All nine runners are paraded in front of the grandstand, then are allowed to canter down to the start.

You could not ask for much better weather for this race. Balmy and clear.

Tom Scudamore
Jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think this is a very interesting this year. The others have nothing to lose. There is no pressure on anyone else in this race right now other than Paul Townend. He's going to have to make a decision during the race. The rest of them aren't expected to win.

Image source, Reuters

Galopin Des Champs is easily idenifiable, with Paul Townend wearing the gold and brown quartered silks.

Townend will aim to guide his mount to history in around 10 minutes' time.

Image source, BBC Sport

The jockeys have emerged, the horses have been paraded. The greatest event in jump racing is about to begin.

Good luck everyone.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Trainer Lucinda Russell, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "Galopin is amazing because he doesn't look outstanding, he just looks like a proper little racehorse. This could be a really historic race. You have to respect him. At this level, you're just trying to get your horse there in the best possible shape and hope you can take them on.

"This is sport, we have to enjoy it and it doesn't always have to be about the favourites."

John Hunt
Horse racing commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think this horse from Ireland [Galopin Des Champs] is better than Best Mate, that's my gut feeling. We've had some big surprises this week, not least Constitution Hill on day one.

He's the best horse in that race and if he's right, surely he'll bring the house down.

Another strong fancy in the Gold Cup is Gavin Cromwell's Inothewayurthinkin - who is currently favourite to win the Grand National next month at Aintree.

This race may well be used as a bit of a warm-up for the National in 22 days but you certainly cannot count out this game seven-year-old.

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Thornton
Former jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Banbridge loves good ground and that's what we've got today. He'll be hoping it stays dry all afternoon.

Having won the last two Cheltenham Gold Cups, it's more than understandable that Galopin Des Champs is the odds-on favourite to make it a third on the trot. But, Banbridge may have something to say about that.

The winner of the King George on Boxing Day will be fancied by many to claim a first Gold Cup but has never travelled the 3m 2f distance.

The weather could have a big say on the outcome of this race with Banbridge wanting it to stay dry while Galopin would love a bit of rain.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live

Trainer of Galopin Des Champs, Willie Mullins, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "You never know. The important thing about a horse or any athlete is about the heart they bring to the game and Galopin has a lot of that.

"A lot of training a horse is to keep them sound and keep them healthy. I listen to how he's breathing so I can see if there's something wrong with his lungs, does he cough? Do you notice anything different in his running? Then stop and look at what muscle is hurting him.

"I'm used to it now. Every day you come out wondering since Christmas and wonder if Galopin is alright. Horses are very fragile. You've got to be brave and gallop them and hope that it's alright."

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

[Jockey] Paul Townend first and foremost has incredible big race temperament. He makes very few mistakes and in Galopin Des Champs, he has great affinity with this horse.

It's whether Paul is going to doubt himself but I don't think he will. He's going out there and he's on the best horse.

Townend could become the most successful jockey in Gold Cup history with victory today - this would be his fifth win if Galopin triumphs.

Gina Bryce
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra presenter at Cheltenham

Superstitions and all, you can get caught up in that. Galopin Des Champs doesn't know what price he is or feel the weight of pressure. He'll just turn up and do his thing.

John Hunt
Horse racing commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

We're just thinking about the type of individuals who illuminate other sports. We were thinking about the remarkable Antoine Dupont. This is the Dupont of horse racing today in Galopin Des Champs. He beat Fact To File last time out, the form is there. 21 years since Best Mate, it's about time we have another one.

Image source, Getty Images

Much of the talk around this one has been around Galopin Des Champs and whether he can create history with a third Gold Cup in a row.

The Willie Mullins trained nine year old has had two comfortable wins in the past two years and looked very impressive in winning at Leopardstown last month.

Rivals who have been on the Gold Cup stage before and not succeeded but are trying again include Ahoy Senor, The Real Whacker and Royale Pagaille

But Gavin Cromwell's Inothewayurthinkin and Banbridge for Joseph O'Brien could be the main challengers to the history chaser.

Gina Bryce
BBC Radio 5 at Cheltenham

16:00 Cheltenham Gold Cup - Galopin Des Champs 4-7

Better than ever in Irish Gold Cup. Despite the defeats of favourites in all the other championship races, hoping he can bring his A game, which is head and shoulders above of what rest of field have achieved so far.

Andrew Thornton
Gold Cup-winning jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

Galopin Des Champs stays very well. He has an abundance of stamina. The more rain, the better at Cheltenham for him. If we get a heavy downpour later on this afternoon, that will certainly play to his strengths. To get here on three occasions is tough enough but to win three is remarkable.

He's odds-on favourite so if you put £2 on, you might only make £1 profit. He is a heavy, heavy favourite. He has got some horses in there who like the drier conditions. Banbridge won a King George at Christmas. He is a speedier type, there are question marks if he'll stay the trip. He's never run over it.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

In case you wondered, Willie Mullins cannot train all the winners today.

He gives his rivals a rest in the penultimate race, the Hunters' Chase, as he has no runner in the race.

It may be he is celebrating a fifth winner by then with Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, BBC Sport

Best Mate's jockey Jim Culloty, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I was a nervous wreck. At that time there were no breathalysers or anything. Some of the lads went out in Cheltenham but I took it very seriously. I was home and in bed by 9pm. I got to the races, walked the track to take my mind off and make sure everything was right.

"I think he's the best horse in the race and appears to be coming into it in good form."

Best Mate was the last horse to win three Gold Cups in a row, doing so in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

His jockey, Jim Culloty, is a man who knows as well as anyone what it takes to make history - as Galopin Des Champs aims to do in 25 minutes or so...

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Image source, BBC Sport

Mentioning any horse in the same breath as the legendary Arkle is considered sacrilege by some racing fans.

A statue of he great Irish steeplechaser overlooks the Cheltenham winners' enclosure.

Arkle won the Gold Cup here three times in the 1960s before injury curtailed his career.

Galopin Des Champs can certainly lay claim to be the best Irish chaser since if he seals the treble later on.

Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate are the only horses to have won the Gold Cup at least three times.

Could we have a Galopin statue in the future...