JP McManus' gelding will make his return after cheating death at the festival in 2017.
Trainer Joseph O’Brien has confirmed that the Cheltenham Gold Cup will be the target for ‘miracle horse’ Edwulf on his return to the festival, 12 months after coming close to death when collapsing after the final fence in the National Hunt Chase.
Edwulf has since gone on to win the Irish equivalent – going off at 33/1 on the day – and is best priced 25/1 for Gold Cup success whilst some bookmakers have him as short as 16/1. You could have got 100/1 before his stirring victory at Leopardstown at the start of the month.
Since 4th February, the nine-year-old Gelding has been the fifth most backed horse in the market with 7.19% of bets. Only 11/2 shot Native River (26.31%), 9/1 Our Duke (11.28%), 10/1 Killutagh Vic (10.4%) and 4/1 favourite Might Bite (10.02%) have attracted more.
Speaking at Naas on Sunday, O'Brien said: "It's an unbelievable story, for him to come back and do what he's done. The Gold Cup is the plan. He's very well since Leopardstown and it is a wide open Gold Cup.
"He's well entitled to take his chance and there's no reason why he can't pick up some prize-money. We'll try and get him there in one piece."
Oddschecker spokesman, George Elek: 'Edwulf has already provided us with a Lazarus story this season, but a win at Prestbury Park would truly enter him into the realm of legend. If he did emerge victorious on Friday 16th, you would be hard pushed to find a more popular winner'
