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1800 So long, farewell

Drama, thrills and spills, winners (Irish) and losers (the ones I backed). The 2017 Cheltenham Festival has once again had it all.

From the remarkable win of Labaik (how?) to the excitement of Might Bite (woof) and the mad brilliance of Yorkhill, Un De Sceaux and so many others, it's been as memorable as ever. Thanks for joining us for the journey this week.

There's always the Midlands National tomorrow to win it all back...

1755 Betbright Cup result

Ireland 19 Great Britain 9

Clearly nobody really cared about this competition unless you'd had a bet on it, but nevertheless, the outcome is a remarkable illustration of exactly how much the Irish horses have outperformed ante-post market expectations this week - the algorithims run by the bookies suggested that Ireland were about a 7/2 chance to have more winners than the home team. And yet they absolutely smashed it.

Perhaps the result in itself offers a lesson to ante-post punters next year, with respect to the extent to which British horses might be underpriced as a whole relative to the Irish raiders?

1745 Grand Annual result

1st Rock The World 10/1, 2nd Gardefort 20/1, 3rd Theinval 9/1, 4th Dandridge 13/2

1730 False start, false start

Here comes the obligatory standing start as a consequence. Happily, they've all begun. Sort of. At this stage of the Festival, it all seems to become a bit of a Marx Brothers film each year.

1728 Oh Colin

Colin Tizzard has four in this. He's interviewed about the chances of his team and seems almost despondent at the end of a tough week. I wish I could give him a cuddle and tell him it will be all right.

Happily, he says Cue Card 'doesn't have a scratch on him' after his fall.

1725 Grand Annual thoughts

I don't think this is the best Grand Annual ever. In fact, I think it's one of the worst. I'll give you five to consider:

The Game Changer - arrived late on the scene to grab a place in the Arkle last year.  Gets his ground again today and could be the type to enjoy the ridiculous nature of this race.

Le Prezien - clearly had this race in mind all season long.

Dandridge - probably had this race in mind al season long.

Calipto - Jamie Bargary comes in for a cracking spare. Seasonal debut would be for a minus but for the fact Venetia Williams loves it this way.

Bold Henry - doesn't like winning but could snatch a place if delivered late.

1720 One to go, one to go

The Game Changer? Le Prezien? Dandridge?

1710 Pantomine villain

If Michael O'Leary ever fancies winning a popularity contest, he won't win it with post-race comments such as 'This is the worst horse I own'. What an absolute... character.

Jockey JJ Slevin on the other hand seems like a much nicer chap (the year he spent with Nigel Twiston-Davies clearly wasn't lost on him) and reveals that having only got on this winner at 9.45am yesterday morning, he was then approached by another trainer and tried to get off Champagne Classic - only to be firmly told by Gordon Elliott that wasn't an option!

1700 Another one for Elliott

1st Champagne Classic 12/1 2nd Verni 25/1 3rd Runfordave 9/1 4th Coo Star Sivola 13/2 

And that means Gordon Elliott is officially champion trainer at the Cheltenham Festival this year.

1650 Cards on the table

I'm doing my cods today. I thought Rather Be might go well in this race. But even I wouldn't trust my opinion now.

1635 Gold Cup reflections

"No excuses" was the common theme from connections of the beaten horses in the  Gold Cup. 

Native River's owner Garth Broom interestingly mooted the King George as being a possible target for next season.

"You wonder there 'Did he really stay?' as I thought everything was right today," he said. "We were happy that it was a searching gallop. We thought it was the right thing for us but maybe he is a King George horse.

"You can't be disappointed. He's a seven year old. He ran his heart out like he always does and I'm delighted. He'll probably go to Aintree if he is okay.

"Having a runner in a Gold Cup was a lifetime ambiton and that's been achieved so you have to be proud of him."

1625 What a funny old game

Last year all eyes were on Pacha Du Polder. This year virtually none were. Having been in the saddle 12 months ago, Victoria Pendleton is in the crowd this year.

