Cheltenham Festival day four: Video highlights, results and reaction as Native River won the Gold Cup

Cheltenham Festival: Day Four

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1748: GOODBYE

Thanks for joining Sporting Life for your Cheltenham Festival coverage this week. You can relive all of Friday's highlights below with the links to the free replays and all the snippets from social media.

It has been a tremendous week. Footpad, Samcro, Presenting Percy, Altior, Penhill and Native River the standout stars for me. Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins have dominated with 15 between them, the former edging the trainers’ battle. Davy Russell and Jack Kennedy walk away with four winners apiece, the veteran edging the young gun on countback.

But that's it for another year. Let the chat about the 2019 Festival commence...

1745: McMANUS ENDS WEEK ON A HIGH

It's been a tough week for JP McManus since Buveur d'Air won the Champion Hurdle (that seems a long time ago, doesn't it?) but he ends the week with a winner, and so does Paul Nicholls, after Le Prezien stays on best of all to land the Grand Annual.

RESULT 5.30 Cheltenham – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase

1st LE PREZIEN (15/2)
2nd Gino Trail (25/1)
3rd Top Gamble (8/1)
4th Theinval (16/1)

Click here for full result and FREE video replay

1727: GRAND FINALE

So they are going down for the last race of the meeting, the Grand Annual. Top Gamble is the gamble of the race, into 7/1 favourite from 33/1 yesterday. He's down to an attractive mark, has his ground and Davy Russell rides. This would send a lot of today's punters home happy. Best of luck in the lucky last.

1716: GONE

The Game Changer is a non runner isn't he. Elliott really can walk on water if he wins this.

1710: EIGHT FOR ELLIOTT

That's right. Eight Festival wins this week for Gordon Elliott. And to think he had a blank Tuesday. If The Game Changer can make it nine on this ground in the Grand Annual the man can walk on water.

1705: JOHNSON HAMMERED BY STEWARDS

Richard Johnson has been banned for seven days and hit with a £6,550 fine for using his whip above the permitted level in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

I predict another whip debate on the back of this. Would he still have won had he stayed within the rules? Should the punishment be steeper - like losing the race? Something to discuss in the fallout. Not at the end of a frazzled week.

1700: ELLIOTT STRIKES AGAIN

Gordon Elliott notches another winner as Blow By Blow lands the Martin Pipe. Elliott has made no secret of the fact that he loves this race with it being named after his former boss and mentor and, after he won it last year with Champagne Classic, he's landed it again for Gigginstown. Can't imagine Michael O'Leary will be labelling this fellow the worst horse among his string.

RESULT 4.50 Cheltenham – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

1st BLOW BY BLOW (11/1)
2nd Discorama (33/1)
3rd Early Doors (9/1)
4th Sire Du Berlais (10/1)

Click here for full result and FREE video replay

1649: LOVE THIS

The joy of winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup. In slow-mo.

1646: ALL ABOUT THE BOY

It's the Martin Pipe Conditionals' next and this is a punting minefield, like much of today's card. I went for Melrose Boy on the back of a) his win here earlier in the season and b) that form behind Topofthegame at Sandown last time, with the winner running such a good race in the Coral Cup.

Dangers are everywhere and, surprise surprise, most of them are trained by Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins. They have seven between them here, including five of the first six in the betting.

1630: PACHA WINS AGAIN

A second Foxhunters' in as many years for Pacha Du Polder, the horse that famously carried Victoria Pendleton to fifth in this race in 2016. Last year golden girl Bryony Frost rode him and this year it was Harriet Tucker's turn and she timed her challenge well to deny game front-runner Top Wood.

RESULT 4.10 Cheltenham – St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase

1st PACHA DU POLDER (25/1)
2nd Top Wood (50/1)
3rd Barel Of Laughs (14/1)

Click here for full result and FREE video replay

1610: WHAT'S NEXT?

It's the Foxhunters' next. They're about to jump off.

