Walsh rode Kauto Star to Gold Cup victory last year

The jockey had the choice of the 2007 Cheltenham hero or stablemate Denman, winner of the Hennessy and Lexus Chase for trainer Paul Nicholls.

Walsh described the decision as "huge" but added: "At the end of the day, how do you get off a Gold Cup winner?"

Sam Thomas will ride Denman at Newbury on Saturday as well as at Cheltenham.

Nicholls told the Racing Post: "Everyone knows it would be very difficult for Ruby not to ride Kauto Star again in this year's Gold Cup.

"Paul Barber and Harry Findlay, joint-owners of Denman, had a chat yesterday and agreed it would be better to make a decision now regarding Denman.

"However, should anything happen to Kauto Star, God forbid, between now and Gold Cup day, Ruby, as my stable jockey, would switch to Denman."

Latest Gold Cup odds:
11-10 Kauto Star
2-1 Denman
10-1 Exotic Dancer
14-1 Kicking King
33-1 Star de Mohaison
40-1 bar