1620 Very much indeed so

Mental note: Next year, only back ironic horses.

1st Pacha Du Polder 16/1 2nd Wonderful Charm 7/2 3rd Barel Of Laughs 100/1

1610 Onwards, ever onwards

So, having had every possible ante-post angle covered with Gold Cup bets placed on Djakadam, Cue Card and Native River all at meaty prices, it's time to keep going for the final ascent.

Here's the Foxhunter. I can offer you no guidance although there would be a delicious irony if Pacha Du Polder was to win it without the assistance of Victoria Pendleton.

1555 Very large Potts of cash

Alan Potts is a very, very wealthy man. To a great extent, he has bought the success he has enjoyed as an owner rather than earned it, operating only at the very highest level and snapping up exciting prospects almost as soon as they come on to the market.

I feel nothing but pleased for him and his wife, Ann, though. They absolutely love jumps racing and days like these are why he has spent literally millions of pounds chasing the dream.

How far would Thistlecrack have won by though, eh?

1550 So many talking points

A race that requires so much unpicking, it's hard to know where to start.

Would Sizing John get home over three miles, two furlongs and 70 yards? Emphatically. Had it not been for the alternative of repeatedly banging heads with Douvan, he might even still have been at two miles. As it was, once he'd prove he could stay three, connections were brave enough to give him the chance to run in this race rather than the Ryanair and it emphatically paid off.

He settled well with just three behind him for much of the contest, travelled with ease, jumped well and put the race to bed with his turn of foot. Native River produced a fantastic performance and was only just robbed of second place by the flying-home Minella Rocco (does he jump well enough for a Grand National?)

Cue Card was only four lengths off the lead when coming down three out (not again) but being pushed along and did not look like winning. Thankfully, he got quickly to his feet.

Outlander showed nothing, Bristol De Mai didn't get home, but Djakadam was heroic. Having smashed into the second-last fence, effectively handing Sizing John the lead, but rallied bravely and had got back past Native River into second place before he just tired in the last 100 yards.

1540 Gold Cup result

1st Sizing John 7/1, 2nd Minella Rocco 18/1, 3rd Native River 7/2, 4th Djakadam

1539 Sizing John wins the Gold Cup

1538 Sizing John pounces

Sizing John bursts into the picture heading to the second-last. Will he stay the trip?

1537 Oh no!

Cue Card goes at the same fence as last year - the third last.

1536 Native River and Djakadam

With four fences to go, it's Native River in front from Djakadam, but Djakadam is possibly just going the better.

1535 The roar begins to build

Native River is serving it up to Champagne West in front now, with Djakadam still going nicely just behind.

1533 Champagne popping nicely

Champagne West is in front going with a circuit go, with Native River chasing him and Djakadam perfectly poised in third.

If you've backed Cue Card, he's sat perfectly in midpack. 

1530 They're off!

Bristol De Mai takes them over the first fence with Native River and Champagne West alongside.

But the Lizzie Kelly story is over at the second fence as Tea For Two, who'd looked to find the big occasion putting him on edge throughout the preliminaries makes an uncharacteristic crashing error at the second fence.

1528 They're lining up!

1520 Late money for Native River

Djakadam is on the drift now as the money comes for the king of the cows, Colin Tizzard, and Native River. I would love him to do it. I really would. And I say that without a penny on Native River or Cue Card. He's just a genuine bloke - and there aren't too many of those in this great game.

1515 Djakadam: The case for, the case against.

For: He jumps well, he stays well, his whole season has been geared around this race, his stable are suddenly flying again, he has (one of) the best jumps jockey in the world riding him, this is an easier Gold Cup than the two in which he has finished second.

Against: Does he quite stay all the way up the hill? Would Cue Card have finished in front of him last year but for falling? Is he more exposed than some of his rivals? Is he too short in the betting now? Why he hasn't shown anything like his best form in three starts so far this season?

1510 Gosh, look at the time

Just 20 minutes to go until the Gold Cup. And Djakadam is hardening as favourite with every winner that Willie Mullins saddles.

