Follow the Cheltenham Festival on Sporting Life
- Galopin Des Champs simply sensational in Gold Cup
- Third victory in Festival showpiece for Mullins, Townend
- Closutton maestro now on 93 Festival winners
- It's Ricci pickings for favourite Lossiemouth in Triumph
- 33/1 Faivoir a County cracker for Andrews & Skelton
- Stay Away Fay hands Nicholls & Cobden another winner
- 66/1 Premier Magic biggest-priced winner of the week
- Impervious is imperious for JP, Murphy and Hayes
All times GMT, please refresh for updates
1740: And that's a wrap! The 2023 Cheltenham Festival is in the books. What a Festival it's been, with a ton of memories and remarkable moments. Constitution Hill, Honeysuckle and Galopin Des Champs the undisputed headline acts. Trust you've all enjoyed it. See you again in 2024!
RESULT: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
1st - IROKO (6/1)
2nd - No Ordinary Joe (14/1)
3rd - Buddy One (28/1)
4th - Might I (6/1)
5th - Imagine (5/1)
1715: Although it would appear Timeform don't agree. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing!
1720: So, we're on to the last dance of the week. A certain Galopin Des Champs won this two years ago if I remember rightly. Wonder if we'll see another star of the future here? Anyway, time to grab your partners. Might I is mine.
Next-race Timeform tip
Willie Mullins took this in 2021 with Galopin des Champs and SPANISH HARLEM is fancied to tread a similar path and make a winning handicap debut under Michael O'Sullivan who has hit the headlines already here this week. Iroko, who continues to go from strength to strength, looks sure make a bold bid for the hat-trick so he heads up the dangers, while Imagine and Cool Survivor look the pick of Gordon Elliott's sextet in an ultra-competitive final race of the Festival.
Click here to place your bets on the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
1710: It's been a long wait. But Might I suggest the Martin Pipe is the race of the week for our team of top tipsters Matt Brocklebank, Ben Linfoot and Simon Holt. FWIW it's worst, Harry Fry's horse is also the horse I like here. What could possibly go wrong...
1700: Impervious rolled back the years for Brave Inca's trainer Colm Murphy in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase to hand jockey Brian Hayes a first Festival winner.
In a steadily-run race, favourite Allegorie De Vassy and Impervious took over from last year's runner-up Pink Legend on the run two out - and the big two in the market duly served up the duel we wanted.
A slick jump at the last carried Allegorie De Vassy into a narrow lead, but Impervious showed guts aplenty to not only stick her neck back in front, but then power away from her market rival in the final 100 yards.
Hayes said: "She winged the first and second, and always landed running. She's got pace but she stays very well too. She's got scope, power and she really wants it. She puts her ears back and just battles."
Murphy, who was saddling his fifth Festival after Brave Inca (twice), Big Zeb and Empire Of Dirt, added: "It feels fantastic now she's gone and done it. She's a tough lady! She's got a great mind, too."
RESULT: Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Grade 2)
1st - IMPERVIOUS (15/8)
2nd - Allegorie De Vassy (13/8fav)
3rd - Pink Legend (33/1)
1649: Great news this. Because that was an absolute pearler of a fall.
1646: This race is more Clonmel than Cheltenham. That's not a slight on the talent on show here. Far from it. It's probably the best renewal so far. But seven of the nine runners are trained in Ireland...where did all the British mares go?
1641: As expected, Mark Walsh misses the ride on last year's winner Elimay in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase. Luke Dempsey comes in for the spare. She was 9/4 when landing this 12 months ago, but is an 18/1 outsider this time.
Click here to place your bets on the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
1638: Well done me! Chip butties all round for tea.
1635: Magic Daze has a pretty good record over fences, but she ran a shocker in the Sporting Life Arkle 12 months ago. She's also a free-going mare who'll surely burn herself out over this 2m4f trip before things get serious. Allegorie De Vassey's jumping is a worry for me. So FWIW I fancy Impervious to extend her unbeaten run over fences to four here for J P McManus.
