The pace seems a little on the slow side and there's a roar as they pass the grandstand. Smad Place still ahead with 10 to go.

Smad Place is about 30 lengths ahead of the back marker Irish Cavalier.

Cue Card looks off the pace.

Smad Place up there with O'Faolains Boy and Don Poli not far off as they come up to 14 to go.

O'Faolains Boy making the early running as it starts to settle down and they bunch up with 20 to go.

Three miles and two and a half furlongs. Twenty-two fences. Nine runners. £327,463 to the winner.

And it's under way.

Luke Harvey
Former National Hunt jockey on BBC Radio 5 live

"Normally you're looking for negatives with horses getting too revved up but these are seasoned veterans. Cue Card is looking cool, calm and collected. If you had to pick one out Don Cossack looks absolutely magnificent."

Here's your runners  for the Gold Cup, along with the trainers:

CARLINGFORD LOUGH (John Kiely) 20-1

CUE CARD (Colin Tizzard) 7-2

DJAKADAM (Willie Mullins) 9-2

DON COSSACK (Gordon Elliott) 2-1

DON POLI (Willie Mullins) 4-1

IRISH CAVALIER (Rebecca Curtis) 66-1

O'FAOLAINS BOY (Rebecca Curtis) 40-1

ON HIS OWN (Willie Mullins) 50-1

SMAD PLACE (Alan King) 10-1

ROAD TO RICHES is a non-runner.

Sad news as Long Dog is put down after that fall in the last race. That's six horses put down at this year's Festival.

Jon Flanagan's current Liverpool deal will run out at the end of the season but the defender signing a new contract appears to be a done deal judging by what Reds boss Jurgen Klopp had to say at his news conference.

"I was a little bit involved in these negotiations," says Klopp, who turned up in a Beatles t-shirt. "It is good for us but I think in this special case, with his long injury, it is better for Flanno. 

"There are a few other full-backs in the world but not so many Scousers and not so many came back after a difficult injury. He is our boy and we are really happy to have him here."

Image source, Getty Images

Ryan Air boss and owner of 2-1 favourite Don Cossack, Michael O'Leary on BBC Radio 5 live: 

"The horse doesn't know what the odds are. It will be a tough race. We've got good ground that certainly favours Don Cossack."

Image source, Getty Images

It's upon us folks. All the wagers, all the glory, all the drama.

The romance is with trainer Colin Tizzard's Cue Card, who can claim this season's big triple and with a cool £1m.

Cue Card is 7-2 second favourite. Don Cossack at 2-1 is favourite - the money is pouring on to that one. But Willie Mullins has Don Poli and the Ruby Walsh-ridden Djakadam. Smad Place is also there or there abouts."

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland were well beaten in their first game of the Women's World Twenty20 as New Zealand triumphed in Mohali.

White Ferns captain Suzie Bates won the toss and led the way, hitting 82 from 60 balls and adding 104 with Sophie Devine (47 from 34).

The Kiwi total of 177-3 from 20 overs always looked beyond Ireland.

Captain Isobel Joyce top scored with 28, while Leigh Kasperek's four overs only cost 10 runs as the Irish made 84-5, handing New Zealand a 93-run win.

Some bad news from that one, though, as the Ruby Walsh ridden Long Dog took a nasty fall and did not look in great shape. If we get more news we'll pass it on.

Oh what an aperitif for the Gold Cup that was. 

Barters Hill and Champers on Ice go into the last neck and neck but I told you Unowhatimeanharry (11-1) had the name of a winner.

He came storming down the left side and had pulled level by the last and then had enough gas to come across the field for a fifth consecutive winner for the Harry Fry-trained horse.

Fagan (25-1) was second and Champers On Ice (25-2) third.

Image source, Getty Images

Conglomerate Wanda Group has become the first Chinese top-tier partner of world football governing body Fifa.

It is the first big deal of new Fifa President Gianni Infantino's reign, and the first since the scandals that engulfed the organisation.

It has entered at the highest level of sponsorship rights and the deal covers the next four World Cups until 2030.

The financial size of the partnership has not been revealed, but it is believed to be one of the biggest in Fifa's history.

I have to disagree with Cornelius.

I think Unowhatimeanharry is the best named horse in this one. He's 12-1.

(It's one for the Frank Bruno fans).

Cornelius Lysaght
BBC Sport horse racing correspondent

"Barters Hill is seven from seven and the feeling was he'd be favourite, but Shantou Village is in as favourite. Inevitably Willie Mullins has a strong hand. The one with the best name is probably Jonniesofa - trained by Rose Dobbin."

One more to go before the biggie (the Gold Cup, in case you needed reminding).

Before that, it's the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, with the Neil Mulholland-trained Shantou Village the 7-2 favourite.

Willie Mullins, looking for his eighth win of the week, has seven entries among the 20 runners. Ruby Walsh rides Long Dog at 6-1.