1505 More Albert Bartlett reflections

Death Duty went well for a long way under Bryan Cooper, but lost ground when The World's End came down three out (and he would surely have gone close) and couldn't get back on terms afterwards. He took a very tired fall at the last when disputing fourth place, but seems okay.

Ruby Walsh's mount Augusta Kate blundered her chance away but made late gains for sixth place, while Wholestone looked in pole position two out but may not quite have got home. Daryl Jacob just hasn't had the luck this week.

Meanwhile, the winner is now being led back into the winner's enclosure by Brighton chairman Tony Bloom, Penhill's owner. Bloom is a legendary large-scale punter and says he's pleased to have come "with a few friends who had a bit of 16/1 and 20/1". Perhaps it wasn't the great result for the bookmakers a 16/1 winner would usually be.

1500 More drama; same outcome

It's that man again - Willie Mullins wins the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurde, but Paul Townend again rather than Ruby Walsh as Penhill wins at 16/1.

1st Penhill 16/1 2nd Monalee 8/1 3rd Wholestone 13/2

1444 Racing certainty

Two things in life are certain they say, death and taxes and Death Duty combines the two and punters are taking note with the 13/8 fast disappearing.

Money for Constantine Bay too for Nicky Henderson. The area in North Cornwall not too far from Padstow has become known as millionaires' row - perhaps one or two of the residents are playing up the spare change they found down the back of the sofa.

Don't forget to check there for your pound coins before the changeover......

1436 Good Gordon?

Now it's on to the Albert Bartlett and can Gordon Elliott strike back in the trainers' race? He's very, very sweet on Death Duty who he's compared favourably to Don Cossack but this is quite a test for a young horse.

It's been a decent race for owners Gigginstown with the very smart Weapon's Amnesty and the more easily forgotten Very Wood both winning but Mullins has enjoyed very little joy, he saddles four in an attempt to turn that around.

The bigger threat could come from another Irish raider in Monalee though with Henry de Bromhead's runner the each-way horse of choice on the preview circuit.

There are some British trained runners too but they're not getting much of a look in this week.

1427 Credit where it's due

Paul Townend says: "It's some training performance to get him back after such a long absence.

"He had top weight but he had it for a reason and I went out with the mindset to ride him like the best horse and thankfully it paid off."

1425 Running free

An extraordinary race with Donagh Meyler kicking a long way clear on Wakea and the cavalry closing at the bottom of the hill, spread across the width of the track.

Paul Townend spends most of his days operating in the shadow of Ruby Walsh but he somehow threaded a run through against the rail to edge out our very own columnist Daryl Jacob who appeared to have brought the tricky L'Ami Serge with a perfectly timed run. It was a second County in three years for Townend and Mullins.

Alex Ferguson and Jaleo are up okay while Harry Skelton reported North Hill Harvey travelled almost too well and then found very little.

1420 Class will out

1st Arctic Fire 20/1 2nd L'Ami Serge 25/1 3rd Ozzie The Oscar 50/1 4th Air Horse One 10/1 5th Winter Escape 6th Ivanovitch Gorbatov

1410 Sodom and Gomorrah, let the DJ play

They're at the post for the County. It's really quite wild out there in the ring today. I wonder if they've been putting something in the water.

Meanwhile, JP McManus appears to have got his cannon out and fired it in the direction of Ivanovitch Gorbatov. This is a proper punt like the old days.

They're off!

1400 Busy day in the betting ring

No doubt buoyed by having a few quid in their pockets, there's a real buzz in the betting ring now ahead of the County Hurdle. It's more like the old days with plenty of pushing and shoving to get the prices.

Last year's Triumph winner Ivanovich Gorbatov (or Ivan whatever-its-called as Dave Nevison prefers to call it on TV) is proving very popular with the punters, along with fellow McManusite Winter Escape.

Alan King has not enjoyed a good week so far, considering the strength he looked to have among his team at the start of things, and he would absolutely love to be able to bring Winter Escape back to the boil.

