NEXT Friday's totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most anticipated for years.

Racing editor Jonathan Herbert asked racing and sports figures in Gloucestershire for their views on the outcome.

JULIAN ALSOP (Cheltenham Town player)

I've got a sneaking feeling Denman's going to do it.

Tony McCoy will have learned about riding him from the first time he rode him and the stable will have been working him hard for the past two or three weeks.

SUE NOCK (who trained Senor El Betrutti to finish fourth in the 1998 Gold Cup)

I'm going for Imperial Commander.

I know everyone's going on about Kauto Star and Denman, but both have got weaknesses and I don't think it's an open and closed case.

Imperial Commander's very good and if he's on good form I think he's got a good chance, and I'd like a local horse to win.

JONJO O'NEILL (Former two-times Gold Cup-winning jockey)

You've got to go with Kauto. He's the obvious one and I can't really see anything else winning it – he's a superstar.

One day he's going to get beaten and it could be this year, but at the moment I can't see anything around to beat him.

GRAEME ROE (Former jockey, trainer turned author)

I think a lot is going to depend on the going.

My own view is that if Denman is on-song he will give Kauto Star a really good run for his money, particularly if the going is soft.

I don't think Tricky Trickster should be totally discounted.

He stays well, has won at Cheltenham and ran a brilliant race at Newbury last time, when Denman didn't finish.

JAMES SIMPSON-DANIEL (Gloucester Rugby player)

I've been torn between the two, but I've got to go for Kauto Star.

I don't think that Denman will get as far ahead of Kauto Star early on this time and Kauto Star will be ready to pounce.

You couldn't be surprised if Denman won, but it should be a really good race and it's great that people are talking about it even if they've never been on Gold Cup day.

ANDREW TINKLER (Festival-winning jockey)

I think if you asked 100 jockeys which horse they'd prefer to ride in the Gold Cup, 95 would say Kauto Star.

I think Kauto Star is faultless, a class act.

He's been there and done it in the Gold Cup twice and he's got everything – speed, he stays and he jumps very well.

TERRY WARNER (Festival-winning owner)

It's a race I wouldn't have a bet in because I find it hard to separate them, but it should be exciting to watch.

It wouldn't be the greatest surprise if Denman won it, but then again Kauto Star won so well in the King George at Kempton – it was an unbelievable performance.