Click here to place your bets on the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
1630: It's the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase up next.
Next-race Timeform tip
A fascinating clash between 2 young chasers who could be very smart. IMPERVIOUS really impressed when claiming the scalp of Journey With Me at Punchestown in January and is narrowly preferred to Allegorie de Vassy, who has been a very easy winner of her 2 starts over fences.
Click here to place your bets on the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
1620: Placepot buster!!!
RESULT: St. James's Place Festival Hunters' Chase
1st - PREMIER MAGIC (66/1)
2nd - Its On The Line (28/1)
3rd - Shantou Flyer (50/1)
4th - Rocky's Howya (11/1)
1606: We certainly do have two superstars. Something for racing to sell to the masses. Just a shame someone put the number cloth on the wrong way round. And Paul Townend put his breeches on back to front...
1600: I could watch that race all day. But on we must go. My tip for the Foxhunters is...head to the nearest bar and enjoy a pint of Guinness with Niall. Our pals at Timeform do have a tip for you, though.
Next-race Timeform tip
VAUCELET improved on his excellent strike rate back under Rules when beating the idling Dorking Cock at Down Royal on Boxing Day and is just about the form pick with this stiffer test sure to suit. Famous Clermont was most impressive at Haydock last month and rates the main threat ahead of last year's winner Billaway.
1545: Galopin Des Champs (7/5fav) proved the hype was all right as produced a sensational performance to win the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
In a race run at a relentless pace thanks to Ahoy Senor, who took an unfortunate tumble deep into the second circuit, Paul Townend crept his way into contention down the hill. With Hewick crashing out 2 out, it was left to King George winner Bravemansgame to serve it up to Willie Mullins' superstar. The duo jumped the last in unison, but he simply had no answer to Galopon Des Champs' final surge as he proved any stamina doubts to be well wide of the mark.
Bravemansgame ran the race of his life in second, ahead of Conflated - an 11th hour spare ride for teenager Sam Ewing - and Grand National winner Noble Yeats, who ran a superb trial ahead of the defence of his Aintree crown next month.
Ahoy Senor, Sounds Russian and Hewick all took heavy falls, but initial reports are that all three horses were OK.
Townend, who rode Al Boum Photo to both of his Gold Cup wins, said: "It wasn't plain sailing. His jumping was a bit careful for the first circuit, but I put my faith in him going out on the second circuit and he responded. I was delighted to see them going at out in front. It gave me time to fill him up. He's a proper, proper horse."
1539: A superstar is anointed. Simply sublime from Galopin Des Champs and Paul Townend.
RESULT: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
1st - GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (7/5fav)
2nd - Bravemansgame (6/1)
3rd - Conflated (22/1)
4th - Noble Yeats (14/1)
Click here for FREE video replay and full result
1523: Over to the Timeform crew with their take on who your Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup winner for 2023 will be.
Next-race Timeform tip
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS would be unbeaten over fences but for falling at last year's Festival. The way he forged clear in the Irish Gold Cup suggests the slightly longer trip this afternoon should be within range and he's very much the one to beat. Bravemansgame is another who has suffered only one defeat over fences and is feared most after his impressive King George success. Last year's National Hunt Chase winner Stattler will relish the return to a longer trip and looks best of the rest.
Click here to place your bets on the Cheltenham Gold Cup
1518: WOW! Davy Russell misses the ride on Conflated in the Gold Cup. Stood down by the docs because he's too sore to ride. What an opportunity for young Sam Ewing here. Think Sam might still need to ride a winner over fences in Britain, possibly two, to qualify to ride in the Grand National. What a way to do it by winning the Gold Cup!
1514: After the season he's had with a couple of serious injuries, nothing would hurt more for poor Mark Walsh than if he missed out on riding the Gold Cup winner. Sport has a funny way of sticking the boot in, don't it? He's got one booked ride left, Elimay in the Grade 2 Paddy Power Mares' Novices Chase at 4.50pm. Could well be another jockey change to come.
