Gaelic Warrior storms to Gold Cup glory as Mullins makes extraordinary look normal

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival as we build up to the Gold Cup at 4pm.

Overnight rain has made the going good to soft, soft in places, but with a drying breeze and only light showers forecast today there cannot be any excuses. It remains good National Hunt ground.

What we could call the King George triumvirate – The Jukebox Man, Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie – are jostling for favouritism at the top of the betting, but the money this morning has come for Jango Baie, 7/2 from 11/2.

Last year’s Arkle winner is stepping up in trip, but could be the classiest type in the contest and Nicky Henderson’s horses have generally been running well. Nico De Boinville is on board, and is looking to win his second Gold Cup having won as a conditional jockey on novice Coneygree in 2015.

Harry Redknapp’s The Jukebox Man finished in front of Jango Baie and Gaelic Warrior in the King George and is four from four over fences. He has every chance, but the price is looking a little skinny. Kempton is not always the best gauge for the Gold Cup, but many believe the stiffer track will suit him; The Jukebox Man was beaten by a whisker by Stellar Story over three miles in the Albert Bartlett two years ago, suggesting he should come up the hill.

Gaelic Warrior beat Fact To File in the John Durkan at Punchestown this season, before the positions were reversed in the Irish Gold Cup. Like Jango Baie, Gaelic Warrior is an Arkle winner so he has a turn of foot. The question mark might be whether the Irish Gold Cup run has left him with enough in the tank, given the heavy ground at Leopardstown.

A contender who has taken a different route is Welsh and Irish National winner Haiti Couleurs, trained in Wales by Rebecca Curtis. The nine-year-old could be in the mould of Gold Cup winner Native River; an out-and-out stayer who will look to make all from the front and make this a test of stamina. Front-running has been a fruitful strategy this week, but one or two of these might have a touch more speed.

Last year’s winner Inothewayurthinkin has had awful preparation, running three stinkers in Ireland. However, following reports of more positive work at Fairyhouse, he was backed in from 18/1 to as short 6/1 a few weeks ago. The defending champion has softened in the market since then, and it would require a hell of a revival and training performance by Gavin Cromwell to keep his crown.

Before the main event, we have Festival highlights such as the Triumph Hurdle, the County Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett, which have a recent history of producing winners and placed horses at fancy prices.