[Hwjb]

How can anyone not be excited by the thought of this most intriguing of Gold Cups, when, in Kauto Star, you've got the best chaser since Desert Orchid and, in Denman, one who is already just about on a par with the likes of Master Oats and See More Business and remains open to further improvement, with the top-class Exotic Dancer there to keep the pair of them honest. I'm as excited about this renewal as I have been about any race I can remember, although I've got a nagging feeling that one of them will either fall early or step on a stone on the morning of the race.

As for the other races, one does get the feeling that many of the divisions aren't quite up to their usual level this season. Still, the Gold Cup makes up for that in itself! Plus the weights haven't come out for the handicaps yet. Wait until we've had a chance to get stuck into them!