Click here to place your bets on the Cheltenham Gold Cup
1511: Late jockey change for the Gold Cup. After his unfortunate tumble on Corbetts Cross in the last race, Mark Walsh has been replaced on 2021 winner Minella Indo by Nico De Boinville.
1509: Just 21 minutes to go now...
1505: Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls combined to land their second Grade 1 of the week as Stay Away Fay (18/1) ground his rivals into submission in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
Following their success in Wednesday's Turners Novices' Chase with Stage Star, the Ditcheat duo caused a surprise in the 3m event for jubilant owners Chris Giles and Dave Staddon.
There was no lack of drama, as favourite Corbetts Cross crashed through the wings of the final flight and ran out, dumping his luckless rider Mark Walsh on the deck. Whether he would have won is debatable, however. Rank outsider Affordable Fury (150/1) was always up there and held on grimly to take second place, ahead of fellow Irish raider Sandor Clegane (28/1).
Cobden, who rides Bravemansgame in the Gold Cup, said: "I heard what happened behind me. My horse is very inexperienced, he was very green. He winged the last and then put his head up. I thought I was going to get caught, but he put he put his head down again. He stays all day."
Nicholls said: "He's a smart young horse. We rode him a bit differently today, Harry was really positive on him. It was only his third run. There's lots more to come."
RESULT: Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
1st - STAY AWAY FAY (18/1)
2nd - Affordable Fury (150/1)
3rd - Sandor Clegane (28/1)
4th - Letsbeclearaboutit (16/1)
Click here for FREE video replay and full result
1448: Emmet Mullins' Corbetts Cross is strong at the top of the market here, a general 9/4 across the board. Hiddenvalley Lake, who wears a firt-time tongue tie, is one of a number of well-backed De Bromhead-Blackmore runners, while at bigger prices there's been bit and pieces of support for Seabank Bistro.
1438: Here's Timeform's view on what's often a race for the sloggers.
Next-race Timeform tip
Very open by Grade 1 standards but there's an air of star quality surrounding CORBETTS CROSS, who has been acquired by J P McManus having taken another step forward when scoring on debut for Emmet Mullins at Naas last month. There will be no hiding place regarding stamina here and, with that in mind, Three Card Brag is a massive threat, while those looking for one at longer odds, we certainly haven't seen the best of Stay Away Fay.
Click here to place your bets on the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
1435: The action doesn't stop. Just 15 minutes until the Albert Bartlett. Three Card Brag looks a Grade 1 horse in the making, but possibly next season rather than for today. So long as his win in a Grade 2 over only 2m at Naas 19 days ago hasn't taken the edge off him, Corbetts Cross should prove a hard horse to beat here.
Click here to place your bets on the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
1425: Bridget Andrews denied Davy Russell a farewell Festival winner as she scooped her second County Hurdle on 33/1 outsider Faivoir.
Trainer Dan Skelton, who landed Wednesday's Coral Cup with Langer Dan, had well-backed favourite Pembroke, ridden by brother Harry, in the race - but it was the eight-year-old Faivoir who provided him with his fourth win in this race since 2016.
Faivoir and Andrews narrowly got the better of veteran Russell and Pied Piper, who nodded on landing at the last, in a driving finish. Filey Bay was third and dual Champion Hurdle runner-up Sharjah fourth.
Andrews, who rode Mohaayed to glory in 2018, said: "I can't believe it. Just to come here with a ride is a dream come true. Plenty of other better jockeys than me have never had a Festival winner. So get a second winner here is a dream come true.)
RESULT: McCoy Contractors County Hurdle
1st - FAIVOIR (33/1)
2nd - Pied Piper (12/1)
3rd - Filey Bay (6/1)
4th - Sharjah (10/1)
5th - Ballyadam (12/1)
Click here for FREE video replay and full result
1400: Two against the field for me in a typically white-hot County Hurdle coming up. The Relkeel form has worked out an absolute treat, so last year's First Street looks set for another bold run, even off a 10lb higher mark to 12 months ago. Of the bigger-priced runners, I've a sneaking suspicion a well-run, big-field handicap might bring the best out of Pinkerton.
