The seven-year-old was a fine winner of the Cotswold Chase on Saturday and will face the biggest test of his career in the Grade 1 contest.
A general 20-1 shot for the big race, the son of Nickname will be entering unknown territory for the second time in as many starts when he lines up in the three-and-a-quarter-mile event.
Despite plenty of critics claiming the son of Nickname won't have the requisite stamina and should instead be aimed at the Ryanair, trainer Paul Nicholls is confident his stable star will be bang there at the finish.
He told Sky Sports Racing: "The horse deserves to run in the Gold Cup.
"Also, what you've got to remember is he's owned by Paul Vogt, who is 80 and has owned horses for years and years and even had horses with Fred Rimell – people like him want horses to run in the Gold Cup and now he's got one who can, so why not.
"How can you say he won't say the trip? I don't train horses to win the Gold Cup in the middle of January, he had a break after his last run, he will improve massively (for Saturday).
"I was a bit worried he looked big and well in the paddock, he hadn't been away for a gallop and hadn't done that much work. He will improve and there are lots of little things tactically we can improve."
Bryony Frost timed her ride to perfection on Saturday and is set to partner the brilliant jumper once again.
Nicholls went on: "She clicks on certain horses, particularly Frodon and Black Corton, the smaller types.
"She sits in behind them, not unlike Ruby (Walsh) used to do, and they jump and race enthusiastically for her, she forges a good partnership with those.
"It's good for racing, it's good for her, it's good for everybody really and Bryony and Frodon will be great for the Festival whatever happens.
"I don't think I've trained a better jumper (of a fence) because he's so consistent and that helps him – he loves what he's doing and he's progressive.
"He always idles a little in front after the last but believe you me, if the ground is decent on the last day, which it often is, he'll run a big race. I'm not saying he's going to go and win or anything, but he'll run a big race.
"He ran in two Grade Ones last year over two-miles-five and he just hasn't quite got the speed to dominate in those races – over three miles against slower horses, he can.
"Native River is not a quick horse, he's an out-and-out stayer, Frodon will happily gallop alongside him. Might Bite tried it and finished second, if Frodon finished second in a Gold Cup we'd be thrilled.
"I know him better than most and a Ryanair on quick ground might not suit him. If it was very testing ground – it's unlikely, but if it was – we have the choice, but speaking to Mr Vogt this (Sunday) morning he'd love to have a runner in the Gold Cup so that's probably where we are going to go."
Despite Frodon being the talk of the town at the moment, Nicholls is under no illusion as to who his number one will be.
He added: "Clan Des Obeaux worked well (on Saturday) and will go to the Denman Chase, so we're looking forward to that.
"He's a King George winner, he's progressive as well. If you asked Harry Cobden (stable jockey) who he'd ride I think he'd say Clan Des Obeaux and I think I'd say the same."
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