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20 left in Gold Cup8th March 2008
Afistfullofdollars is set to take on heavyweights Kauto Star and Denman after being supplemented for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Connections have decided to fork out £22,500 to add the 10-year-old to the field at the confirmation stage for Friday's showpiece.
Afistfullofdollars, trained in Ireland by Noel Meade, was having just his fourth start over fences when winning the Grade Two Bobbyjo Chase by six lengths at Fairyhouse last month.
The horse would have to finish in the first four in The Gold Cup to recoup owner Eamon McElroy's outlay.
The lead-up to the Gold Cup has been dominated by the eagerly-awaited clash of the titans, Kauto Star and Denman, who head a total of 20 now in the big race.
Among the other acceptors are Exotic Dancer, who chased home Kauto Star last March. There had been some doubt about his participation due to a minor setback but that appears to be behind the Jonjo O'Neill-trained gelding now.
Exotic Dancer's owner Sir Robert Ogden also has Star De Mohaison. The latter is trained by Nicholls who has a fourth possible in Neptune Collonges.
As well as Afistfullofdollars, there are two other Irish possibles in Chelsea Harbour and Mossbank, while Richard Chotard's Fustrien Du Paon is the sole French raider.
The list is completed by Aces Four, Azulejo, Billyvoddan, Celestial Gold, Contraband, Halcon Genelardais, Iron Man, Knowhere, Monkerhostin, Ollie Magern and Racing Demon.
Eamon McElroy forking out on Afistfullofdollars