JOHN DUGGAN, host of the Racing Pod on Off The Ball/Newstalk

I hope he does as he is a spectacular chaser on his day and if he reproduces his Christmas form, there is only one winner. One niggle around Galopin Des Champs is that he has delivered two flat efforts in the last year. Gentlemansgame goes to the Gold Cup fresh and appeals to me as an each-way option.

His jumping.

If the ground is decent, then Banbridge in the Ryanair Chase - otherwise no strong view. For the Stayers’ Hurdle, I am an Irish Point fan, but his destination is not certain now. Noble Yeats finished like a train in the Cleeve Hurdle and is an attractive each-way option at the prices.

It must be State Man in the Champion Hurdle now. At a bigger price, I like Readin Tommy Wrong, wherever he goes.

It was great for Minella Indo to win a Gold Cup, but the Cross Country Chase is a specialist race, and I feel he could be one to take on.

Anything trained by Gavin Cromwell is worth a second look. I will go for Encanto Bruno.

LISA O'NEILL, assistant trainer to Gordon Elliott, Racing TV pundit and former Festival-winning jockey

I’ve been very impressed by Galopin Des Champs and I think he’ll do the double. He’ll be very hard to beat if turning up on his ‘A’ game. It’s a positive that you know he’s been there and done it before. I think he’s got every chance of retaining his crown.

I really like him and I don’t think he’ll be found wanting here. He can bulldoze a fence at times but it doesn’t seem to stop him. He’s won his last seven on the bounce and I can’t see anything turning him over.

I’m a big fan of Fil Dor, each-way, in the Ryanair Chase. He’s a bit underrated and probably goes in under the radar a little. I think stepping back up in trip will be in his favour and he’s done very little wrong this season - he’s bumped into two very good horses in Dinoblue and El Fabiolo. Maybe I’m biased because he’s a horse I’ve always liked here at Cullentra but I can see him running very well.

I’d love to see King Of Kingsfield run a big one in the County Hurdle on Friday. I think he’s got a lovely mark and he should take a lot of beating. I also think Pied Piper has a chance in the same race too, returning off just 2lb higher than when narrowly touched off in the race last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if they decided to claim a few pounds off his back, though that will be Gordon’s decision.

I see Quai De Bourbon has shortened up to now be favourite for the Martin Pipe on Friday. I’m happy to take him on in an open race, and I think Waterford Whispers has a solid chance in opposition for Henry de Bromhead.

If the ground dries out a little bit, I’d be looking forward to seeing The Goffer in the Ultima Handicap Chase on Tuesday. He ran very well in the race last year when fourth behind Corach Rambler and he goes there in good form again. It’d be fantastic if he could go close for his owners and I think he’s got a massive chance if the weather plays ball.

MARK McDONAGH, Cheltenham Festival-winning conditional jockey

I think he will. Fastorslow has beaten him and deserves credit, and I also think Hewick deserves plenty of credit as a King George winner, so it is a very competitive Gold Cup and won’t be a walk in the park by any means. I still feel Galopin is good enough to get the job done.

People are questioning his jumping but I don’t see a big issue with that. He’s a real quality horse. Edwardstone and Jonbon are good horses in their own right but are rated 164 and 170 respectively in Britain. The Irish handicapper has El Fabiolo on 175, so you’d have to pay attention to that gap in the ratings, not that they’ll ever meet in a handicap. El Fabiolo should be good enough.

I’m probably a little biased but I’d love to see Banbridge win the Ryanair. Having won the Martin Pipe on him a couple of years ago, I’ve been following his career closely ever since and I’d imagine his connections will be hoping for nice ground with him next week. You know he likes the track and I think he can run a big race.

I think Foxy Jacks is a big price at 14/1 in the Cross Country on Wednesday. While he might be rated lower than some of these, I’d be a believer that ratings don’t always tend to add up exactly when it comes to cross-country or banks racing. It can be a specialist discipline and course form is huge. Foxy Jacks impressed me last time over the course and Gavin Brouder is getting a good tune out of him.

Found A Fifty is high in the Arkle betting and I’d take him on. With Marine Nationale out, it looks a wide-open race and everything looks to be coming into it with some sort of chance. When so many are in with a shout in one race, anything can happen on the day.

