Joker in the Power pack

Permit holder John Needham hopes to have the last laugh when he takes on the big boys with Another Joker at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Needham bred, owns and trains the 11-year-old, who needs seven horses to come out to get a place in the £110,000 (€164,000) Paddy Power Gold Cup.

With several above Another Joker already set to be withdrawn at the final declaration stage on Friday, the Ludlow-based handler is already looking forward to the race.

“I think he’s almost certain to get in,” said Needham, who has a single-figure string on his Gorsty Farm at Mary Knoll.

Another Joker showed he was in fine fettle when winning at Stratford two months ago and Needham blamed the soft ground for the Commanche Run gelding’s poor performance at Market Rasen later that month.

He was pulled up before the second-last fence after leading to the 11th.

“The ground was too soft for him and he didn’t like it. He wasn’t jumping out of it, but it looks like being decent ground at Cheltenham.

“It’s a big ask, obviously, but we are going to give it a go.”

Not surprisingly, Another Joker is the 100-1 complete outsider in most bookmakers’ ante-post lists.

At the moment he is 6lb out of the handicap but the weights are set to rise by at least 5lb at the overnight stage.

“There aren’t too many opportunities in a race like this where you are just 1lb out of the handicap and if Therealbandit comes out we will be in the handicap, so he’s going to take his chance,” Needham added.

“The horse is in good form and he seems well enough.

“Paul Moloney usually rides him but it looks like he’s going to be unavailable so we’re getting Tom Doyle.”