More Of That in line for Cheltenham return
The 2014 World Hurdle winner skipped his scheduled reappearance at Carlisle last month due to unsuitable ground and O'Neill is hoping conditions fall right for him on Saturday
JONJO O'Neill is "desperate" to run More Of That in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.
The 2014 World Hurdle hero made a flying start to his career over fences with successive victories at Prestbury Park last season, but could only finish third when a hot favourite for RSA Chase at the Festival in March.
He was due to make his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle at the end of last month, but was taken out on the day due to unsuitable ground conditions and O'Neill is keen to bring his stable star back to competitive action in this weekend's feature event.
"We've left him in this morning and we'll see what the ground is like and see what the boys think," said the Jackdaws Castle handler.
"He's in good form and I'm desperate to run him. If he didn't go there, he'd probably go to Haydock (Betfair Chase).
"Missing Carlisle was frustrating, but Barry (Geraghty) felt the ground was quick enough for him.
"He's in great shape and I'm delighted with him."
More Of That is one of 22 horses in contention for the prestigious handicap following the confirmation stage.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has four contenders, headed by ante-post favourite Frodon.
The four-year-old finished alone when completing a hat-trick in the Rising Stars Novices' Chase at Wincanton last Saturday and is set to make a swift reappearance.
Nicholls' assistant, Harry Derham, said: "Frodon is fine and had a canter this morning and went out with first lot.
"He's a really tough horse and he didn't give himself a hard race at Wincanton and I wouldn't be worried about the short turnaround."
The Ditcheat maestro could also saddle Art Mauresque, Bouvreuil and As De Mee.
The weights are headed by Kerry Lee's Top Gamble, who was last seen winning a Grade Two at Fairyhouse in the spring.
Colin Tizzard has left in Sizing Granite and Sizing Platinum.
Other leading contenders include last year's one-two Annacotty and Buywise and the Tom George-trained Double Shuffle.