Click here to place your bets on the County Hurdle
1355: The Timeform boys and girls fancy Willie Mullins to make it a quick double in the County Hurdle at 2.10pm.
Next-race Timeform tip
Willie Mullins has compiled a fine record in this race in recent years, and as one of a 4-pronged attack, the highly-admirable SHARJAH could provide the Closutton handler with further success. Twice a runner-up in the Champion Hurdle, he's run well all 3 starts in Graded company so far this term and this sort of mark may well be within reach. Low-mileage stablemate Hunters Yarn is a major threat however along with Betfair Hurdle second Filey Bay.
Click here to place your bets on the County Hurdle
1350: One up for our star columnist Willie Mullins with Lossiemouth in the Triumph. The Festival's winning-most trainer has three contenders for the County Hurdle next, including the well-fancied Hunters Yarn and the classy Sharjah.
1345: Lossiemouth turned the tables on her Dublin Racing Festival conqueror Gala Marceau with an impressive success in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
Paul Townend's pick of Willie Mullins' seven runners, the 11/8 favourite tanked through the race, took it up coming down the hill and found plenty when asked to settle the issue going to the last.
Gala Marceau overhauled Zenta on the run to the line, with Gust Of Wind making it a 1-2-3-4 for Willie Mullins. Disappointment of the race was stablemate Blood Destiny, who weakened tamely away from the home turn.
Townend said: "I wasn't going to fight her too much. I didn't question her stamina, so I just kept an even gallop. She's a very good filly, very professional. Thankfully, we've been able to make up for the misfortune we had at the Dublin Racing Festival."
An emotional Ricci, who was celebrating a 20th Festival win but a first Grade 1 since last year's Punchestown Festival, said: "It's a great win. She was expensive, but she's lovely and she's been great all year. It's great to be a part of it all."
RESULT: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
1st - LOSSIEMOUTH (11/8f)
2nd - Gala Marceau (100/30)
3rd - Zenta (12/1)
Click here for FREE video replay and full result
1328: Willie Mullins dominates this race once again. He's got seven runners in here, including 5 fillies. Paul Townend eventually plumped for Lossiemouth over Blood Destiny. Has he got it right? The market suggests so. She's now into 11/8fav, with Blood Destiny out to 5/2. Ascending the best-backed outsider here, 40/1 last night into 12/1 now.
Click here to place your bets on the Triumph Hurdle
1320: Still a one-horse race in the 'Best Mullet in Racing' stakes. Gotta admire Rich Ricci.
1315: Value Bet selection Maskada and Punting Pointers pick Angels Dawn are both mares to have beaten the boys in handicaps so far this week. Now it's the turn of Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle. The 7lb mares' allowance has seen the likes of Honeysuckle, Epatante, Annie Power and Put The Kettle On all win Grade 1s at recent Festvials. Bad news for Blood Destiny fans in the ITV opener? Possibly. FWIW, I fancy Lossiemouth to turn around DRF form with Gala Marceau and follow in the hoofprints of the last filly to win this - Burning Victory, also trained by Willie Mullins, in 2020.
Click here to place your bets on the Triumph Hurdle
1302: Our man Simon Holt has trawled through the ITV races and has 3 selections for the telly action, including a double-figure priced fancy in the Gold Cup.
1300: Right, on with the racing. Our pals at Timeform are here to help you hopefully make it a profitable afternoon's viewing on ITV and Racing TV, as well as a hugely enjoyable one. Here's who they think will kick things off with a W in the opener at 1.30.
Next-race Timeform tip
LOSSIEMOUTH looks one of the best seen in this division for several years and would be unbeaten had she got better luck behind Gala Marceau at Leopardstown. She can improve further and make it 2-1 against her stablemate, who is also capable of better and won't go down easily now fitted with a hood. Blood Destiny needs to cut out the mistakes but is another very exciting juvenile and can make it another 1-2-3 this week for Willie Mullins.