1602: TIZZARD - IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS

Richard Johnson says: "I'm speechless. He's been a fantastic horse for me and I was lucky to pick up the ride on him.

"He's just amazing. He jumps for fun. I was getting squeezed, but at the second-last and the last he just wanted it so much.

"I knew Nico (de Boinville, on Might Bite) was there and to be fair to Might Bite, he's run a hell of race, but I think we just outstayed him. They are two very brave horses."

He added: "Eighteen years (since Looks Like Trouble) seems a long time!"

Colin Tizzard says: "It's unreal. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is everything in everyone's life and there's no pretending it's not. Richard Johnson was galloping as fast as he could and jumping as fast as he could all the time and the horse never let him down once.

"Might Bite came to him and I thought that was it, but he just powered away again.

"We've had a wonderful preparation with him, so you think something's going to go wrong in the race, but it didn't. His form has gone on from last year.

"I can't believe it. It doesn't get better, does it?"

1555: PIC: JOHNSON STRIKES GOLD

1545: NATIVE SEES OFF BITE IN GOLD CUP THRILLER

It's Native River's Gold Cup after a compelling duel with Might Bite throughout. What a race. Richard Johnson made all on Native River and he had the most willing of partner's, the pair attacking every fence with gusto. Only Might Bite and Nico de Boinville kept tabs on the the leader from an early stage and though a few were travelling in behind, like Road To Respect, it soon became clear this was a two-horse race. Might Bite loomed up on the outside and looked for all money like he was going to go on and seal the deal, but Native River was ferocious. He fought like a lion. And in the end he won by four and a half lengths. Might Bite had to settle for second with Anibale Fly staying on for third. A terrific result for Richard Johnson, 18 years on from his last Gold Cup win on Looks Like Trouble. And what a training performance from Colin Tizzard for his first Gold Cup. One prep run and bang. He was spot on today.

RESULT 3.30 Cheltenham – Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup

1st NATIVE RIVER (5/1)
2nd Might Bite (4/1 fav)
3rd Anibale Fly (33/1)

Click here for full result and FREE video replay

1527: NEARLY OFF FOR THE GOLD CUP

They're parading in front of the stands for the 2018 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. This really should be a wonderful race. Might Bite is the big enigma - can he hold it together up the hill? Will the relentless galloping of Native River prevail? Can Our Duke jump like he did at Fairyhouse? Can Willie Mullins break his Gold Cup hoodoo with one of four from Closutton? Is Road To Respect the one after all after the Balko Des Flos form boost? Can American or Definitly Red come from the Cotswold Chase and win? Can Gordon Elliott win the Gold Cup despite not having a runner? All will be revealed shortly... good luck with your bets (come on Dukey).

1518: GOLD CUP TIPS

1515: FEHILY GOOD OUTSIDER?

Spare a though for Noel Fehily, who was meant to ride Our Duke in the Gold Cup today. Only a late setback for Sizing John saw him replaced by the main man at Jessie Harrington's stable, Robbie Power.

But could that twist of fate work in Fehily's favour? Harry Fry has supplemented AMERICAN for this on the back of the weather forecast and this fragile but talented horse lines up in the big one on his preferred ground this afternoon.

An eight-length second to Definitly Red in the Cotswold Chase here on trials day, that was his first completed start of the season having being pulled up in the Ladbrokes Trophy. Should he be four times the price of Definitly Red? He might've been getting 4lb that day, but probably not. He's interesting.

1502: TIZZARD WHIPS UP A STORM

Colin Tizzard gets on the board at the Festival with Kilbricken Storm, a 33/1 outsider. He was third in the Challow when last seen, a 23-length third, and if you saw this coming you're doing very well.

Nicky Henderson is not having a good day as he trained the second and third home. Will things turn for him in the upcoming Gold Cup.

As for Fabulous Saga, it was a bit like this for me: "Here we go. Kick on Saga. Go on Fabulous. Oi oi! Not too far Danny! Go on Fabulous. Keep going Fab. Go on Fab. Hold on for a place Fab. Hold on for a.... oh."

