THE Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of the highlights of the whole year for me and I can’t wait for the roar as they go off at 3.20pm today.

I’ll be in the crowd to cheer on these top quality chasers going for glory. I fell in love with the race with the great Arkle in the 1960s. But as a bookmaker the race has never been that kind to me. I think I paid out the whole of the north west when Dawn Run won under Jonjo O’Neill in 1986; the great Desert Orchid hit the wallet hard in 1989; and then in the last 10 years it’s been a succession of big pay outs with Best Mate’s hat-trick and Kauto Star’s brilliance in 2007 and 2009.

In fact Kauto Star cost me over £1million in 2009 because I had taken the view he could not regain a Gold Cup. However I won’t be wrong this year, I think Kauto is now too old at 11 to win this.

The horse I’ll be fearing the most today is the one I fancy. Imperial Commander has a fantastic opportunity to regain the title. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ chaser can take his course record to seven wins from 11 starts. He would be a worthy but costly winner.

Of course Kauto Star will have his supporters and there was some ante-post money around. The vibes from the Nicholls camp have been confident. There’s talk of rain today so that could bring Denman into the mix.

Long Run has to have a chance especially the way he won the King George.

By the way, the third day of the festival was a shocker for me and on St Patrick’s Day I believe the punters were drinking champagne while I had half a stout. Big Buck’s win in the World Hurdle after going top price 5/4 cost me over 600 grand.

I paid out with a smile and today is Gold Day so the very best of luck.