Image source, Getty Images

General admission for Gold Cup day has sold out, with nearly 70,000 expected at Cheltenham.

The total attendance for the week is still expected to pass 200,000 but will be signifcantly down on the record 280,000 that attended the first post-Covid meeting open to spectators in 2022.

In September, Festival organisers announced changes aimed at improving competition in races and the experience of racegoers.

A new park-and-ride system, additional coaches and extra hardstanding areas at the course for car parking have been introduced.

Cheltenham have frozen ticket prices, increased food and drink options and is exploring new accommodation deals.

Advance tickets ranged from £37 to £86 for each of the first three days, rising to between £53 and £102 for Cheltenham Gold Cup day on Friday, with prices on the day more expensive.

A pint of Guinness at the course is up 30p to £7.80 this year.

Gina Bryce
BBC Radio 5 Live presenter at Cheltenham

Poniros has run on the flat before so it's not as if he's a total first-timer but it's quite a good effort!

Most horses are quite natural jumpers but teaching them to jump at this speed in this atmosphere, is quite the risk. The horse is used to racing so you're reducing the risk as much as you can.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

There were gasps from the capacity Cheltenham crowd as the 100-1 price of winner Poniros was announced.

That victory means if you'd backed every single Willie Mullins runner blind this week for the same stake, you'd be in a healthy profit.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Poniros' trainer, Willie Mullins, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I know my owner probably had some pounds on it but I didn't give him any advice. I don't think I've ever given him a serious gallop, it was more for a nice experience for him.

"He's done a good bit of jumping at home. We gave him a break and brought him back in for the spring. I didn't think he'd be sharp enough for this. I saw the blue coming and was thinking is that one of mine? That shows where his flat racing experience comes in for this.

"That was always the plan and it's why we've run all of these horses. I thought he might be a nice horse for next season. We couldn't run him and I said we'd run him over here. We'll probably go to Punchestown and then Ascot. We bought him as a multi-purpose horse."

John Hunt
Horse racing commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

There's a little bit of mystery around it but I am led to believe that he [Tony Bloom, Brighton owner] does do similar analytical work to horses and footballers. I think he applies very similar principles.

Well, how about that. Were you among the very few who backed Poniros? Perhaps a Brighton fan tempted by the Tony Bloom connection?

Let us know, plus get in touch with your thoughts on everything Cheltenham today.

Image source, Getty Images

Jockey Jonjo O'Neill, after winning on 100-1 shot Poniros, tells ITV Sport: "It's crazy, it's a funny old game. I was supposed to be in Doncaster today but Willie was looking for a jockey. I said to my agent that with the way the week was going, I wanted to stay here. Anything of Willie's has a chance."

No horse has ever won the Triumph Hurdle at longer odds than Poniros at 100-1 today.

What a start to Gold Cup day!

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Reuters

A meteoric performance. Bought for £200,000. I thought Nico de Boinville was getting there at the perfect moment but look to your left and there was Poniros.

1 Poniros (Jonjo O'Neill Jr.) 100-1

2 Lulamba (N de Boinville) 11-4

3 East India Dock (Sam Twiston-Davies) 5-4 Fav

17 ran

A 100-1 winner in the opening race!

Poniros was nowhere, NOWHERE, until the final stretches. While the favourites tired in the final straight, the Jonjo O'Neill ride - making its debut over hurdles, remarkably - found a second wind and charged home.

A wonderful win for owner Tony Bloom, for a horse bearing the blue and white colours for the owner of Brighton and Hove Albion.

Over the last, and it's the front three in betting - East India Dock, Lulamba, and Hello Neighbour...

But here comes a shock, as Poniros chases them down!

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Lady Vega Allen has had it easy so far but East India Dock is well placed on the outside.

Place De La Nation is the surprise contender here, running third as they head down the hill.

They approach the final hurdle now.

Third last hurdle, and Hello Neighbour has joined the other favouites near the front.

All the major contenders have jumped well.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

They're eyeballing each other. East India Dock is setting an early tempo.

The pack is roared as it passes the grandstand, then the pace settles slightly.

East India Dock is still settled in second place.

A brisk race this to start - two miles, eight hurdles.

And it's a quick pace so far. Lulamba and East India Dock, the two favourites, are both up near the front.

We are away first time!

Opec takes the early lead.