You would not put it past Tony McCoy to make his last ride in Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup a winning one on Carlingford Lough.

While McCoy's 20-year reign as champion jockey has almost been a quest for incredible numbers, he has won the blue riband event twice already.

First on Mr Mulligan in 1997, when he was still fresh faced, and then on the ill-fated Synchronised three years ago.

The second of those victories meant the world to McCoy, given it came in the colours of JP McManus and Synchronised's dam Mayasta was appropriately the first ever winner McCoy rode for his boss.

Carlingford Lough may not tug on McCoy's heartstrings as much, but the champion was quick to silence any speculation he may ask McManus for special dispensation in his last year to ride Jonjo O'Neill's Holywell instead.

A Galway Plate winner when still a novice, he progressed to Grade One class last season and bar a disappointing run in the RSA at the 2014 Festival, the John Kiely-trained nine-year-old has an otherwise persuasive profile.

"He gave me a great feel winning the Irish Hennessy and I am very much looking forward to riding him in the Gold Cup," said McCoy.

"Gold Cup day is probably the most important day of the whole jumping year and I am hoping he has a live chance.

"People might look back to last year and point out he was only sixth in the RSA, but he never really got into a rhythm and we saw more of what he was capable of when he won the Grade One at Punchestown.

"John Kiely has the horse in great shape and he is definitely going there with a chance."

Last year's winner Lord Windermere is being dismissed by the bookmakers again, but with a perfect Cheltenham Festival record, he may reward each-way backers.

His trainer Jim Culloty will forever be remembered for partnering Best Mate to three wins in the Gold Cup and he joined a select list of people to have ridden and trained a Gold Cup winner last season.

Culloty has made no secret of the fact Lord Windermere has been trained all year with one race in mind, but he showed a bit more dash in the Irish Hennessy last time out.

He told the BBC: "He is a hold-up horse and at Leopardstown at Christmas the ground was bottomless, which he struggled with a bit, and the race just didn't work, but the horse came out of it well and I wasn't overly disappointed.

"Last time, we went into the race with different tactics - we wanted to be involved in the race a bit more - and I said to Davy (Russell, jockey), if he can be upsides in front between the last two (fences), then may the best man win.

"He probably got to the front slightly sooner than that, but he jumped himself there.

"I think it was very encouraging and it's an open Gold Cup on a track where he comes alive, so all being well we're hoping for a good solid run, but to win again would be amazing.

"Henrietta Knight, a consummate horsewoman, won three with Best Mate - if I won two I could nearly call myself a horseman."

Paul Nicholls had a stranglehold on the race when Kauto Star and Denman were in their pomp and he is convinced favourite Silviniaco Conti can add to his two wins in the King George.

There are doubters, though, as he led over the last 12 months ago only to fade into fourth.

You can never write off Willie Mullins, and his contender Djakadam laughed at the handicapper when winning the prestigious Thyestes Chase. Bobs Worth won the race for Nicky Henderson two years ago and will also have plenty of supporters on that basis.

The JCB Triumph Hurdle appears at the mercy, according to the bookmakers at least, of the aforementioned Henderson.

He saddles the short-priced Peace And Co and unbeaten Top Notch in the same ownership, as well as Hargam for McManus and McCoy.

Further Grade One action comes in the shape of the Albert Bartlett with Mullins holding a strong hand, but do not be surprised if Dan Skelton, Nicholls' former assistant, opens his account at the meeting with the very promising Value At Risk.

Skelton wanted to avoid the meeting this year as he views him very much as a chaser, but he has been tempted to join the Cotswolds action.

The Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle always offers thrills and spills, while the 'getting out stakes', the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual, usually involves plenty of plotting.