RESULT 2.10 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

1st KILBRICKEN STORM (33/1)
2nd OK Corral (16/1)
3rd Santini (11/4 fav)

Click here for full result and FREE video replay

1447: SPUD RACE ANGLES

Albert Bartlett next. If you think that class and staying power will rise to the fore in the soft ground you're probably with Santini or Chef Des Obeaux. If you're thinking experience is vital in this race as it so often is you're probably with Poetic Rhythm or Calett Mad. If you're looking at what's happened at Cheltenham this week you're probably perming all of Willie Mullins' and Gordon Elliott's (just the four in this race, three for Mullins, one for Elliott). And if you're looking at key race trends you have to be with Fabulous Saga (see 1255 update).

1444: GOLD CUP GREATS: DESERT ORCHID

Okay, Dessie was the King of Kempton. But that he managed to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989 despite not being ideally suited to the track was one of THE great Gold Cup moments. What a superstar.

1432: DEFINITLY MAYBE IN GOLD CUP?

Mark Erler says: "Hi Ben, I know you think Our Duke will win but I have the feeling that Definitly Red is a big danger to everyone else. He"ll handle the ground and I can see him running a big race.
What do you think about his chances??"

Hi Mark, there is plenty to like about him. Like you say he'll go on the ground, he'll stay, he likes the track and he's in the form of his life. He's been very well backed and is 9/1 now as well. Personally, I think he's very short at that price. I'm not sure he's got the class to win a Gold Cup. Mind you, I said that about Lord Windermere!

1426: PIC: MOHAAYED STORMS TO VICTORY

1420: SKELTON LANDS COUNTY AGAIN

Dan Skelton won the County Hurdle in 2016 and he's done it again two years on with MOHAAYED, registering a first Festival success for jockey Bridget Andrews.

The brilliantly consistent and game Remiluc was second but, by the muted response from the crowd, not many in attendance found the first two. There was a huge roar when Whiskey Sour came through with his run, but he had to settle for third ahead of Chesterfield.

Brelade did travel well, but he couldn't go with them up the hill and he finished seventh. Of course he finished seventh.

RESULT 2.10 Cheltenham – Randox Health County Hurdle

1st MOHAAYED (33/1)
2nd Remiluc (50/1)
3rd Whiskey Sour (7/1)
4th Chesterfield (16/1)

Click here for full result and FREE video replay

1407: COUNTY BOUNTY?

Everyone remembers Harchibald in the 2005 Champion Hurdle. Paul Carberry motionless in Des Sharkey's purple 'n' gold silks, Hardy Eustace in his back pocket, just the button to press. If you need a refresher, watch the YouTube video below. Spoiler alert: He doesn't win.

Well I'm hoping Mark Enright can get Brelade, in the same Des Sharkey silks, to travel like that in the County Hurdle next up. It's his handicap debut, he has classy back form, he's trained by the man who can do no wrong. He'll do for me.

If its not his day, my second stab at the County is Smaoineamh Alainn, which Twitter tells me is pronounced 'Smeenev Alling'. Go on the Robert Walford-trained mare.

1355: TODAY'S SCENE

Here's a view of the Cheltenham parade ring as they went out for the Triumph. Given how long it took me to get from said parade ring back to the press room I'd say it's unlikely there will be any more shots from me this afternoon. It's busy out there. And safer in here. Drink it in.

1350: FARCLAS TRIUMPHS FOR ELLIOTT

There is simply no stopping Gordon Elliott as the Spring Juvenile form comes to the fore in the Triumph, his Farclas reversing Leopardstown placings with Mr Adjudicator.

Stormy Ireland was lit up at the head of affairs but they went no gallop in this with half the field pulling for their heads throughout. Apple's Shakira was one of those, she needed a decent gallop against this lot and she didn't get it.

