Trainer Willie Mullins is confident that Footpad can respond and produce the goods when he competes in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on Thursday.

The seven-year-old enjoyed a thrilling campaign last season, winning five races in a row after being switched to the jumps.

However, he started the current season with a fall at Naas in November before then finished second at Leopardstown at the Christmas meeting.

He has since been preparing for Cheltenham alongside Mullins’ stable and the legendary Irish trainer believes he can delivered the goods as the 5.00 joint favourite.

Mullins said: “Footpad schooled very well lately and he looks more like the old Footpad from last year, so hopefully that is a good sign that he is starting to find his form.

“We have been lucky with horses finding their form coming into Cheltenham.”

Road To Respect is also priced at 5.00 this week, but Mullins is readying a twin assault on the race with veteran Un De Sceaux also set to run.

The two-time Cheltenham winner is 7.00 to win again and Mullins insists he is in good shape. He added: “This year has not been Un De Sceaux’s year in terms of ground.

Even when he ran at Sandown, they had a lot of rain just before and the ground was quite loose on the top, but it was still good ground underneath and I was glad that he came back from that race sound.

“The enthusiasm he has is still there and he is in particularly good form at the moment – he just seems to be coming right at the right time.”