Click here to place your bets on the Triumph Hurdle
1250: I'm Hank Marvin! Gonna have as many stabs at this as I can muster before 3.30pm.
1245: Want to know what our good friends over at Timeform HQ fancy on today's card? Well, look no further than here.
1240: Another NR to report. Glan is out of the County Hurdle. Can't say I fancied him anyway, for all that he was meant to carry the green-and-gold of JP McManus.
1235: Feeling Lucky, punks? Our team of top tipsters certainly are! Here's their Lucky 15 perm which, if it comes off, should cover the guts of a lively Friday night out.
1225: Time for a bite to eat now before we tuck into a feast of top-class racing throughout the afternoon. Here's something to peruse while you polish off your prawn panini / beans on toast (delete as appropriate depending on how your punting has gone).
1215: For anyone who missed it, last year's winner Billaway is the selection of hunter chase and point-to-point anorak Jonathan Neesom on Racing TV's Mark Your Card for the Foxhunters at 4.10pm. And Dandy Dan is his pick of the outsiders.
Click here to place your bets on the Hunters’ Chase
1155: Plenty of stuff straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak, from Paul Nicholls, Daryl Jacob and the one and only Rachael Blackmore right here.
1150: He couldn't, could he? Not after one run in 12 months. And a mightily disappointing one at that, when pulling up in the Betfair Chase back in November. Then again, he's trained by Henry De Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore.
1145: Somewhat surprisingly, Ruby Walsh only won two Gold Cups. Both on Kauto Star. Then again, I'm pretty sure most jump jockeys would gladly settle for winning the Gold Cup twice! Anyway, click here to see what the Festival's all-time winning-most rider makes of today's showpiece.
1140: Hold on to your hats! No, not the fluffy Jamiroquai number Niall has just been trying on in the Shopping Village. It's the Foxhunters preview on Racing TV now with Jonathan and Jonathan. Dan happily sitting this one out - and I don't blame him!
1135: Check out Patrick Mullins' thoughts on his 5 rides today.
1128: And a totally different posse of positives to report from Paddy Power.
Paddy Power Market Movers
1.30: Zenta (10/1 from 12/1)
2.10: Pembroke (5/1 from 11/2)
2.50: Corbetts Cross (5/2 from 11/4)
3.30: Bravemansgame (13/2 from 7/1), Ahoy Senor (16/1 from 22/1)
4.05: Billaway (6/1 from 13/2)
4.50: Impervious (13/8 from 7/4)
5.30: Cool Survivor (4/1 from 9/2)
1125: Over to Shinners for an update on which horses are proving popular in the Sky Bet trading room.
Sky Bet Market Movers
13.30: Ascending (8/1 from 40/1)
14.10: Ballyadam (7/1 from 20/1)
14.50: Hiddenvalley Lake (9/2 from 7/1)
16.10: Rockys Howya (8/1 from 12/1)
16.50: Magic Daze (5/1 from 11/1)
17.30: Irish Hill (8/1 from 16/1)
1122: The fact I can't ride a horse is perhaps a slight drawback. But riding this guy every day of the week must beat every 9-to-5 job I'll ever have. Excluding this one, obvs...
1118: Oh no. Niall, Megan and TWT have spotted another whisky bar. This could get messy.
1115: Lucinda Russell has already been on the mark this week with Corach Rambler, who's now favourite for next month's Grand National following his repeat win in Tuesday's Ultima Chase. Could she, partner Peter Scu and jockey Derek Fox make it a remarkable double with Ahoy Senor in the Gold Cup? Chris Hughes and Greatr British Racing headed north to Kinross to find out.
1110: Raspberries and mint leaves. Lots of them. Apparently that's the secret to the perfect whisky cocktail.
1106: Water of Life time with Niall and The Wine/Whisky Tipster on Mark Your Card now. They've rendezvoused at the Glenfarclas bar, where Vincenzo is mixing up this morning's tipple. Niall's straight in with a double, despite it not being his preferred refreshment.
