Winning jockey Robbie Power on Radio 5 live: "[Trainer] Jessica Harrington is a genius. It was 10 years ago when I won the Grand National. I'm 35 now - I appreciate this a bit more."

Image source, Reuters

Jockey Tom Scudamore on Radio 5 live: "It was a tremendous race with a very, very worthy winner."

1. Sizing John 7-1

2. Minella Rocco 18-1

3. Native River 7-2

The pace is quickening. It's closely bunched. Djakadam moving up... Cue Card down at the third-last.

Native River has now taken up the front-running. Champagne West has lost ground. Irish Cavalier has been pulled up.

Huge cheers from the stands as they turn into the second circuit... it's still Champagne West and Native River at the front. 

It's still Champagne West who leads the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Djakadam with Ruby Walsh on board is now third.  

There's just over a circuit to go.

Champagne West and Native River still at the front... Djakadam is third.

That's so unfortunate for Tea For Two.

Native River leads from Bristol De Mai and Champagne West.

All safely over the first of 22 fences... but not the second. Tea For Two and Lizzie Kelly go - she was unseated.

Cornelius Lysaght
BBC horse racing correspondent at Cheltenham

I think we're down to four - Djakadam, Cue Card, Native River and Sizing John.

John Inverdale
BBC Radio 5 live at Cheltenham

The place is absolutely heaving. The sea of humanity is an awesome sight.

BBC Radio 5 live

Jonjo O'Neill has trained and ridden Cheltenham Gold Cup winners and tells BBC Radio 5 live that he has two good chances in this year's race

"More of That has had his problems but looks like he is coming back to form at the right time

"Minella Rocco has had an unfortunate season injury-wise, but he is in great form at home

"I just hope they will travel well."

Image source, Getty Images

Cornelius Lysaght
BBC horse racing correspondent at Cheltenham

Victory for the 'people's favourite' Cue Card would bring the house down, but, even at an evergreen 11, he's got to defy the age stats and there's a chance 2016 was 'his year'.

Native River has won his last three, but even so there are questions as to whether that form is good enough for this.More Of That, a previous Festival champion over hurdles, has been coming to the boil nicely and is increasingly well-touted.

Those around Djakadam are very hopeful of going one place better after two seconds, but to me Sizing John could be the one.

Racing against Douvan at his most imperious, he was defeated seven times, but, up in length of race, he's thrived and as well as having a touch of class he seems nice and relaxed so should last out this longer distance again. 

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Lizzie Kelly will become the first female jockey for 33 years to ride in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (15:30 GMT) when she partners Tea For Two for her trainer stepfather Nick Williams.

But the 23-year-old, the first woman to ride a Grade One winner over jumps who has also been doubling as a BBC Radio 5 live pundit this week, is taking it all in her stride.

"It's very interesting and a great privilege, but I see myself just the same as everyone else," she told me., 

"If people look at me and think they'd like to do the same, that's great. I appreciate a lot of girls don't have the support I've had but if you're good enough, you'll get the opportunities.

"I'm very excited and looking forward to it. I've looked back at old videos and seen different ways of winning a Gold Cup and have my plan. I think we've got a good chance of a place."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Trainer Colin Tizzard  was trying to stay relaxed before saddling Cue Card and Native River in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

"I came here as a young farmer aged 18 and watched Captain Christy win the Gold Cup. That's what fired me up to be a trainer," he said.

"I'm in a fantastic position to have these two lovely horses so I've got to make sure I enjoy it. They're both in good form."

Here is the full Gold Cup field with the start of the race ten minutes or so away.

1 Bristol De Mai (FR) D Jacob 

2 Champagne West (IRE) D J Mullins 

3 Cue Card P Brennan 

4 Djakadam (FR) R Walsh 

6 Irish Cavalier (IRE) P Townend 

7 Minella Rocco (IRE) N Fehily

 8 More Of That (IRE) A Coleman 

9 Native River (IRE) R Johnson 

10 Outlander (IRE) B J Cooper 

11 Saphir Du Rheu (FR) S Twiston-Davies 

12 Sizing John R M Power 

13 Smad Place (FR) W Hutchinson 

14 Tea For Two Lizzie Kelly

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

What's it like to commentate on the Cheltenham Gold Cup? I asked BBC Radio 5 live broadcaster John Hunt:

"This is the pinnacle. It's the iconic race and there's a distinctively different atmosphere before the Gold Cup. We're all really on edge and buzzy," he said.

"You just hope you don't miss anything. There's a heavy mixture of excitement and nervousness - you have eight minutes to tell a story, basically.

 "If I had to pick one this year I'd probably go for Sizing John, who has been a revelation since stepping up in distance."