Will there be a changing of the guard in today's Gold Cup?

IT’S unusual to have the three winners of the last four Gold Cups reassemble in the hope of keeping the title amongst themselves for a fifth successive year but the question is: how much do we really want one of them to regain or, in Imperial Commander’s instance, to retain the crown?

I don’t mind saying that I don’t want Kauto Star to win today. Or Imperial Commander. Or, perhaps a little more hesitantly, Denman. I don’t need them to. I understand and appreciate what they’ve achieved in their illustrious careers but I yearn for a new star.

Who could it be?

Long Run would be great for the game. A youngster with the potential to be a superstar, he would be Nicky Henderson’s first winner of the race and who could deny this master trainer a Gold Cup?

With a penchant for Kempton and the sky as his only limit, could he be the next Kauto Star?

Kempes would be a surprise. Owner JP McManus wants a Gold Cup and trainer Willie Mullins sure as hell wouldn’t refuse one, but each has had higher profile failures.

Pandorama would be a real delight. In recent seasons, trainer Noel Meade has been overshadowed by Willie Mullins but a success for his gelding would be compensation for years of Festivals that delivered more disappointment than delight to a truly top class trainer.

The bookmakers say it’s a shade of odds-on that we’ll have a new champion. I hope they’re right.

Thanks to Kauto, Denman and Imperial Commander for all the enjoyment they’ve brought but there are new stars and great stories amongst the opposition. Let’s hear one of them.