FERGIE SUTHERLAND just isn't into media hype and prefers to let his small string of horses do the talking. The man, who came from Newmarket to settle in Macroom, Co Cork, almost 30 years ago, trains for the Clonakilty based investment company Lisselan Farms Ltd and together they share a very hot piece of property in the seven year old chaser Imperial Call, who is second favourite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Thursday.

It's 10.30 a.m. and the trainer, who carries the hopes of a nation, is not amused at yet another intrusion from the press.

"The media guys are grand lads, and I don't like refusing anybody, but the whole thing is just getting a bit intrusive," he says.

The ground rules are immediately laid. We agree to stick to Imperial Call and steer clear of his life history.

"I'm not being unco operative, because that is not my nature, but couldn't we just stick to the horse. There's no need to turn back the clock 40 years."

Fair enough. When do you and the horse travel to Cheltenham?

"Sorry to be impolite, but I'm not telling you because I am paranoid about security. Anyway, it's neither here nor there to you or your readers when I travel."

Do you feel under any pressure?

"Only when people keep ringing me up with unnecessary questions."

How is the horse?

"He's never been better. He's a seven year old now and I feel he is improving and getting stronger every day.

"This morning he did his normal piece of work of three canters and then we turned him out " he adds with a hint of enthusiasm.

An inquisitive scribe may not be Sutherland's flavour of the month, but he is not at all phased by the prospect of taking on the best of British and Irish chasers in his bid for jumping's Blue Riband.

But then he has already savoured sweet success in high places, although it is now close to 40 years since he won the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot with A20.

This trip to Cheltenham will be his third and the trainer is certainly relishing the prospect of his fast improving gelding becoming Ireland's first winner of the Gold 9up since Dawn Run's dramatic victory in 1986.

"It's the climax of the year for the steeplechasing world. I was there when Knock Hard and Tim Molony won the Gold Cup and I was there again in 1967," reveals Sutherland, who is easily identifiable on Irish racetracks with his cap and shepherd's crook.

Imperial Call emerged as the new star of the national hunt scene when slamming seven opponents in last month's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

The style and class of his six length victory over reigning Gold Cup champion Master Oats (sadly, out of this year's race) left no one in any doubt about his ability, including Irish national hunt handicapper Noel O Brien who promptly raised the horse a stone in the ratings.

Already the earner of almost £100,000 in win prizemoney, Imperial Call deserves to take his chance, despite some doubts about him getting the three and a quarter mile trip.

The Irish interest in the Cheltenham meeting borders on the fanatical with punters getting carried away with their gambling. And it is much the same for owners and trainers who are obsessed with the prospect of a winner at the Festival.

Only very fast ground would prevent Imperial Call from running on Thursday and at the moment Sutherland is not unduly concerned.

"I would like a drop of rain. However, they haven't raced at Cheltenham since last November so I imagine the course is in tremendous condition with plenty of grass, he says.

"He doesn't have to make the running (as he did in the Hennessy). He's the type of horse that can go anywhere in a race. It's now a question of hoping for the best and that we experience no bad luck.

"This horse has a perfect temperament. One of the few times he was beaten over hurdles was when he was trying to give 10lbs to Dorans Pride (winner of last year's Stayers' Hurdle) and he only failed by a nostril. And he wasn't even trying very hard!"

Certainly, Sutherland has memories of much less happier times, such as when the lower part of his left leg was blown off in the Korean War.

But that didn't stop him from becoming a highly successful trainer in England and, indeed, in this country where he is regarded as one of the real characters of the Irish racing scene.

Coming into the winner's enclosure after winning a Gold Cup must be the greatest moment of a trainers' career. Of course, you need a very good horse to win so many `run out of petrol' as they come round that final bend and up the hill. But for those who make it, the walk back into the enclosure and the roar of the crowd is like nothing experienced on any other racecourse.

With a degree of good fortune, Fergie Sutherland could be the trainer accepting all the accolades.