Jeffell will be bidding at Ascot on Saturday for a third Irish win in the First National Bank Bank Gold - previously known as the Tote Silver Trophy and the H & T Walker Gold Cup - following Weather The Storm's victory in 1987 and Sound Man eight years later.
The seven-year-old is trained, like Weather The Storm, by Arthur Moore and a stable spokeswoman said yesterday: "At this stage Jeffell is an intended runner at Ascot and Conor O'Dwyer will ride."
Richard Dunwoody will renew his association with Simply Dashing in the race, for which 13 were confirmed at yesterday's declaration stage. He guided Tim Easterby's six-year-old to a smooth 15-length success over subsequent Murphy's Gold Cup winner Senor El Betrutti at Wetherby earlier this month.
"The horse is all right and Richard Dunwoody has been booked to ride," Easterby's father Peter confirmed yesterday.
Simply Dashing shares top weight of 11st 10lb at Ascot with the Martin Pipe-trained Or Royal, who won last season's Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival and will be making his reappearance on Saturday.
Josh Gifford, who has landed the Grade Two contest with Saffron Lord and Deep Sensation, will saddle Redeemyourself in the £40,000-added feature.
Redeemyourself has not been seen out for over a year after making a successful chasing debut at Newbury but his trainer yesterday reported the eight-year-old "in good form".
Peter Bowen's prolific chase winner Stately Home will also be in Saturday's line-up following his promising effort when a close third to Super Tactics at Newbury last week.
"He'll go to Ascot," stated the Welsh trainer. "He ran a nice race at Newbury the other day. He just needed it and I was very pleased with him."
Linton Rocks, formerly trained by Tim Thomson Jones and a winner at the Punchestown festival in April, is set to have his first outing for his new trainer Paul Nicholls in the race.
"He's been working like a good horse," reported Nicholls.
The acceptors are: Or Royal, Simply Dashing, Stately Home, Jeffell, Greenback, Around The Gale, Fine Thyne, Wild West Wind, Frazer Island, Linton Rocks, Redeemyourself, Monks Soham, Art Prince.
Bookmakers are unanimous in installing Simply Dashing as favourite for the race. William Hill and Ladbrokes make Tim Easterby's six-year-old a 7-4 shot, while Cashmans are more generous with Simply Dashing, offering 9-4. Betting:
William Hill: 7-4 Simply Dashing, 9-2 Or Royal, 6-1 Jeffell, 7-1 Fine Thyne, 8-1 Frazer Island, 121 Around The Gale, Stately Home, Wild West Wind, 14-1 Redeemyourself, 20-1 Linton Rocks, 25-1 Art Prince, Greenback, 33-1 Monks Soham.
Ladbrokes: 7-4 Simply Dashing, 9-2 Or Royal, 5-1 Jeffell, 7-1 Fine Thyne, 10-1 Around The Gale, 11-1 Frazer Island, 12-1 Redeemyourself, Stately Home, 14-1 Linton Rocks, Wild West Wind, 25-1 Greenback, Art Prince, 33-1 Monks Soham.
Cashmans: 9-4 Simply Dashing, 6-1 Or Royal, 13-2 Frazer Island, 7-1 Around The Gale, 8-1 Jeffell, Fine Thyne, 12-1 Stately Home, 14-1 Wild West Wind, 16-1 Linton Rocks, Redeemyourself, Art Prince, 20-1 Greenback, 33-1 Monks Soham.
Meanwhile, Young Hustler is set to make his comeback in the £40,000-added Crowther Homes Becher Chase at Aintree on Saturday.
Not seen out since finishing second to Into The Red in last year's race, Young Hustler, who won the Becher Chase in 1995, reserves his best for the Grand National fences and has the Aintree marathon as his target this season.
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