Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Image source, Getty Images

Normal service has been resumed.

After a blank day on Thursday, Willie Mullins is among the winners again.

Majborough led home a Mullins 1-2 and provided his seventh victory ot the 2024 Festival.

Prestbury Cup score: Ireland 13-8 Great Britain

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Reuters

Majborough has a great future ahead of him. He is a big, gorgeous horse and he won this readily. Majborough came alive and jumped the last and saw it out well.

It was a sensible tempo but they finished slowly and I would say conditions are testing.

Winning jockey Mark Walsh, speaking to ITV Sport: "He's not your typical juvenile hurdler - he's a big chaser, so strong.

"He was a good enough calibre, he was happy sitting and leaving as long as he could.

"Kargese was something to aim at, I was delighted."

1 Majborough (M P Walsh) 6-1

2 Kargese (D E Mullins) 4-1

3 Salver (G Sheehan) 10-1

12 ran

Kargese was going well but Majborough - a big, strong horse - comes through.

Another Willie Mullins winner and his first since Wednesday.

I mean, it was a hardly a drought by anyone else's standards but it was by Willie's...

A furlong or so until the last... it's two-horse race between Kargese and Majborough...

The leaders turn for home after talking the penultimate flight.

Kargese is easing into contention...

Ithaca's Arrow steps up the pace and joins Salver at the front. These two are allowed to move five lengths clear of the rest of the field.

Four flights to go and more than half of the two-miler to go.

Fratas still leads the way with Salvar joining him.

Fratas gallops into the lead after a steady climb to start.

Another huge noise pricks the ears of the horses as they pass the Grandstand for the first time.

The famous Cheltenham roar always has a bit more bite in it on Gold Cup Day.

Today is no exception. Strap yourselves in, folks.

The grandstands are jam-packed. We're all set!

Get ready for the roar...

The horses have been led out of the paddock and are up at the top of the track.

Several of them are taken over to ITV crew. Is that one for the cameras? or a bid to settle them down?

Willie Mullins has dominated again this week, allowing him to streak clear of his nearest challenger Nicky Henderson in terms of most Festival winners.

Spare a thought for Lambourn legend Henderson.

He's had to pull several of his horses out after a bug swept through the stables, including Sir Gino in the first race of Gold Cup Friday.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Image source, PA Media

Muddy in the car park on Tuesday

Mullins created history on Wednesday

British fought back on Thursday

And then on Friday…

Pop star Craig David played a 'secret' gig earlier in the Centaur building at Cheltenham Racecourse. A nice Gold Cup day treat for fans.

Tom Carr: For those reading from Bedford and surrounding areas, the 1995 Gold Cup trophy (won by Master Oats for Paul Matthews and Kim Bailey) is on display in The Three Cups pub! An excellent slice of sporting history!

Got a fella dressed as a jockey riding an inflatable pink horse on your Cheltenham bingo? Tick it off.

That is an outfit of a groom on his stag party if we ever saw one.

Image source, Getty Images

Willie Mullins has won the last two runnings with Vauban and Lossiemouth and has seven of the 12 runners this time around.

The main hope is probably the French-bred Majborough who was third at Leopardstown behind stablemates Karghese and Storm Heart, who reoppose again.

Joseph O’Brien will hope to thwart Mullins with Nurburgring, who has been kept fresh for this run.

13:30: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) - 12 runners

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

Little over two hours until the Gold Cup. Eeek!

Excitement is already building at Cheltenham, a palpable buzz in the air.

But there is plenty more to see before then.

Here is the plan...