I’d prefer to look into the handicaps properly after we get the declared fields, so instead I’ll put forward one at a big price in another race. Asian Master is a smart horse and 25/1 about him in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle looks too big from an each-way perspective.

HUGH CAHILL, RTÉ Racing presenter

He deserves to be favourite but I’d rather back an upset at the prices.

No, he wins easily.

I think Conflated is a huge price in a weak race, I’ll be backing him at 7/1. I have a huge soft spot for Monkfish and I don’t think it’s impossible for him to win. A price of 11/1 is more than fair if he runs.

I have Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead in a mares' double. I’m very confident.

Take on Sir Gino in the Triumph. He was hugely impressive the last day but 4/6 about a juvenile is mad and anything could happen with four-year-olds.

King Of Kingsfield is as tough as they come and on a fair mark. I think he’ll take all the beating in the County Hurdle which should be run to suit him.

PETER KINGSTON, AK Bets

He’s relatively weak in the betting at a time when a reigning champion and impressive winner last twice ought to be strengthening. That’s a slight concern for supporters. He’s the best horse in the race on his day. Corach Rambler may hit the frame, he’s shown his love for the track and should be ridden patiently to pick up any pieces.

No. There’s a few in there with the ability to, but I think the pace setup of the race enhances El Fabiolo’s already outstanding claims. Four or five should make this a fierce truly-run race up front, including Edwardstone who was excellent with positive tactics in the Game Spirit. El Fabiolo has the biggest engine and that should tell in the finish.

Conflated is interesting in the Ryanair after keeping better company at the DRF and running well until unseating. Home By The Lee may run a lot better in the Stayers’ with some cover in a race that looks wide open.

Gaelic Warrior in either the Arkle or Turners. This is a real first for me as I’ve rarely been with the horse before but it’s about price and he looks fairly quoted to bounce back here. I am not sure what went wrong in Leopardstown, but he was left alone when beat. He may have run into a star in Fact To File regardless. Gaelic Warrior brings a level of form from earlier in the season that would be good enough to win here and he will be very dangerous if getting into a good rhythm.

Sir Gino in the Triumph. He looks plenty short albeit visually stunning in his trial at Cheltenham. While the picture is unclear who is the best of the Irish, it wouldn’t surprise me to see one improve past Nicky Henderson’s four-year-old, whose stable form is also a concern.

No marks for originality here but Inotherwayurthinkin in the Kim Muir looks to have a fantastic chance.

EMMA NAGLE, irishracing.com

I find it hard to oppose him after his last two performances at Leopardstown; he looks like a very special horse. It’s not easy for horses to win back-to-back renewals but he could be as good a Gold Cup horse as I’ve ever seen. I’d still have big respect for Fastorslow; their rivalry has been one of the highlights of the season for me.

No, it will take something special to stop El Fabiolo. If he doesn’t meet any bad luck on the way around I’d expect him to win this fairly emphatically. Captain Guinness could run a big race and may be the one who follows him home. I’d be fairly worried about Jonbon’s jumping.

I’m really starting to warm to Fil Dor in the Ryanair. I thought his two performances this year were fairly eye-catching and while there were questions around his jumping last year, that experience in good two-mile races should stand to him. I was keen on Irish Point for the Stayers’ but it looks like Teahupoo’s race to lose now. Hopefully a big day for Robcour!

I’d love to see Zenta showing up in the County Hurdle. She ran a cracker on handicap debut at the DRF and her juvenile form is hard to ignore. A mark of 142 doesn’t seem overly harsh and Willie has some record in this race with progressive young hurdlers.

I’ll probably take on Sir Gino. The juvenile division can be tricky and at odds-on I could take a chance against him. That could be a bit of pocket talk; I was onboard the Majborough train early on this season. He will have to improve again from the DRF but he looks like one who should.

Along with Zenta, Gabbys Cross was one I was keeping an eye on in the Pertemps. He qualified for the race with a good effort at Punchestown after meeting a bit of trouble in running. Even after getting 6lb from the BHA handicappers he could still have a bit in hand based on his peak chase rating.