1101: "Now where do I find the Cheltenham Live blog on the Sporting Life mobile site?" Click on the Horse Racing tab, Rachael, and it's the main item on the racing homepage. You cannae miss it.
1055: Willie Mullins leads the top trainers standings with 4 winners so far going into the final day, one ahead of both Gordon Elliott and Henry De Bromhead. Read the master of Closutton's thoughts on all his runners, including Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs, in his exclusive column here.
1040: It's been a good week for our top team of tipsters. As well as Matt Brocklebank nailing Maskada (25/1) and Stage Star (11/1) in his Value Bet column, Ben Linfoot put up 8/1 Brown Advisory Chase winner The Real Whacker on Wednesday. And our Punting Pointers duo of Rory Delargy and Dave Massey landed yesterday's 10/1 Kim Muir beauty Angels Dawn. See what the team are fancying for all seven races today right here.
1030: An important NR for you. Unfortunately it's one of Matt Brocklebank's Value Bet fancies. Magnor Glory is out of the County.
1025: If looks won Gold Cups...
1015: All set fair for Gold Cup day? Looks like it.
1010: Niall's out on the track with Megan Nicholls, not far "from the back of the last" as Ruby would say. Only a short walk from there to the Guinness Village, if I remember rightly...
1005: Gary O'Brien has been joined by Timeform's Dan Barber and Jonathan Neesom on Mark Your Card this morning. I do like how when you give Dan a microphone, he puffs out his chest like a robin at the first sight of snow in winter. I also like how he calls it. Pound for pound, definitely one of the better pundits out there.
0958: Don't know about you, but I'm needing another sugar fix to get through these final epic seven races. A plate of these would be just the job if Cheltenham can FedEx a plateful over to me? Please don't use Evri, though. They'll just leave them on the front doorstep and not even have the courtesy to ring the doorbell...
0954: Here we go with the Opening Show team's tips for today.
Oli Bell: Galopin Des Champs (Gold Cup)
Matt Chapman: Pembroke e/w (County Hurdle)
Rishi Persad: Famous Clermont (Foxhunters)
Mick Fitz: Corbetts Cross (Albert Bartlett)
Sally Ann Grassick: Noble Yeats (Gold Cup)
Chris Hughes: Ahoy Senor (Gold Cup)
0950: Just the 2.5mm of rain at Cheltenham overnight, meaning we're starting Gold Cup day on ground that's officially described as SOFT, GOOD TO SOFT IN PLACES. Four NRs to report so far - Not That Fuisse in the St James's Place Festival Hunters' Chase at 4.10pm. And three in the Festival finale, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, at 5.30. They are Wonderwall, Grozni and Hey Johnny.
0943: Poor Kevin Blake looks like the victim of a stag do stunt with that coffee cup superglued to his left hand. Into the final 15 minutes of ITV4's Opening Show. Then it'll be on to Racing TV for the final Mark Your Card of the week. And who knows what Niall and The Wine Tipster will have in store for us this morning...
0935: It's been an excellent week so far for followers of Matt Brocklebank's Value Bet column thanks to wins for Maskada (25/1) and Stage Star (11/1). Click here to see who and what Matt fancies today. Worryingly for Matt, I'm all over one his selections too.
0928: Couldn't have said it better myself...
0920: Before we crack on with our build-up to the big one of the season, a reminder of just what it means to win a race, any race, at the Cheltenham Festival. Raw passion, emotion and satisfaction all rolled into one from Britain's 13-time champion trainer.
0910: Good morning all and welcome back to our live coverage of the Cheltenham Festival - and it's Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup day! Some superb stories have unfolded so far this week and today promises to be no different. Stay tuned for the latest going reports and non-runners. In the meantime, here's Shark Hanlon - trainer of Hewick - speaking to our Adam Houghton down in the middle of the track.
WATCH: Day four video preview and tips!
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