1350 More Triumph news

Plenty of creditable performances to emerge from that race, including Magie Du Ma and runner-up Mega Fortune, who - as I said before - is a really thorough stayer and already screaming out for two and a half miles.

Dinaria Des Obeaux was simply too free in front, Evening Hush will need to iron out her jumping issues, while Ex Patriot ran a blinder having made a sudden move three out from the rear given everything he'd been through in the previous 24 hours.

Sadly, it sounds like Master Blueyes has sustained an injury in the race and has been taken straight away from the unsaddling area for treatment - fingers crossed for him because he's a smashing horse.

1340 Defi demolition job

If you backed the favourite, you'll have been pretty happy throughout the race. Mega Fortune and Dinaria Des Obeaux took the field along at a decent gallop, but Richard Johnson made a mid-race move to get a decent position on the heels of the leaders and the horse did everything his jockey would have wanted.

Turning for home, there were at least 10 in with a chance and over two out, most of the field were still within four or five lengths of the lead, but Defi Du Seuil answered every question he was asked and stayed on very strongly up the run-in to win by five lengths.

I was worried about the ground, but trainer Philip Hobbs wasn't. And he knew. Defi Du Seuil is just a very good horse and he's won that very well. "He's just a very good horse," says Hobbs, almost shaking with a mixture of relief and pleasure in the winner's enclosure. "He could be a Champion Hurdle horse. He could be an Arkle horse. We'll see what JP and the lads say. I haven't schooled him over fences but he'd be mustard."

1st Defi Du Seuil 5/2F 2nd Mega Fortune 7/1 3rd Bapaume 10/1 4th Ex Patriot

1330 'It's time to get the party started'

So says commentator Mark Johnson anyway. They're off for the Triumph!

1325 'King latest news

Alan King has just popped up on Racing UK to say Yanworth and Uxizandre are both fine after their runs earlier this week - Yanworth could go over two and a half miles at Aintree next and I'd say he'd have to be a player over that trip. He ran on very strongly up the run-in in the Champion if you watch the replay.

King runs two in the Triumph and both have stacks of experience. I wouldn't be surprised if either runs a very big race.

Meanwhile, Ex Patriot briefly gets loose as he goes out on to the course. But he's been caught and there won't be a big delay.

1315 More thoughts on the Triumph

Our Irish expert Donn McClean thinks Mega Fortune could be overpriced in the opener.

I can see his point. I liked the way he put the race to bed in the Spring Juvenile last time out, rushing clear between the last two. He's tough and a very thorough stayer at this trip. I wonder if he will be ridden aggressively by Davy Russell.

But the Irish horse I've had a nibble on is Dinaria Des Obeaux. She was thought likely to go for the Fred Winter last week but the fact Gordon Elliott wants to take her stablemate on instead is interesting. She would have gone close against Mega Fortune at Leopardstown but for making a terrible error two out which saw her lose a lot of ground.

1310 Twenty minutes til take-off

Only 20 minutes to go until we get under way with the Triumph Hurdle - don't forget Sky Bet's usual First Race Special on the race. Defi Du Seuil is still very solid in the market, but the support for the Irish hopes Landofhopeandglory and Bapaume is starting to take my eye - they've now usurped Mega Fortune as the premier Irish contenders for the race.

1300 People who want to appear on TV in the background

Another phenonemon I've never understood. As soon as Matt Chapman walks into the betting ring, he must know he's going to have 100 people stood behind him trying to be funny.

I caught my first slice of The Opening Show earlier. It was quite entertaining actually, although Luke Harvey's instinctive laughter at his own introduction from Oli Bell as 'racing expert' suggested he still can't believe he's made it to the big time, which is a shame as he's very engaging and one of my favourite members of the new squad.

1245 Saturday cert

Not many takers for the Winners Are Welcome At Matchbook Silver Bowl Handicap Chase, one of the two consolation races at Kempton tomorrow, but Romain De Senam is the big eyecatcher under top weight for Paul Nicholls.

