Gordon Elliott is to give No More Heroes a speculative entry in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.
While the two-time Grade One novice chase winner is likely to run in either the RSA Chase or the National Hunt Chase at the Festival, Elliott feels there is nothing to lose by putting him in the big one as insurance should some of the major players fall by the wayside.
No More Heroes is owned by Gigginstown House Stud who have several leading Gold Cup contenders including Don Cossack, Don Poli and Road To Riches.
"He's in great form and will be entered in Leopardstown in the Flogas (formerly Dr P.J Moriarty, on February 6), but if I was a betting man I'd say we'd probably go straight to Cheltenham," Elliott told At The Races.
"He's come out of his last race in great form, but I don't know if he needs another run. I'll have to talk to Michael and Eddie (O'Leary, of Gigginstown) and see.
"It'll be the RSA or the four-miler. He'd be entered in the Gold Cup as well just in case. He'll have an entry. You don't know what can happen to the rest of the horses, but I'd say it would be the RSA or the four-mile chase.
"To be honest, he's having an entry for the sake of having an entry. If it was the Gold Cup three or four years ago they weren't maybe as strong as they are now, but it looks a very strong race this year, so I'd say we'd be going the novice route."