The Irish continue to dominate. Even Nicky Henderson can't lay a glove on them with a big gun now. Let's see if he can get involved as the afternoon progresses, as he's got a few bullets to fire yet.

RESULT 1.30 Cheltenham – JCB Triumph Hurdle

1st FARCLAS (9/1)
2nd Mr Adjudicator (8/1)
3rd Sayo (33/1)

Click here for full result and FREE video replay

1320: HEREWEGOHEREWEGO

Not long to the JCB Triumph Hurdle now. Apple's Shakira is your heavily-backed 6/5 favourite. Her jockey and trainer Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson are pictured here just minutes ago.

'Play it cool, Barry. Play it cool.'

1305: GOLD CUP GREATS: DAWN RUN

Dawn Run. The only horse ever to win the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup. A superb mare, here she is under jockey Jonjo O'Neill just after winning the 1986 Gold Cup.

1300: UH OH, HERE COMES TROUBLE

Can Native River give jockey Richard Johnson his second win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup today following Looks Like Trouble 18 years ago?

He's disputing second-favouritsim behind Might Bite with Our Duke, he's got his ground, he looked in good nick at Newbury. I can see why plenty of people like him.

1255: FABULOUS OUTSIDER IN THE SPUD RACE

Okay, so I have become a bit obsessed with THAT Limerick Novice Hurdle, but with good reason. After this season's second, Delta Work, won the Pertemps Final yesterday, the race has now produced FIVE Festival winners in the last decade.

One of those was Faugheen, but the other three went on to win the Albert Bartlett having won THAT Limerick novice hurdle at Christmas; Weapon's Amnesty, Martello Tower and Penhill.

So, with the Delta Work form boost, I've had a few quid on this year's winner of THAT Limerick novice hurdle, FABULOUS SAGA.

He ran a crazy race at Limerick. Tried to make all, headed, four lengths down, rallied, won going away by four lengths. He looks like he'll stay four miles and he was badly done for speed/class at the DRF last time. But, at 33s, I can forgive him that.

Click here to bet on the Albert Bartlett (2.50) at Sky Bet (paying FOUR places on each-way bets!)

1245: ALL OF OUR TIPS IN ONE PLACE

1240: ON THE COUCH WITH TODAY'S TIPS

Oli Bell and Ed Chamberlin have put the hours in on ITV Racing this week but before that, when they were fresh faced, they joined Dave and I on the couch with today's best bets...

1230: MONEY BACK IF YOU BACK A LOSER

I believe this is what the kids call a 'no brainer'. The First Race Specials at Sky Bet have gone down well all week and you've still an hour to take advantage of today's - Money Back If You Back A Loser in the Triumph Hurdle at 1.30, up to £20, Ts and Cs apply.

Where would I stick my £20? Well, I fancy Apple's Shakira, but if you get your money back I'd place it on Stormy Ireland at 7/1. She really could be anything and, as an Apple's backer, I fear her most.

Click here to place your bets on the Triumph Hurdle at Sky Bet!

1222: GOLD CUP GREATS: ARKLE

The magnificent Arkle. Won three Gold Cups from 1964-66. Rated 212 by Timeform, the highest figure given to any chaser in the history of their numbers.

1210: MARKET MOVERS

Alan from The Hangover brings us today's movers and shakers live from the track. All the stars are here today.

1205: GOLD CUP TIPS

I've backed Our Duke in the Gold Cup. We had three superb novice chasers last season - Thistlecrack who won the King George, Might Bite who won the RSA and Our Duke who won the Irish National. For me, Our Duke's Fairyhouse effort off a mark of 153 marked him out as the standout future Gold Cup star from that trio.

He jumped brilliantly that day. He hasn't done since, but he did that day. He stays forever. Last time, he beat subsequent RSA Chase hero Presenting Percy, giving him weight over 2m4f, despite another fencing error.

If he can get into a rhythm and cut out the mistakes today, and I think he will over this trip on this ground, then he can go close. He's the only one I want to back. I wonder what Dave and Rich in the office think?

