All times GMT
1612: It wasn't the final word. I'm having that. Off to the Prince Of Wales for one, last, emotional time. Then heading home. It was short but sweet. Very sweet. Cheltenham always is.
1610: Final word from our sponsors on the big one.
Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Tranquil Sea has been given a 10/1 first show quote by Sky Bet for the Ryanair Chase.
Edward O'Grady's charge now shares third favouritism with Barbers Shop in Sky Bet's betting for his nominated Festival target, with the market headed by 7/2 chance Voy Por Ustedes
Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: "Tranquil Sea has put up two career best performances this season over fences and at least enters calculations for the Ryanair winning here off 148.
"Last year's winner Imperial Commander was rated 9lb lower when taking the Paddy Power as a stepping stone to success in the Ryanair in the same season".
Paul Nicholls saddled the runner-up for the fourth time with Poquelin, who will return to Cheltenham for the Ryanair and has been given a 14/1 quote by Sky Bet.
Ryanair Chase, Sky Bet betting:
7/2 Voy Por Ustedes, 5 Imperial Commander, 10 Tranquil Sea, Barbers Shop, 12 Tidal Bay, Schindlers Hunt, 14 Chapoturgeon, In Compliance, Poquelin, 16 Planet of Sound, 20 Jack The Giant, 25 Aran Concerto, Massinis Maguire
1600: Well I was very taken by Tranquil Sea in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. He has to be a player in the Ryanair Chase although 10/1 looks about right. Interesting that Paul Nicholls is already aiming runner-up Poquelin at a rematch in March. On better ground you never know. Thought Pistolet Noir was impressive in the opener. He looks tailormade for the Finale at Chepstow.
1556: I've never done a shorter blog. Road still closed but hope to be back home in time for tomorrow's office shift! What a day though. Final thoughts time.
1551: Twasn't to be. The excellent Robert Thornton strikes aboard Zafranagar.
1545: Michael Moran each-way double thwarted on the line by Godolphin. You'd think they have bigger fish to fry! Throwing it down now and they're off for the last. If it's hard work today - what will it be for Master Minded and co tomorrow?
1540: Big move for Alazan in our last now. He is fascinating. The ground was the unknown factor with him. Clearly expected to handle it. He has now weight on his back either but he'll need to hurdle better than last time.
1536: Vinnie's Friend has something of a patchy profile but she'll do for me in the last. Oh yes she will. Also just grabbed a plate of casserole and mash. I think it's pork. I really don't care.
1532: Heading back north soon. Can't believe the day is almost over. Motorway still closed. Still worth it though.
1530: There are a lot of stairway dwellers here today. Thought they only emerged in March.
1525: Great reception for Lie Forrit as he returns to the unsaddling enclosure.
1520: What a finish that was. Lie Forrit wins the races. Well done you shrewdies.
1516: It seems both Tranquil Sea and Poquelin are to be aimed at the Ryanair Chase. Do you wish it was March now?
1514: They are racing in two groups here, some jockeys, including Timmy Murphy and Ruby Walsh are looking for the better ground down the outside.
1513: They're off. Throwing it down again. Toughest game in the world this.
1511: Lot of good judges sweet on Lie Forrit here. Price long gone.
1510: Lydia Hislop pondering on the radio whether they may aim Tranquil Sea at the Champion Chase given the way he travelled there. He looks ready for a significant step up in grade.
1506: Dave, I hear you ask, what about the next? I've backed Powerstation each-way despite the fact the handicapper knows exactly what he is. He just loves the place and the ground should be ok.
1505: Before I move onto the next, Tranquil Sea is 10/1 for the Ryanair Chase with Sky Bet. Much shorter elsewhere. Travelled like a very good horse there.
1455: There you go. Paddy Power Gold Cup solved. Next.
1452: Winning jockey Andrew McNamara says: "That was brilliant. I couldn't believe how well he travelled round there. He jumped great too".
1445: He was favourite - granted - but didn't he win well! Tranquil Sea dots in from Poquelin, who ran a cracker. Hold Em third, Ballyfitz fourth.
1430: Heading down for the big one. Back with my thoughts and reaction from the connections shortly. Bet you can't wait.
1428: According To Pete makes the running and leads over the last. The patiently-ridden Tranquil Sea makes relentless headway to join him on the line. It's the first dead-heat in the history of the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Another theory. Another one I like. However has there already been a dead-heat in the race?
1422: Every jockey in the first described the ground as "hard work". Will suit my lads in the next. They like to graft. Wouldn't suit me. I don't.
1413: I have the flat cap - not beret - with he. Going out for the big one. Doing it for you. I really am. So what are you on? Tranquil Sky with a saver on According To Pete my play this morning. Not surprised to see the money for the latter.
1411: Ferdy has Three Mirrors in the Paddy Power Gold Cup but warns "I think he'll struggle on this ground".
1410: "He got a fantastic steer from the top and the horse answered everything he asked him," Murphy reports.
1408: Winner for Ferdy Murphy. If you drew up a list of trainers I struggle to read he'd be towards the top of it. Nice guy though. Trains near the Blue Lion at West Witton. Wish I did.
1406: The most agonising result of the day thus far. Brave, brave Hello Bud is still in front at the last but has to settle for third behind Galant Nuit and the fast-finishing Don't Push It. Didn't think the runner-up wanted a test at this trip. For the record. He does.
1404: Things still going well thus far.
1400: Theory working a treat thus far. Going to use thus a lot today.
1350: Right. We have a bet coming up. Hello Bud must be a decent poke at around 7/1 given the ground. If he gets popping away up front he should be in the frame. It's a theory. You can't deny that.
