The in-form Ben Pauling could become the first Gloucestershire trainer to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup for well over a decade later this week.

The standout race at this year’s Cheltenham Festival gets under way at 4pm on Friday  and the Pauling-trained The Jukebox Man is among the favourites for the race over three miles and two-and-a-half furlongs.

And the eight-year-old, who is owned by Harry Redknapp, would certainly be a very popular winner after being headed in the final strides by the Gordon Elliott-trained Stellar Story in last year’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

He’s kicked on massively since then and has won all four of his races under top jockey Ben Jones this season, most recently the King George VI at Kempton Park on Boxing Day in another thrilling race.

“I would love to see the horse win it,” said Mike Edwards, who has been involved in and around racing for some 65 years.

“He was very impressive when he won the King George and Ben Jones is a good rider. He can definitely win it.”

The last Gloucestershire-trained winner of the Gold Cup was in 2012 when Tony McCoy steered home the JP McManus-owned Synchronised for Jonjo O’Neill.

That was a special day but it will take a very big effort for Pauling to match that achievement.

The Willie Mullins-trained Gaelic Warrior is strongly fancied, as is Jango Baie, who is trained by Nicky Henderson.

Last year’s winner Inothewayurthinkin, who is trained by Gavin Cromwell, is again entered and among the top fancies.

Pauling is currently fifth in the trainers’ championship having earned more than £1.4 million in prize money, while the in-form Jones is enjoying the best season of his career after riding more than 80 winners.

And while Edwards will be a keen spectator as the Gold Cup drama unfolds, he admits the race he is most looking forward to at this year’s Cheltenham Festival is the Triumph Hurdle, the opening race on the final day of the four-day festival (1.20pm).

“I really fancy Minella Study, that’s my Nap of the meeting,” he said.

Trained by Adam Nicol in Northumberland, the four-year-old won the Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle in impressive style at Cheltenham under Ryan Mania in December, and is among the leading contenders for Friday’s race alongside the likes of Proactif and Selma De Vary.

The first race at this year’s Cheltenham Festival – the Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – gets under way at 1.20pm on Tuesday.