Paul Nicholls is hoping that Kauto Star and Denman’s experience could see them get the better of the youngsters in this year’s renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Paddy Power are offering all new customers a free £100 bet on either one of them winning the race.

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Nicholls’ two stable stars have dominated the jumping scene for the last four years and it wasn’t until Imperial Commander beat Denman into second in last year’s Gold Cup that the cracks began to show in the two chasing legends.

After Kauto Star struggled to keep tabs on Nicky Henderson’s Long Run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton there were plenty of punters who believed Kauto Star was half the horse he was, but Nicholls isn’t so sure and with Denman back on the gallops after a wind op the trainer is looking forward to next month’s meeting with some excitement.

Nicholls explained: "It's a really interesting, open contest.  You've got some nice young horses coming through and it's unfortunate that we lost a nice one on Saturday (the ill-fated Pride Of Dulcote).

"I'm talking Long Run and Diamond Harry as younger horses, then you've got the three older lads who have been there and done it. It's probably as open as we've seen for a long time but I still feel the older three of Imperial Commander, Denman and Kauto are the ones to beat.

"All three love the track, they're all great horses and if they can all get there, it's going to be a great race."

Concentrating on Kauto Star, Nicholls continued: "He's by no means a back number and Long Run looked awesome at Kempton.

"We did find a trickle of blood and he had a cold for a week afterwards, something he's never had before. I think we can forgive him one run, and if he hadn't made a mistake at the second-last, he would have finished a good second anyway.

"I hope he might have a racecourse gallop beforehand. It's not something we have done before, but it would be just more of a case of giving him a day out at the races and maybe Ruby can have another sit on him. But we're very happy with him and looking forward to running him.

"Denman is not getting any younger either but he worked very nicely with Big Buck's yesterday and has had his breathing operation as we just felt he was fading at the end of his races.

"He made no noise yesterday when he worked, he looks great in his coat and seems really fit and enthusiastic."

The legendary handler will also field Neptune Collonges and What A Friend in the Grade One showpiece and he continued: "Neptune Collonges has always run well at Cheltenham. He isn't getting any younger or quicker but he produced a fantastic effort to win the Argento Chase last month.

"We had a little worry after that race when he pulled up a bit sore. We were nervous he'd had a bad injury but he got over that and is in good shape. He's a possibility for Punchestown as well.

"I suspect What A Friend will run too, although we won't run him on very testing ground. We'll have to see with him - the Grand National might be a year too early but we could even give him an entry at Ayr in the spring."