Some celebrities give their views on the festival

Who will win the Gold Cup?

Jimmy Barry Murphy (Former GAA player and manager)

It's impossible to look beyond Kauto Star. He's a super horse anyway but all the defections mean he'll probably be able to get away with any mistakes.

I remember saying Rooster Booster had no chance in 2003 so I'm taking no chances with Detroit City, who's a grey too and has the same connections. His form against Hardy Eustace is good and he looks on the way up.

I've had a few quid on Denman at 7 to 1. I'm pleased with that and his owner, Harry Findlay, is a friend of mine, so I'll be happy if he can win the SunAlliance.

The ground looks to have gone for Jonjo O'Neill's horse Black Jack Ketchum in the Stayers.

With horses like Kauto Star and Denman, it has to be Ruby Walsh.

 John O'Donoghue (Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism)

A lot will depend on what the ground turns out like and I'd say six might be as many as we get this year.

A lot of the glamour has been taken away with War Of Attrition and In Compliance coming out and it's very hard to go against Kauto Star. Mind you, he fell last year in the Queen Mother, and a big each-way horse is State Of Play.

Last year I was a raging fan of Brave Inca and backed him at 7 to 1 at Christmas. But a lot of confidence went after the AIG and now I think Hardy Eustace will win. I know he's getting on but his last performance was pretty awesome.

If the ground dries up a bit, it has to be Black Jack Ketchum. We'll forgive him his last run because the ground was awful. But if the going stays heavy, I would go with Don't Push It in the Arkle.

I don't fancy Voy Per Ustedes in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Well Chief looks the winner of that race for me.

Ruby Walsh, no question.

Realistically I don't think we can do as well as last year when Irish horses won 10 races. That was a record. It will probably be something like seven this time.

Colm Murray(RTÉ presenter)

There's nothing simple about a Gold Cup and even though I think Kauto Star will win, it won't be a stroll for him.

It's between Brave Inca, Hardy Eustace and Detroit City. Generally I am a huge Brave Inca fan, but Hardy Eustace was so impressive at Leopardstown and I'll have to go with him this time.

I know people will say I should see a psychiatrist, but I'm very tempted by De Valira in the first race on the first day. It would be perfect after all the coverage of Croke Park - Dev to crown it!

I don't fancy Amaretto Rose in the Supreme but Detroit City might be the one to lay. Five-year-olds don't have a great record in the Champion Hurdle.

It's hard to see anyone else but Ruby Walsh.

I'm plucking a figure here but I don't think we'll do as well as last year - maybe six.

Jerry Kiernan (former athlete)

Exotic Dancer is the one. He has proven course form and loves the hill. Kauto Star fell at Cheltenham last year and he can't afford to make the mistakes he has been making.

I've been raging for the last few weeks because I didn't take the 14 to 1 about Hardy Eustace before he won the AIG. He's a horse with a wonderful attitude.

I did back Hairy Molly for the Ballymore, as his owners are from Listowel, like myself. But I hear he will run in the three-mile race instead. That leaves Aran Concerto for the Ballymore and I think he has been very impressive this season.

Kauto Star. He has gone three miles but hasn't gone three miles and two furlongs. He has to go up that hill twice. A lot of horses haven't managed that. Florida Pearl won at three miles but never got up that hill the second time.

Ruby Walsh is a fantastic jockey, top notch. He has fantastic reflexes. Nobody else would have stayed with Kauto Star in his last two races.

I think we'll have eight or nine this time.

Robert Hall (RTÉ commentator)

Where I see Kauto Star scoring, compared to similar horses of the past like Pendil, is Ruby Walsh. He's an awfully hard man to dislodge and, form-wise, no matter how you look at it, everything comes back to Kauto.

It's a head and a heart job between Detroit City and Hardy Eustace. Hardy is a rare old warrior, but I have enormous respect for Detroit City too.

It's not the most important race or anything, but I would say Heads Onthe Ground looks awfully well in at the weights in the cross country event.

Black Jack Ketchum's chance looks to have gone on that ground, but I also think the favourite for the four-mile chase, Gungadu, will get beaten.

Hardly have to say it, Ruby Walsh, no doubt.

Last year was exceptional and this time, in all the championship races, there are major English horses like Detroit City, Kauto Star and Well Chief. I would say eight.