1334: Sky Bet leave Pettifour unchanged at 25/1 for the RSA Chase. They had little option.
1332: Not a badrace for a three-runner affair. Not bad at all! Pettifour wins - Toby 'National Hunt Chase' Jug second. Winner's class got him through despite the runner-up jumping the more fluently.
1323: Harry Allwood writes: "Enjoy reading your blog.Good luck with your bets.Have you had a go in the tote ten to follow competition?"
Only in a syndicate Harry. Sadly with Nick Doggett and Ben Linfoot. Have put Tranquil Sky in it in the hope - nay expectation - he wins today! Have you had a go?
1321: At the post. Forehead dry. All's well with the world.
1316: If you twisted my arm I'd back Toby Jug at 2/1 over Pettyfour at 10/11. But you're not. And I won't.
1310: Michael Moran is one of the good guys. He has a good bet too. He writes: "Glad you made it dave my bets today after a bad week are as follows, ballyfitz got 12,s lie forrit and mystic touch at lingfield".
It was a truely horrendous journey but sadly it must have been a very serious incident on the M1. Would buy the Ballyfitz bet off you in a flash sir!
1306: What's that? Pistolet Noir won the opener? Damn. Backed the third actually. Winner introcued to the Triumph Hurdle betting at 20/1 by Sky Bet. Runner-up Barizan is out to 33/1 (from 25s).
1304: So what do we fancy today team? Big one. Well I didn't back Ballyfitz at the big prices. Tranquil Sea has to be in the shake-up and I've also backed According To Pete. And no I haven't backed it.
1302: It's a good job Matt Doyle's married otherwise I'd have snapped him up. He has provided me with a coffee and pastry. I could cry.
1301: I'm awash with forehead sweat. I look like a swine flu victim. Anyway no bet in the next. It's a three-runner affair. Every chance Toby Jug will expose Pettifour in this ground. No bet though. Just forehead dabbing.
1300: Fancy Pistolet Noir in the opener...
1255: The Meatloaf has landed. Any keen viewer of Racing UK would have seen a frustrated Ord by the ropes as the runnners headed out for the first. Five-and-a-half hours from Pontefract to Cheltenham. Five-and-a-half hours. The second delay due to huge crowds for 'Good Food Live'. I ask you. Here anyway.
1253: They're off! Barizan 5-4 fav, Pistolet Noir 4-1 from 5s.
1245: Barizan's pretty solid at 11-8. Touched 5-4 at one point. Hmm, I'm in a quandary. Think it's probably worth taking him on with Pistolet Noir from Nick Williams' stable. I think he likes him. What would Dave do? I think he'd point to Barizan's not so fluent jumping and the extra 8lbs he carries in relation to the second fav. Then he'd back the fav.
1235: Barizan's opened up at 11-8 for the first race. They're trying to get him.
1220: Thanks for all your emails by the way. You've really stepped up to the plate in Dave's time of need. By the way, I've got a tip for you at Lingfield (2pm). One of our broadcast team, Jamie Watson, reckons they've found the key to Mystic Touch. His old man owns the horse, so he should know. Don't say I didn't tell you.
1210: I can see why they want to get Tarotino - Alan King himself said he'd rather have good ground, but I don't think you can put a line through him just because of the going. If it was dry he'd be about 6-1, make no mistake, as he really improved at the backend of last season. He jumps like a stag, is really progressive and I'd chance him at that price as won on soft and was beaten just six lengths by Albertas Run on heavy over hurdles.
1205: Matt Doyle of Sky Bet's on Racing UK. He looks much smarter than yesterday. His firm have gone industry best price on Tarotino (14-1) and Tatenen (11-1) in the Paddy Power Gold Cup for half an hour. It's a feature called the Sky Bet knockout and basically their traders reckon they can get these beat.
1205: Ord update. 50 minutes away. Even Jonathan Ross can't cheer him up on Radio 2. In a desperate attempt to save some time later he tried to open a Chicken Tikka sandwich with one hand but managed only to spill it down his top. Didn't even make his mouth.
1200: Just 50 minutes to the first race and Barizan is odds-on favourite at 10-11. He made a couple of mistakes here last time but still won as he liked. I spoke to his trainer Evan Williams earlier in the week and he seemed confident enough - he thinks his experience will count for a lot in this company and the ground should be fine for him.
1155: The three non-runners in the Paddy Power Gold Cup means Sky Bet won't be paying five places in the feature now. 17 go to post at the moment and the Harrogate firm have seen plenty of support for According To Pete this morning. He's now 9-1, with Ballyfitz still the market leader at 11-2.
1150: With Dave an hour away from the track, his blog needs you. If you've any fancies or thoughts on this afternoon's action email them in to ben.linfoot@bskyb.com. It's your blog now. For an hour anyway.
1150: So has the significant going change caused havoc? Well, no, not really. Just six non-runners at Cheltenham. They are 12:50 7 Screaming Brave, 14:35 16 Pop (FR), 18 Leslingtaylor (IRE),19 From Dawn To Dusk, and in the 15:45 1 Wizard of Odds and 6 Points of View.
1145: So the all important news on the conditions. It's now Soft, Heavy in places and it looks pretty windy going by Steve Mellish's hair/already mangled Racing Post.
1140: Huge blow for Ord fans. Our ace racing blogger has had to manouvre himself around the closure on the M1 and is running late. Just received a phone call from the man himself and he's close to tears as fears grow he may even miss the first race. He assures me he won't. Anyway, the show goes on and we'll bring you as much news as we can until he's firmly wedged in his seat in the press box at Prestbury Park.
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