TO the horse racing enthusiast, the 2010 Cheltenham Festival has truly got the lot. Potential stars, old favourites now retired, and the newer equine heroes — Kauto Star and Denman lining up in the Totesport Gold Cup, on Friday, March 19. The Paul Nicholls trained Kauto Star was the only horse ever to regain the Gold Cup title when he triumphed last Spring and despite Denman unseating champion Tony McCoy at Newbury, he is likely to be back to his best on the big day, having dislodged Kauto Star in 2008 for a most impressive Totesport Gold Cup Victory. Both ten year-old geldings, Kauto hails from across the Channel and Denman was bred in Ireland.

The third and deciding clash, for the moment at least, between stable companions Denman and Kauto Star in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, March 19, has generated unprecedented sales of merchandise at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Scarves in the colours of the owners of the two Paul Nicholls-trained horses, as well as t-shirts, IJF charity bracelets, mugs, hobby-horses, caricature cartoons and authentic sports memorabilia prints, are proving very popular.

Paul Barber and Maggie Findlay, mother of high-profile gambler Harry Findlay, own Denman, whose colours this season and the year in which he won chasing's blue riband are dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves and a dark green and white check cap, while the colours of Clive Smith, Kauto Star's owner, are emerald green, yellow spots, yellow and emerald green halved sleeves and a purple cap.

Rebecca Morgan, Commercial & Operations Manager at Cheltenham Racecourse, revealed: "In total, we will have sold over 6,000 scarves, the equivalent of almost 10 per cent of the likely Gold Cup day crowd of 67,000, celebrating the colours of Kauto Star and Denman. The split on overall sales at the moment is 60 per cent in favour of Kauto Star."

I love both horses and, ideally would like to see them dead heat after coming up the hill to a tremendous reception from a sell-out crowd, but I acknowledge that is unlikely and expect Kauto to win once more. However, there are other high class horses in the field, so watch out for a tip on the best outsider on this website.

At this point, weather forecasts appear even more important than betting forecasts but, with the watering that started this week, the chances are the going will be good to soft when the first race starts to resounding cheers at 1.30pm next Tuesday. Over the four days, more than 200,000 people are expected to enjoy the sights, sounds and atmosphere that is Prestbury Park, Cheltenham.

The 'old' stars will be out in force on the first day of the festival. An impressive line-up of ex-racehorses is due to parade at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday, March 16. Organised by Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) in liaison with Cheltenham Racecourse, the parade will be held in the Parade Ring before the first race. Ten horses are likely to parade, who between them won 16 races at The Festival. They include two totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winners, Kicking King, who last year finished second in a RoR/Tattersalls Show Series class to qualify for the final at Hickstead later this year, and Master Oats, who now enjoys hunting and hacking.

Other Cheltenham heroes due to line-up include Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and Spinal Research Supreme Novice's Hurdle winner Brave Inca, and Moscow Flyer, winner of The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy and Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, both of whom are also doing well in the show ring.

Another Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle winner, Make A Stand, will return to Cheltenham for the day taking a break from his new life hunting and show jumping.

Di Arbuthnot, RoR director of operations, said: "We are delighted to have such an impressive line-up of former racehorses parading at this most prestigious race meeting, all of whom show that exracehorses can enjoy a long and successful second career after racing."

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is British Horseracing's official charity for the welfare of horses who have retired from racing. For more information, please visit http://www.ror.org.uk">www.ror.org.uk.

The horses due to parade are listed below, although the exact line-up is subject to change.

BRAVE INCA - Champion Hurdle winner now showing

BLOWING WIND - Cheltenham Festival winner now hunting and show jumping

EARTHMOVER - Christie's Foxhunter winner now team chasing

HUSSARD COLLONGES - Royal & Sun Alliance Chase winner now showing

KICKING KING - Cheltenham Gold Cup winner now showing

MAKE A STAND - Champion Hurdle winner now hunting and show jumping

MASTER OATS - Cheltenham Gold Cup winner now hunting and hacking

MOSCOW FLYER - Arkle Challenge Trophy and Queen Mother Champion Chase winner now showing

ROYAL PREDICA - Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup winner now showing

STORMYFAIRWEATHER - Cathcart Challenge Cup winner now hunting

Keith Whitford.