The dual Gold Cup winner ran below par when bidding for a hat-trick of victories in the Grade 1 contest 12 months ago and has proved easy to back this week with all the support for second favourite Notre Pere.

Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: "We kept Notre Pere on side when betting opened but have been forced to cut him as he will surely get no better chance off beating Kauto Star as he acts so well on this ground."

The leading Irish Gold Cup hope has been trimmed to 2/1 from 9/4, while fellow mud-lover Halcon Genlardais is 14/1 from 20s with Sky Bet after Alan King opted to line up for 'place money' with the testing conditions to suit at Haydock.

Sky Bet also make Kauto Star a 5/1 special price to complete the big race treble this season in the Betfair Chase, King George and Gold Cup for Champion trainer Paul Nicholls.