Exit Swinger has been made 7-2 favourite by Ladbrokes and William Hill for Saturday`s Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Martin Pipe`s charge was one of 19 horses confirmed for the #80,000 contest today.
Stablemate Upgrade heads the handicap for the race on 11st 10lb with Fadalko following the defection of See More Business, Florida Pearl and Tiutchev.
The 16lb rise in the weights still leaves Exit Swinger, second to Lady Cricket in the Thomas Pink Gold Cup last time, 2lb out of the handicap on 9st 12lb.
However one of the joint top-weights, Fadalko, has an alternative engagement on the same card in the shape of the rescheduled Tingle Creek Chase.
Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Robert Ogden, said: 'Obviously we declared for the Tripleprint this morning at the confirmation stage because we were not fully in the picture about what was happening with the Tingle Creek.
'He`ll be confirmed for the Tingle Creek tomorrow as well.
'I think it`s probably more likely we`d favour the Tingle Creek because he was going to run in it last week but we`ll just take a look at what else is going to be confirmed and see if there`s any change.
'It`s really a question of taking a look and making the decision accordingly.
'There are no definite plans but he`ll run in one or the other.'
Ireland has a notably strong representation with a total of five possibles, having not captured this prize since Tom Dreaper`s Leap Frog scored in 1971.
Arthur Moore is responsible for three of them headed by the highly-rated Native Upmanship, an easy winner at Navan last time, who is 6-1 second favourite for the race.
Lyreen Wonder and More Than A Stroll are Moore`s other entries, while Hill Society (Noel Meade) and Go Roger Go (Edward O`Grady) make up the Irish quintet.
The latter is an intended runner according to trainer Edward O`Grady.
Other notable possibles include the Venetia Williams-trained Samakaan, winner of the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Tripleprint Gold Cup opening betting:
Ladbrokes: 7-2 Exit Swinger, 6-1 Native Upmanship, 7-1 Red Ark, 8-1 Soldat, 9-1 Go Roger Go, Lyreen Wonder, 10-1 Fadalko, Samakaan, 12-1 Red Marauder, Upgrade, 14-1 Robbo, 16-1 Blowing Wind, In The Blood, 20-1 bar.
William Hill: 7-2 Exit Swinger, 6-1 Native Upmanship, 7-1 Red Ark, Lyreen Wonder, 9-1 Soldat, 10-1 Fadalko, Samakaan, Go Roger Go, 12-1 Upgrade, Red Marauder, Robbo, 16-1 In The Blood, More Than A Stroll, 20-1 bar.
