Racing:Mick Fitzgerald has elected to ride Copsale Lad ahead of Crozan in this Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup.
With first call on trainer Nicky Henderson's pair, the rider admitted he had been agonising over the decision for a number of days as he believes each has rock-solid credentials.
However, he eventually plumped for Copsale Lad, who at 8-1 is four points shorter than Crozan in the sponsors' betting.
Barry Geraghty has picked up the ride on the latter.
Copsale Lad is still waiting for his first chase success outside novice company but appeared unlucky when badly hampered in last year's renewal.
Confirming his choice for a race he won with Fondmort four years ago, Fitzgerald said: "It was a very tough call and I firmly believe both horses have very good chances.
"Both will go well at Cheltenham and both will go well over the trip and on the ground.
"I have been thinking long and hard about this and as I have ridden both, and they are in such fantastic shape, they have made it even harder.
"It is not like one of them has been showing less so I had an easier decision.
"But a choice has to be made, and I am fairly sure I have made the right one."
The prestigious two-and-a-half-mile event was dealt an early blow with the morning defection of ante-post favourite Don't Push It, who was found to be lame by trainer Jonjo O'Neill.
The Jackdaws Castle handler had warned his charge was a doubtful starter after being informed he had a problem while attending racing at Bangor on Wednesday.
Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said the team will assess the extent of Don't Push It's problem in the near future.
"He's got a slight setback, he's lame behind," Berry said. "Hopefully it's not serious and we'll know more in a week or so. Unfortunately these things happen in racing."
The Don't Push It team will still be represented in the race by Bob Hall, runner-up to L'Antartique in last season's Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase at the Festival.
"He's in good form and he won't mind the ground," Berry said.
Paddy Power are to refund all stakes on Don't Push It to the tune of more than £50,000.
The sponsors now have L'Antartique and Granit Jack as 9-2 joint-favourites in their revised betting.
"It's a massive kick in the proverbials for ante-post punters, so we want to ease the pain by giving the money back," said Paddy Power.
Granit Jack is Coral's 7-2 clear favourite from 4-1, with Abragante and L'Antartique both trading at 5s.
"The absence of Don't Push It will come as a blow to punters, and with both Granit Jack and Abragante not certain to make the cut, the well-backed L'Antartique could well start favourite on Saturday," said Coral's David Stevens.
Paddy Power Gold Cup betting
Paddy Power:9-2 Granit Jack, L'Antartique, 5-1 Abragante, 8-1 Copsale Lad, 10-1 Bob Hall, Knowhere, Private Be, Vodka Bleu, 12-1 Crozan, 16-1 bar.
Coral: 7-2 Granit Jack, 5-1 Abragante, L'Antartique, 9-1 Copsale Lad, 10-1 Bob Hall, Knowhere, Vodka Bleu, 11-1 Crozan, Private Be, 12-1 Idole First, 14-1 bar.