Coome Hill yesterday defected from tomorrow's Murphy's Gold Cup at Cheltenham, for which unbeaten chaser Sparky Gayle is emerging as a strong favourite.

Trainer Walter Dennis had been considering the options for Coome Hill for the past few days but was always leaning towards the Flowers Original Handicap Chase on the same card, in which he will carry top weight of 12st under Jamie Osborne.

"I've had a good think about it but the Flowers is more his trip. It's a fair trek first time out and he's not at his peak but hopefully Jamie will look after him," said Dennis.

Coral report considerable interest in Sparky Gayle winning both the Murphy's Gold Cup and the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, and are offering odds of 33 to 1 on this feat.

"Sparky Gayle is in many people's notebooks as the up and coming star to follow this season, and this is the probable reason for the sizeable bets," said Simon Clare, Coral spokesman.

Sparky Gayle has been the best backed horse in the Murphy's and remains the 9 to 4 favourite, but Bertone has attracted several large each-way bets at 9 to 2.

Last year's Murphy's winner Challenger du Luc has been well backed with Cork bookmakers Cashman's. Martin Pipe's charge has been supported from 3 to 1 through 11 to 4 and is now steady on 5 to 2.

And the 1995 winner Dublin Flyer has been backed with William Hill, who have trimmed Tim Forster's top weight into 3 to 1 from 4 to 1.

Challenger du Luc has been eased out to 3 to 1 from 9 to 4 with Hills, whilst the best backed outsider has been Potters Bay who has been cut to 12 to 1 from 16 to 1.

The Murphy's Gold Cup betting is as follows:

Coral: 9-4 Sparky Gayle, 5-2 Challenger du Luc, 7-2 Dublin Flyer, 9-2 Bertone, 12-1 Potters Bay, 14-1 Destin d'Estruval, 25-1 Terao, Senor El Betrutti, 33-1 Cherrynut, 50-1 Easby Joker.

Cashmans: 9-4 Sparky Gayle, 5-2 Challenger du Luc, 7-2 Dublin Flyer, 9-2 Bertone, 14-1 Destin d'Estruval, 16-1 Potters Bay, 201 Senor El Betrutti, 25-1 Cherrynut, Terao, 33-1 Easby Joker.

William Hill: 2-1 Sparky Gayle, 3-1 Challenger du Luc, Dublin Flyer, 9-2 Bertone, 12-1 Potters Bay, 20-1 Destin Destruval, , 25-1 Senor El Betrutti, Terao, 33-1 Cherrynut, Easby Joker.

Ladbrokes: 2-1 Sparky Gayle, 5-2 Challenger du Luc, 3-1 Dublin Flyer, 4-1 Bertone, 16-1 Destin d'Estruval, Potters Bay, 20-1 Senor El Betrutti, 25-1 Terao, 33-1 Cherrynut, 40-1 Easby Joker.