot last time, was a surprise absentee.

Red Marauder, who would have been one of the leading fancies for the race, is suffering from a bug which is currently affecting trainer Norman Mason's yard.

Mason's assistant and stable jockey Richard Guest explained: "Red Marauder has a bit of a temperature so we'll have to give it a miss.

"It's nothing desperate and he'll probably be OK again in a couple of days - but there wouldn't be enough time to get him ready for Cheltenham."

"There are a few in the yard with temperatures and a bit of an infection."

Senor El Betrutti, who beat Challenger du Luc by eight lengths in last year's race, is set to carry 11st 10lb.

Stormy Passage, winner of the Jack Upton Handicap Chase at Newbury, could face a rematch with Mr Strong Gale, who finished three lengths second in that contest.

David Nicholson has entered Mulligan and Potter's Bay.