Brother Of Iris has come in for strong support in the ante-post market for the Pertemps Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.
However, trainer Mary Reveley has still yet to decide on a jockey for the seven-year-old in the £40,000 contest.
William Hill have cut the gelding to 2-1 from 11-4, the Tote make him 9-4 from 11-4, while Ladbrokes go 9-4 from 5-2.
Reveley requires a new jockey for the gelding with both Peter Niven and Tony Dobbin on the sidelines and the trainer said: "There hasn't been a decision.
"It's very, very difficult with jockeys being at Cheltenham the same day and if it rains a lot he wouldn't run."
Village King looks set to take his chance in the three-mile event.
The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding, an impressive winner at Cheltenham on his seasonal debut last month, is quoted as short as 5-1 for the £40,000 race with Coral but also holds an entry in the Ladbroke Trophy Chase at Cheltenham the same day.
A spokeswoman for Hobbs' Minehead yard said today: "Village King will probably go to Doncaster, he's almost 100 per cent certain to run there.
"We won't know anything for definite until Friday, we've got to see what the going is and what is running where."
Village King has also been well-backed for the race and is 5-1 from 6-1 with Hills and 5-1 from 7-1 with the Tote.
Major Bell, who won this race last year, looks set to try and repeat the feat this season.
However, Alistair Whillans' charge, who was rated 117 when victorious in 1999, is rated 12lb higher this time round.
Whillans said: "He'll probably go to Doncaster. I think the ground at Doncaster will be a bit quicker than Ayr and he possibly needs three miles now and it is just two and a half at Ayr.
"We just put him in at Ayr thinking there might be a bit of frost in the ground at Doncaster and that Ayr still might be on."
The 12-year-old was pulled up on his seasonal debut at Kelso in November but looked more like his old self again when fourth to Tullymurry Toff at Wetherby earlier this month.
"On his first run this year we don't know what went wrong with him, he just wasn't right. I hope we've got him right now.
"I think he's got it all to do at the weights but he has to run somewhere."
Coral bet: 2-1 Brother of Iris, 5-1 Strong Tel, Village King, 14-1 In the Blood, Niki Dee, 16-1 Course Doctor, Jocks Cross, Tough Test, 20-1 Andsuephi, Bengers Moor, Fullopep, Sweet Lord, 25-1 bar (including Bitofamixup 25-1 from 40-1).
William Hill: 2-1 Son Of Iris (from 11-4), 5-1 Village King (from 6-1), 6-1 Strong Tel, 14-1 Bitofamixup, 16-1 In The Blood, Fullopep, Niki Dee, Sweet Lord, 20-1 Course Doctor, Jocks Cross, Bengers Moor, Disco Des Mottes, Major Bell, Tough Test, 25-1 Bar.
