Richie McLernon has guided Holywell to Cheltenham Festival glory for the last two seasons and trainer Jonjo O'Neill is banking on the combination coming good once more in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The application of first-time blinkers helped the eight-year-old spring a 25-1 surprise in the 2013 Pertemps Final under McLernon, who was also on board when the partnership struck gold in handicap company over fences 12 months later.

Having finished third behind subsequent Hennessy hero Many Clouds on his seasonal return at Carlisle, Holywell unseated McLernon at Aintree in December.

But with the blinkers fitted once more, he got his season back on track under Tony McCoy with a stylish display at Kelso.

With McCoy set to partner Carlingford Lough for his boss JP McManus, O'Neill is pleased to call upon McLernon's services once more and is keeping his fingers crossed for a sound surface at Cheltenham on March 13.

O'Neill said: " Richie McLernon won on him the last twice (Iast two Festivals) and I've no reason not to put him on as he's done a good job on him and they click well together.

"He could do with it drying out a bit, but he likes Cheltenham, having won over fences here last year.

"Hopefully he'll win the Gold Cup this year."