Anyone tempted to follow Gina's lead?

Imagine one or two of the punters desperately reaching out in the betting ring with a tenner in hand are.

Bedlam down there!

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Racing broadcaster Gina Bryce has been part of the BBC radio team at Cheltenham and has gone for an outsider who was 28-1 this morning for the Gold Cup.

"It's tough to take on last year's winner but Gentlemansgame has bags of potential at a big price and despite his relative inexperience, could improve to play a part."

Image source, Getty Images

For so long, it was felt Gerri Colombe would be the obvious challenger for Galopin Des Champs.

He still might be. But there was a huge reality check for the Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Gerri Colombe was thrashed by Galopin Des Champs in a humbling 23-length defeat, leaving Elliott saying he needs "a miracle" today.

"He's in great shape, he didn't run his race at Christmas and it's going to be very hard to turn that distance around, but we'll see what happens," said the Irishman, who has just won the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

"He was unlucky when he just got touched off here last year and it's an open race if you take the favourite out of it."

Image source, Getty Images

Galopin Des Champs might be in fine form but he's not unbeatable. Fastorslow knows that.

Martin Brassil's eight-year-old is the only horse to lower the defending champion's colours in the past two seasons.

However, Galopin Des Champs struck back recently at Leopardstown, leaving Fastorslow out for revenge in what Brassil believes will be a competitive field.

"We're looking forward to the race and it's a really strong renewal of the Gold Cup," said Brassil.

"There is more than one horse in the race and some really good Grade One winners in there, it's a strong race that will take plenty of winning.

"He's as entitled to be there as any of the others, though. The horse has travelled over great and has eaten and drank and stuff and it's all system go."

* Andrew Thornton and the BBC cannot be held responsible for any reader losing the money for tonight's chippy tea.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Andrew Thornton won the Cheltenham Gold Cup as a jockey on Cool Dawn in 1998, so who better to ask for a view on the race?

"Galopin Des Champs on the slow ground for the in-form Mullins team is hard to oppose," says Andrew.

"Corach Rambler is unbeaten around Cheltenham and has a good each-way chance."

And he also fancies one in the subsequent Hunters' Chase (16:10).

"Sine Nomine hosed up at Wetherby, beating a subsequent winner and loves the mud. The grey mare is trained by Fiona Needham, who rode the winner of this race, Last Option, 22 years ago."

Image source, Getty Images

Another horse aiming for a slice of history is Corach Rambler.

The Grand National winner is bidding for a rare double, following in the footsteps of Golden Miller way back in the 1930s and L'Escargot in the 1970s.

Corach Rambler already has winning form at Prestbury Park, having earned back-to-back victories in the Ultima Handicap Chase.

"It's a difficult thing as we feel the National is his main aim, but we know he runs well round Cheltenham so that gives us hope he can run well," said Peter Scudamore, who is trainer Lucinda Russell's partner and assistant.

"We're hopeful he could get a place."

Image source, Getty Images

Galopin Des Champs could join the pantheon of Cheltenham winners today.

Aiming to become the latest of a small pool of horses to win multiple Gold Cups, the eight-year-old is the red-hot favourite and in blistering form.

Galopin Des Champs produced a dominant display in last month's Irish Gold Cup, coming after a clinical display at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Willie Mullins' stayer is heading to the Cotswolds in peak condition.

"My owner an I are on the same wavelength," says Mullins, who saddled a record 100th Cheltenham winner earlier this week.

"We say no matter whatever happens this year, we have one Galopin des Champs Gold Cup on the manetlepiece.

"Winning this year would be a bonus."

Good luck getting a bet on before the next race if you're at the track!

Image source, PA Media

Galopin Des Champs is bidding to defend the crown after erasing any doubts about his stamina last year,.

With Paul Townend on board, he stayed on strongly up the hill to finish seven lengths ahead of Bravemansgame.

"People had doubts about him (last year) and you always have doubts I suppose when a horse runs in the Gold Cup - until they stay, they don't stay," Townend said.

"We had confidence in him that he would stay and he did.

"Like us all, he's getting older and wiser and a bit more laid-back and he's developed into the finished article.

"I'm looking forward to getting back on him and it's always exciting. I've had the horse underneath me a few times in the Gold Cup and you wouldn't be anywhere without the horses and the rub of the green."

Let's take a look at the main contenders, shall we?

Only one horse to start with.

The defending champion and the red-hot favourite...

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Galopin Des Champs is around evens favourite to defend his Cheltenham Gold Cup title and provide Willie Mullins with a fourth win in six years.

Stablemate Monkfish, Welsh National winner Nassalam and intriguing contender Jungle Boogie have attracted support at bigger prices.

Jungle Boogie, the mount of Rachael Blackmore, is very inexperienced. He may prove a revelation, or be found out at this level. We shall see.

Approximate odds: Evens Galopin Des Champs, 13-2 Gerri Colombe, 7-1 Fastorslow, 12-1 L'Homme Presse, 14-1 Bravemansgame, 16-1 Corach Rambler, 18-1 Monkfish, 20-1 Nassalam, Jungle Boogie, 25-1 Gentlemansgame 40-1 The Real Whacker

Right then... the moment we have been building up to.

Choo choo! It's full steam ahead to the 2024 Gold Cup....

Wonder if 'Arry has managed to find a job for Niko Kranjcar in the yard?

Image source, PA Media

The Jukebox Man's owner Harry Redknapp on BBC Radio 5 Live: "What a run though. It was a great run. We have a nice horse and he jumped the last well but that's racing.

"Yesterday we got home, today we just missed out but we have had two great runs from two lovely horses. I've had a smashing couple of days

"If you had said coming here that I would have a winner and one that runs so well, I'd have taken it."

Gordon Elliott beams as he celebrates Stellar Story's win with a couple of fist shakes.

The Irish trainer said he wouldn't be surprised to see Stellar Story in the mix and going for the line.

"He won't be stopping either," he said before the race.

Prophetic.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

It's never all over. So many times we see a horse jump the last in front and all of a sudden they get lonely, the petrol runs low and they are there to be got at.

Stellar Story landed on his head over the last but has got there.

Image source, Getty Images

Winning jockey Sam Ewing, speaking to ITV Sport: "The way the week was going you think it is never going to happen.

"I couldn't wait to go home, it is unbelievable. Fair play to the horse, he stuck his head out to the line and tried all the way."

1 Stellar Story (Sam Ewing) 33-1

2 The Jukebox Man (Kielan Woods) 18-1

3 Dancing City (D E Mullins) 8-1

13 ran

A Stellar Story indeed! The 33-1 shot (the longest odds for a winner this week?) pips The Jukebox Man at the death.

The plug got pulled on Harry Redknapp's horse and the music is over.