Holywell ( Cheltenham , 3.20 ) is a horse that polarises opinion , but his Festival record is beyond criticism and he can silence his doubters with victory at the highest level in Friday 's Betfred Gold Cup . Victories in the Pertemps Final and in a fiercely competitive handicap chase at the past two Festivals endorse the view that Jonjo O ’ Neill is a master at bringing the eight-year-old to a peak in the spring and , after a couple of modest efforts , he looked on good terms again with a better round of jumping last time in a small-field Kelso event . Holywell polarises opinion but can silence his doubters with victory in Friday 's Betfred Gold Cup . Wins in the Pertemps Final ( above ) in the past two Festival 's handicap chase endorse his Cheltenham form . Jonjo O ’ Neill is a master at bringing the eight-year-old Holywell to a peak in the spring . The bare form of that success is miles away from the requisite level on Friday , but when Holywell is good he is very good , as he was at Cheltenham last year when beating Thursday 's Ryanair Chase runner-up Ma Filleule . A subsequent Aintree success was arguably more impressive where the selection destroyed Don Cossack and fellow Gold Cup contender Many Clouds , among others in the Grade One Mildmay Novices ’ Chase , a display which truly announced him as a potential Gold Cup winner . He must progress again to trouble King George Chase hero Silviniaco Conti , who sets a lofty standard for his 17 rivals to surpass , but the ante-post favourite must exorcise the memories of a capitulation after the last fence a year ago , where he faded to finish fourth . Paul Nicholls is convinced the stomach ulcers and breathing problems which beset Silviniaco Conti are behind him and he remains a huge danger to all , even granted his modest course record . Paul Nicholls ' Silviniaco Conti has a modest course record but still poses a danger to the field . Stablemate Sam Winner was an honourable third to Road To Riches in the Lexus Chase , and looks a huge price given he has tons of track form and just three lengths to make up with Noel Meade ’ s charge . The form of his gritty defeat of The Druids Nephew here before Christmas has taken a sizeable boost this week with that rival bolting up and the tongue tie and cheekpieces are utilised in combination for the first time , which appears a shrewd move . His handler has sent out 36 horses to contest the Gold Cup and 18 have won or been placed , so he merits real consideration for a tasty each-way wager .
Holywell has an excellent record at Cheltenham and could go all the way . Jonjo O ’ Neill has mastered bringing the eight-year-old to a peak for spring . Paul Nicholls ' Silviniaco Conti is a danger despite a modest course record . READ : Cheltenham Festival 2015 racing tips for day four . CLICK HERE to follow Gold Cup action live !