Hopes were pretty high in the camp when I visited the yard pre-Cheltenham that this 137-rated horse would not only get in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase on Tuesday, but might just be one of the stable's better chances of the entire week.

Would success on Saturday be any real 'consolation' for Nicholls? You bet it would - there's only six to beat and there's £25,024 to the winner.

1215 Today's punting thoughts

Try as I might, I can't fnd a hot punting angle in the Gold Cup. Everything just seems 'about the right price'. Djakadam must go close but would I want to back him at 3/1 when Lydia Hislop was raving about him at 12/1 not so long ago? I can't say I would.

Crievehill is the horse I have mentioned to everyone asking for a tip this week. I'm convinced that 137 might underestimate him and if he can find any improvement for running on a better surface, he can outrun his odds at 33/1 in the County Hurdle. Kapstadt is another possible longshot to look at in that race.

Paint The Clouds is a horse I've always had a soft spot for and he finally gets his desired conditions in the Foxhunter having finished third on a far less suitable surface for the last two seasons. I can't believe an each-way bet on him will leave you out of pocket.

There was a mountain of cash lining up to back Defi Du Seuil for the Triumph Hurdle after racing last night and he's still very solid in the betting in the opener. I must say I'm surprised given the drying ground and Nicky Henderson's rarely-misplaced confidence in Charli Parcs' talents.

1155 Each-way a pleasure

One of the interesting developments for punters at this year's Festival has been the amount of variation in the each-way terms on offer - are you a 1/5 1-2-3-4 or do you prefer 1/4 1-2-3? Would you prefer 1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6 or settle for the more traditional 1/4 1-2-3-4? Sky Bet are now paying 1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6 on the Martin Pipe, meaning you'll get a return on even sixth place. Got to be worth a look.

1145 Correspondence

Falbrav: This could be the biggest punting day of my life and then again it might not be! I backed More Of That at every price on the exchanges between 100 and 230, then laid it all off in double digits. As it stands, I have no liability but will trouser just north of £7K if he wins. Since it is going to be my 50th birthday later this year, some celebratory cash might come in handy! I had a dreadful day yesterday as I had decided team Mullins was badly out of form and now I find myself most worried about Djakadam… it’s like everything has changed in the blink of an eye. I wish you and everybody else a happy and successful Gold Cup Day… I haven’t backed the winner since Imperial Commander so I’m hoping for a change of fortune.

Stephen: After a disastrous three days so far I’ve decided to give it one last go (I’ve definitely had this conversation with myself before). Gone for the big boys in the Trumph, with Bapaume (been impressive in Ireland if with a slight blip recently) and Landofhopeandglory (following the big ex flat horses, hoping the ground and huge crowds will suit him). Then Mohayeed who did me so well at the King George and can only improve. Augusta Kate has done me well in the past and has some good form in the book and think the ground and time of year suites, she also owned by some interesting people. Then in the big one its Bristol De Mai, I watched the Haydock race and when he's on a going day hes got to make the frame - just depends if it’s a going day or not.    

1135 Weather update

Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse says "it looks like the wind is going to keep any rain out to the west of us, though there is a chance of light rain from 5pm onwards". Expect a monsoon then.

There's a newly-opened fresh strip seven yards wide on the inside meaning all races will be run at their advertised distances. Claisse says he's "had a good walk round this morning", which is good news for everyone.

Mick Jazz is out of the County Hurdle, which you may already know. I'm pretty sure I backed him after the race had gone non-runner, no-bet. God bless the NRNB concession. Sometimes at the end of the Cheltenham Festival, it's all any of us have got to cling to.

1130 Mission accomplished

Badge successfully handed over to competition winner.

1100 Love for the Tizzards

If you were tuned into this blog yesterday, you'll know that we had the opportunity to talk to both Colin and Joe Tizzard at a specially-arranged press conference.

