OMG! Here comes Stellar Story...

The leaders are over the penultimate hurdle and the pace goes up again as they go round the turn.

The Jukebox Man has got an engine, I'll tell you. Stellar Story is not going to give up though...

Three hurdles to go and The Jukebox Man has company.

Stellar Story has moved in just behind.

The pace starting to lift...

A raucous cheer as the horses go past the grandstand, before they turn away and go past the halfway mark.

The Jukebox Man leads from the front, just like Harry Redknapp used to ask of Jermain Defoe.

Whether the horse has the stamina to last a full game remains to be seen...

The Jukebox Man, who is owned by Harry Redknapp, continues to lead with eight hurdles left.

Everyone else is pretty calm and not tempted to make a move yet.

With everyone settled, the starter gives us the nod and that means we're under way.

The Jukebox Man has put a pound in, it seems. He's found his tune and leads.

The horses are stalking around the track with the hubbub of the grandstand fans in their ears.

Many will have backed Readin Tommy Wrong, who is the 2-1 favourite under Willie Mullins' watch.

The bookies will be praying for anyone but the six-year-old who has won his last four outings.

Image source, Getty Images

Readin Tommy Wrong from the Willie Mullins yard has looked impressive in his two runs over hurdles and even though this race is over a longer distance, he is well fancied to figure again.

Stablemates Dancing City, who won a Grade One at Leopardstown last month, and High Class Hero could also feature.

Harry Fry’s unbeaten Gidleigh Park leads the British challenge but goes up in trip and grade this time, although it is on a track where he won in January.

One more race before the Gold Cup - the demanding Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

The bell has gone to signal it's time for the runners and riders to head out to the track...

What a team!

Absurde with strapper Emilie Seigle after winning the County Handicap Hurdle.

Show me a better picture from Cheltenham... I bet you can't!

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Sir Alex Ferguson had to wait the best part of 20 years for a Cheltenham winner - then the football icon and racehorse owner bagged two in about 40 minutes yesterday.

And he was soooo close to a memorable hat-trick with L'Eau Du Sud in the last.

Absurde gave the legendary Manchester United manager a taste of his own medicine - by winning in 'Fergie Time'.

What a start for Willie Mullins. Two in two.

13:30: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) - MAJBOROUGH

14:10: BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) - ABSURDE

14:50: Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - 13 runners

15:30: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase - 11 runners

16:10: St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase - 12 runners

16:50: Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase - 10 runners

17:30: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - 22 runners

You can see all the runners and riders on our Cheltenham racecards

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Image source, Frank Keogh

Cheltenham Gold Cup day is always special - and there's a little extra frisson today as the race marks its centenary***.

This is the view from the BBC radio commentary box where John Hunt will call home the winner.

Will it be defending champion Galopin Des Champs? Another Irish challenger such as Fastorslow? Grand National winner Corach Rambler or something else?

So many questions, which should be answered in around seven minutes over 22 fences from 15:30 GMT.

There are expected to be showers among the sunny spells with the going on the steeplechase course for the Gold Cup described as soft, heavy in places, while conditions are heavy on the hurdle track.Cheltenham Gold Cup preview

*** It's not actually the 100th running of the contest, which was first held in 2024, as there have been years without the race, such as 2001 when the meeting was abandoned because of foot and mouth disease.

But no matter, who doesn't like an anniversary!?

READ: Cheltenham Gold Cup preview

BBC Radio 5 Live

Fastorslow's jockey JJ Slevin on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm looking forward to it. It is a deep Gold Cup this year and plenty with chances.

"Galopin Des Champs will be a tough nut to crack but we will see.

"Touchwood, he is a sound jumper and a clever horse. Hopefully it will stand to him but you never know."

The countdown to the Gold Cup has ticked into the final hour. Little under sixty minutes. Fewer than 3600 seconds.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Not perhaps an absurd route to victory for Absurde, but an unusual one.

Last year he won the Ebor Hadicap on the Flat at York before finishing seventh in the Melbourne Cup in Australia.

Willie Mullins is not afraid to experiment, and whisper it quietly - could he actually go through the card today? Two winners already and chances in the remaining five races.

He is now confirmed as the week's leading trainer with eight victories, and Ireland have retained the Prestbury Cup with an unassailable 14-8 lead.

L'Eau Du Sud's trainer Dan Skelton after narrowly missing out on a fifth win this week: "I suppose 10-15 strides out I thought it was on.

"We didn't jump the last great but it didn't cost us - Absurde was always coming.

"It's been magic with one runner left, hopefully he can run well.

"But it's been a remarkable week and I'm proud of the owners, staff, everyone."

Image source, Reuters

Willie Mullins, centre, is enjoying Gold Cup Friday. Two from two now - with the second victory meaning he will finish as top trainer once again.

He is now four clear of nearest challenger Dan Skelton, who has just one runner left today.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Paul Townend is a man at the top of his game. I thought Absurde would struggle on the ground - this horse ran in the Melbourne Cup and won the Ebor at York.

Harry Skelton always had a target on his back and Absurde has picked up on the run to the line and won nicely.

Nine of the last 11 County Hurdles have been won by either Willie Mullins or Dan Skelton.

Image source, PA Media

Winning jockey Paul Townend, speaking to ITV Sport: "I got a lot of satisfaction out of that, I'll tell you the truth. What a horse.

"He's travelled the world, come back and put in a performance like that on this ground. The ground was a big worry."