Denman and Kauto head 15 in Gold Cup

Denman and Kauto Star dominate a field of 15 as the two aces of the chasing world go head to head in a mouthwatering renewal of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at Prestbury Park on Friday.

The two neighbours at Paul Nicholls´ stable have captured public imagination this winter and their eagerly-anticipated duel has been the talk of the winter.

Kauto Star goes into the race as the reigning champion and brilliant winner of his last three races as he bids to win another #1million bonus for connections.

Standing in his way is Denman, who has looked a worthy contender for Kauto Star´s throne with emphatic wins in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, Lexus Chase and Aon Chase.

They do have 13 rivals to overcome, however, including two other Nicholls runners in Neptune Collonges and Star De Mohaison.

The latter´s owner, Sir Robert Ogden, will also have his colours worn by last year´s runner-up Exotic Dancer, trained by Jonjo O´Neill.

Supplementary entry Afistfullofdollars, trained by Noel Meade, is the sole Irish representative, while Nigel Twiston-Davies declared lively outsider Knowhere and front-runner Ollie Magern, who was seventh in Tuesday´s William Hill Trophy.

Completing the list of runners are Azulejo, Celestial Gold, Contraband, Fustrien Du Paon, Halcon Genelardais, Iron Man and Racing Demon.