How pivotal could Absurde's victory be in the destination for the leading trainer's trophy? Huge.

It further extends Willie Mullins' lead over Dan Skelton, who saddled second-placed L'Eau Du Sud.

If L'Eau Du Sud had pipped Absurde then it could have been game on between Mullins and Skelton.

1 Absurde (P Townend) 12-1

2 L'eau Du Sud (Harry Skelton) 7-2 Fav

3 Pied Piper (D J Gilligan) 14-1

4 Magical Zoe (Adrian Heskin) 8-1

17 ran

Even the mud flicked over Paul Townend's face can't hide that beaming smile.

The jockey's teeth shine through the dirt. Exceptional ride.

L'Eau Du Sud has timed this nicely, but here's Absurde too!

Afadil is losing places quickly.

This is where this race gets going... here comes L'Eau Du Sud!

They're going down the hill and a way to go before the penultimate hurdle. All over nicely.

Still Afadil ahead of Media Naranja.

Afadil still has the lead over a trio of hurdles at the far end of the track.

Media Naranja and Zenta not far behind.

The field starts to string out a tad as we move past the halfway stage.

Afadil continues to set the pace. Everyone over the first couple of hurdles without an issue.

A little behind the start time but they eventually start wandering forward.

Afadil seems to get a head start and is quickly moves a few lengths clear of the rest.

With the rest of the field getting into line, Bialystock is not playing ball for Danny Mullins.

The cameraman has piqued his interest, it seems.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

The noise level has gone up a notch today and it’s noticeably much busier around the racecourse.

Many punters are negotiating their way through the crowds to collect or place bets on the next race.

Dan Skelton has won four of the past nine renewals.

Willie Mullins has won four of the past nine renewals.

So the smart money would be going on one of those two winning this race again.

FYI Peter Fahey was the outlier in 2021 with Belfast Banter.

Image source, Getty Images

Dan Skelton has had a superb week so far with four winners and he will hope L’Eau Du Sud can make it five and also give him his fifth success in this race.

The horse, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, who had a memorable day on Thursday, was second behind Iberico Lord in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last time out while stable-mate Faivoir is also among the leading fancies.

Irish hopes will be led by Gordon Elliott’s King of Kingsfield who was third on his last run behind Ballyburn and Slade Steel, who have both won already this week, and So Scottish from the Emmet Mullins yard.

The races come thick and fast. Next up is the County Handicap Hurdle, which is always a hugely competitive contest.

With the horses being led out, let's take a look at what's what...

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

This is where the top stars in jump racing want to be - in the winners' enclosure at Cheltenham.

If Galopin Des Champs wins the Gold Cup for a second year running for trainer Willie Mullins - also successful with Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020 - he will complete a notable feat.

Mullins, who reached the unprecedented landmark of 100 Festival winners earlier in the week, would become the first trainer to win the Gold Cup twice with two different horses.

With seven runners in the opening race, Willie Mullins looked odds on to win it. And that's exactly what he did.

Majborough's victory extends Mullins' lead at the top of the leading trainer table.

He's not going to lose it from here - is he?

7: Willie Mullins

4: Dan Skelton

2: Henry de Bromhead

1: Gordon Elliott, Gavin Cromwell, Ben Pauling, Paul Nicholls, Joseph O'Brien, Kim Bailey, Emmet Mullins, Jeremy Scott.

Well, what a start that was. One down, six to go!

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

14:10: BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) - 18 runners

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

Andrew Thornton
Former jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Majborough is a thorough stayer and on that testing soft ground he had the stamina which some of the other horses didn't have.

Image source, PA Media

Winning trainer Willie Mullins: "Fantastic. I was surprised at his price, he was my pick of the day.

"He was fifth or sixth most of the way and he jumped beautifully. That's how strong the pace was, he couldn't make it when he wanted to.

"When he came into the yard and they told me he's for the Triumph Hurdle, I thought he was a Gold Cup horse. Physically that's what he looks like.

"He is some beast."

A Gold Cup horse in the making? Majborough appears exactly that.

Sir Anthony McCoy think he is, largely because that's what he has been told by Willie Mullins.

Here is what the great man has to say...