Having yesterday played down the apparent lack of form from the Mullins team over the first two days of racing, I have to say I'd have major, major concerns if I was a backers of Cue Card or Native River today. Yes, Fox Norton was a fair second in the Queen Mother, but too many of the other Tizzard runners have simply run absolute shockers this week. The cold fact is that the stable haven't sent out a single winner yet this month.

For many trainers, this sort of worrying statistic would leave them shouting at everyone, but Colin Tizzard was his normal, charming, self-effacing self, bantering with the press and saying how he hated it when his phone kept ringing with enquiries from the media but "whenever you have a day when nobody calls you, you wonder what's gone wrong".

There was a long piece about him on the BBC local news bulletin last night which captured his spirit really quite nicely, and was some great PR for the sport overall, showing some of the daily care that goes into looking after his horses.

When Cue Card was chasing the £1million bonus in the Gold Cup 12 months ago, a friend of mine - a serious journalist, as opposed to a chancer like me - was sent into the Dorset/Somerset countryside to try and dig out some dirt on him in the local villages and find out what the other farmers really thought of him. He couldn't find anyone with a bad word to say about him.

Whatever my own betting positions, I would absolutely love it if one of Cue Card or Native River could do it for the Tizzards today. Make no mistake, they really deserve it.

1050 Interviews

Still making your mind up about today's selections? Here's my preview of today's action (including today's 33/1 good thing), or better still, if you want to hear something useful, you could listen to this interview with Joe Tizzard about his pair of Gold Cup big guns, or even this one with the highly-likeable Michael O'Leary.

1040 Quick random rant about daytime TV

I don't watch much daytime TV, because I'm usually either watching Blaze and the Monster Machines or Team Umizoomi at home (if you don't know what these programmes are, be thankful), or racing at work. 

In the press room this week, one of the TVs is tuned to ITV. I swear every day there has been a phone-in about a body part. What has happened to This Morning? When I used to watch it 20 years ago when bunking off school, it used to be cookery, soap operas and local history. Now it's like a nightschool for gynaecologists. No wonder Richard and Judy walked away.

1030: Sold-out signs up

It is literally a sell-out at Cheltenham today - no tickets are available for any enclosure and the touts were... well... touting well over a mile from the track as I walked in. I've always fancied a bash at the old touting game. While I was out running last night, I had an idea for a new book, where I work 101 different jobs at racecourses - groundstaff, racecard seller, security man, barstaff, car park attendant, jockeys' valet. That sort of thing. The only downside I could see is that it would take about a year to write and I'd probably only sell about 12 copies to my family.

I already know which part of the paragraph above you find least believeable. Yes, I went out for a run - about six miles around Cheltenham, weaving in and out of the drunks and getting a host of supportive comments on the way. We had an email yesterday from a chap who'd enjoyed a good walk in the country on his way to work in Luxembourg, so I made sure to note any nature that I came across. In total, I saw one fox and one rat (possibly a large mouse). Stick that in your pipe, Chris Packham.

1020: Talk to me

All week long your email correspondence has been peppering this blog and hopefully today will prove no exception. You can send me your thoughts for the next couple of hours to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com

Hopefully yesterday's winner James will make it to the track in order to come to the Gold Cup today and I have another prize to give away too - albeit not quite on the same level of value. My favourite piece of correspondence will receive a copy of all of this week's racecards in mint condition in the post. I've been saving them for you.

1010: Going news

The first thing to say is that the going is now officially 'Good' and there's a real breeze coming across the course today. It's not going to be quick. The sun isn't out and they watered only two nights ago. But it is going to be the quickest ground on which racing has taken place this week - and that's a fascinating extra element for punters to consider given that 90% of the jumps racing we have seen in the last three months has taken place in completely different conditions. Which horses have been crying out for a bit of spring ground and which might just find it working against them?

1000: Cheltenham calling!

Good morning from Prestbury Park. It's Gold Cup day. In the words of Desert Orchid when he saw who was coming up his inside three out on this day 28 years ago, Yahoo!