Owners talk up chances of big two Gold Cup hopes

The race jumping fans have been looking forward to all season is just a day away, and connections of the Paul Nicholls-trained pair Kauto Star and Denman are both in confident mood on the eve of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Kauto Star, the reigning champion, will step into the ring with the young pretender Denman at 3.30pm tomorrow, and the biggest showdown since Mill House locked horns with Arkle back in 1964 will be on. Hpwever, it is not only the two equine stars with their differing physical presence and racing styles who will come into the spotlight.

The owners of the pair, Kauto Star´s Clive Smith and Denman´s Harry Findlay, co-owner with Paul Barber, differ almost as much as their prize possessions.

Smith´s reserved and clean-cut image matches Kauto Star as much as Findlay´s outgoing and larger-than-life character is the equal of the huge, bull-like Denman.

"These are two completely different horses with two completely different ways of running," says Findlay.

"Even someone who knows nothing about racing can tune in ten minutes before the race and know what is going to happen."

Denman, the mount of Sam Thomas, is unbeaten in eight starts over fences and has landed the Hennessy, Lexus Chase and Aon this season in his bold front-running manner.

"Ruby (Walsh, Kauto Star´s jockey) knows Denman and he is going to be behind him - but may be not quite as far behind as people think and he knows what it will take," Findlay goes on.

"If Kauto does go past, Denman will still want it and the race won´t be a damp squib. What everyone wants to happen will happen and if Kauto goes past he will win, or we will break his heart.

"Paul Nicholls and his head lad Clifford Baker think we are stark raving mad saying that Kauto Star doesn´t stay.

"Kauto will never be better than he is now but Denman has everything in his favour. If we get beat, there will be no need for a rematch as Kauto is the daddy. If he beats us over the Gold Cup trip then he is the best steeplechaser I have seen."

Golf course magnate Smith is of that very opinion and expects his reigning champion to see off the rising star.

"This horse is some horse. We can beat Denman and we will beat him," he said.

"I know Denman is a class act too, but when he won the Lexus and the Hennessy his times were over standard. You look at Kauto´s performances and his times are much better.

"Kauto is true class. He looks better than ever and his last two runs show he is spot on. Ruby will be able to lay up behind and then just pick Denman off in the straight.

"He has got bags of guts and won´t let a horse go past him. Exotic Dancer was very well ridden at Haydock in the Betfair Chase and got close to him but he couldn´t get past. I do think that was the best race of his life that day.

"You never know you can do it until you try and we have yet to see if Denman can get up the hill in a Gold Cup. Everyone thinks he can, but we do know Kauto can as he has already done it."

The racing world will be holding its breath to see if he can do just that and retain his title, or whether Denman will be crowned the new champion.