1155: SHAKIRA! SHAKIRA!

Apple's Shakira has been backed for the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle like defeat is out of the question. She was 2/1 yesterday, but she's now 6/5. This could be stable confidence, it could be that the multis are stacking up after a lot of short-priced favourites winning throughout the week. Like Footpad, Buveur d'Air, Samcro, Presenting Percy, Altior. Whatever it is, she's very short now considering it's very difficult to weigh her up chance against the Irish.

I am a fan, though. I think she'll be better in this better race. She has been keen in her trials but still come home full of running. We'll get to find out just how good she is today. Plenty of punters here will be banking on her, as it looks decidedly more difficult after the opener.

1143: GOLD CUP GREATS: GOLDEN MILLER

Won five Gold Cups in a row from 1932-36. He even won the National as well in 1934. Interesting fact: He was bred by Barry Geraghty's grandfather, Laurence.

1125: NUMBERS GAME

Look, Carol Vorderman was here yesterday with a Cheltenham legend. I bet she cracked the Brown Advisory with her analytical brain. As for Michael Dickinson, his first-five-home-record-in-the-Gold-Cup is safe today, but Willie Mullins could almost 'do a Dickinson' as he has four runners. I'm sure a few punters will be putting Killultagh Vic, Total Recall, Bachasson and Djakadam in some combo trifectas, just in case.

The only one of those with Gold Cup experience is Djakadam and he'll be aiming to 'do a The Fellow' this afternoon, a horse that won the big one at the fourth attempt having finished 2-2-4 the previous three years.

Djakadam's Gold Cup form figures? 2-2-4. He's still only nine and if you haven't lost the faith he's 25/1 with Sky Bet (paying FIVE places on each-way bets).

1115: GROUND CONDITIONS

So, there was a bit of rain overnight. We are Soft, Heavy in places but the sun is beating down on track and the crowds are swarming in once again. The attendances this week have been phenomenal.

Here's Simon Claisse, Cheltenham's Clerk of the Course, on the latest conditions: "Today is the biggest day of The Festival with the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup set to go off at 3.30pm.

"What a fantastic day we had yesterday on St Patrick's Thursday with a massive crowd of 66,000. The ground was Soft, Heavy in places and interestingly the jockeys said that after the 10 millimetres of rain that had fallen, it rode better than the first two days and was not as tiring.

"Overnight we had three millimetres of rain and I have left the ground as Soft, Heavy in places on both the Chase and Hurdle courses.

"On the Chase course, we have opened up six to seven yards of fresh ground on the inside which has not been raced on since Gold Cup Day last year."

Today is forecast to be dry, with bright spells and temperatures of 11 to 12 degrees Celsius.

1105: CHELTENHAM BREAKFAST

I have been 'Facebook Live-ing' this morning at a country house near the track for Sky Bet talking all things Cheltenham. Bearded face of Sky Bet Michael Shinners was on the plush leather couch along with Head of PR Sandro di Michele, a man who looked like he's been at the Cheltenham Festival every day for the last three weeks.

You can watch it here:

1100: HELLO. IT'S GOLD CUP DAY.

Good morning everyone live from the Cheltenham Festival on one of the most exciting days in the National Hunt calendar. Cheltenham Gold Cup day.

Golden Miller. Arkle. Dawn Run. Desert Orchid. Best Mate. Kauto Star. Not bars at Cheltenham or statues - although most of them have at least one of those - but some of the greats of the game that have won this supreme test of class, stamina, strength, constitution. You need the lot to win this beast of a race, especially today in the conditions, where they'll go a hell-for-leather gallop for over 3m2f.

We'll be discussing which horse might well etch their name into Gold Cup folklore today throughout, tweet us @sportinglife or email me at ben.linfoot@sportinglife.com with your Gold Cup fancies, stories, hunches, anything you like. It's going to be a belter.

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