Prize money at the Cheltenham Festival in March will exceed £4m for the first time.

Richie McLernon has guided Holywell to Cheltenham Festival glory for the last two seasons and trainer Jonjo O’Neill is banking on the combination coming good once more in the Gold Cup.

Garde La Victoire has been left with top weight following the five-day confirmations for The Ladbroke at Ascot on Saturday, in which a number of contenders have come in for support.