GUEST TIPSTER:WHAT I really hope for today's Gold Cup is that both Denman and Kauto Star make it to the last fence together. That would be great for racing. It would also be great for Kauto Star. The ground has a dig in it at the moment but I don't see it turning into a real slog and it looks like Denman's task in trying to sap his stable companion before they turn into the straight might be beyond him.
I find it very hard not to go for Kauto Star because he has so much class. He is the horse on top and Denman is the young pretender; good but still not proven.
In that sense it isn't really like the 1964 Gold Cup that everyone is looking back at trying to make comparisons. Back then Mill House was the Gold Cup holder and regarded as being unbeatable. He really was supposed to be invincible. And there was so much wrapped up in that race. There were songs and poems written about it.
Obviously because my father rode Arkle, I will always have a special place in my heart for that Gold Cup but even allowing for that, I don't think comparisons are fair.
When you look at Arkle's career once he started jumping fences, he was an incredible horse, almost never beaten.
Kauto Star is a wonderful athlete but his chasing career has been more mixed, including taking a couple of falls.
One plus he will have on his back today is Ruby Walsh who is possibly the finest jockey I've seen ride. He's only human and he does make mistakes but one of the reasons he is so good is because he tends to get it right when it counts.
Sam Thomas is a very nice fellow and he's in a position that everyone else in the jockeys' room would love to be in. But for me, on this ground, it will be Kauto Star and Ruby.
One of the bets of the day will come in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle where Carruthers should take a lot of beating. He stays all day which is what you want in a race like this. Siegemaster might be the one to chase him home.
Another horse I fancy strongly is Sweet Kiln in the mares race. Without a shadow of a doubt she has been running against better opposition than her rivals. She has great experience from some tough races and I think she will outclass these.
Tony Martin will be slightly worried about the ground but despite that Leg Spinner looks to have a fine chance in the Coral Cup. My original fancy, Kicks For Free, looks to have too much weight and the going is crucial to a good horse like Leg Spinner. Song Of Songs, at the bottom of the handicap, might be one to make him work.
Psycho gives Tony another obvious chance in the County Hurdle but he's not a stand out at the weights over here. It's interesting that Wanango is switched to this race rather than running in the Grand Annual for which he was ante-post favourite. You have to respect that move and Wanango should be a decent price.
The Triumph is a very different race now compared to the lottery it was when I rode in it. It's much easier to ride in now and it's much easier to be confident about backing something in it.
Franchoek has done everything right bar one day and the Alan King yard is in really good form. Silverhand might be the best of our lot. He's a horse on the up but second looks like it could be the best he is running for.
(In an interview with Brian O'Connor)
TOM TAAFFE'S TIPS
12.30: Sweet Kiln
1.05: Aigle D'Or
1.40: Leg Spinner
2.15: Franchoek
2.50: Carruthers
3.30: Kauto Star
4.05: Drombeag
4.40: Tiger Cry
5.20: Wanango
