Sean Doyle turns down offers for big Hunters' Chase fancy Willitgoahead in the hope of first Cheltenham Festival success

Willitgoahead has not been sold ahead of the Cheltenham Festival and will continue to run in the colours of his owner-trainer Sean Doyle, who says he is quietly confident of landing the St James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase.

The seven-year-old has been a prolific pointer over the last year, winning four times between the flags, and emerged as a leading festival fancy when emphatically landing a hunter chase at Thurles in January.

He was initially cut to 14-1 after that smooth success but there has been sustained support over the last few weeks and he has been backed all the way into 5-1. Indeed, he is edging towards favouritism on the exchanges.