Broughton is joint-second favourite with Calipto in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, having won last time out at Musselburgh. It's the four-year-old's first time at Cheltenham, but his trainer John Ferguson has been quoted as saying the ground will be to his liking this afternoon.

Time is running away from us yet again, and we're not far off the first race of the day - the JCB Triumph Hurdle at 13:30. Royal Irish Hussar leads the market, but trainer Dessie Hughes will be hoping for a poignant win for Guitar Pete. Hughes won this race last year with Our Conor, who was sadly put down after sustaining a serious injury on the opening day of this year's meeting.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

There has been a touch of the okey-cokey in the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting market. In, out, in, out, shake it all about.

With Last Instalment in, and First Lieutenant out, the odds on some contenders have been trimmed. Reigning champion Bobs Worth is now the 13/8 favourite with race sponsors Betfred, and Silviniaco Conti next at 3/1.

"The market is all about Bobs Worth. Punters have been backing the ears off him at 9/4 this morning and our liabilities are rapidly soaring towards the £1m mark," said Betfred spokesman Andrew Griffiths.

The 2011 Champion Bumper winner Cheltenian (15/2 from 10/1) is popular in the County Hurdle.

Still not convinced about Bobs Worth? What if I tell you he shares a birthday with Mr T? He's made of strong stuff alright. You won't get him on no plane though...

Bobs Worth is the clear favourite for the Gold Cup, and it's easy to see why when you take his Cheltenham record into consideration. The nine-year-old has won on all of his five previous visits to Prestbury Park, including in last year's Gold Cup and the previous year's RSA Chase. Barry Geraghty, who counts World Hurdle success among his three winners this week, will once again be in the saddle.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Sensational spring day at Cheltenham. Tips and tipples in high demand as 67,500 sell-out crowd gather in warm sunshine for Gold Cup day. As it's the last day of Cheltenham Festival, I will chance some picks: 130 Broughton, 205 Cheltenian, 320 On His Own e/w, 400 Oscar Delta.

Cornelius Lysaght
BBC horse racing correspondent at Cheltenham

"It's not a straight shootout between Bobs Worth and Silvaniaco Conti. The Giant Bolster needs a big mention, he's trained close to the track, Tom Scudamore has had a good week and the horse loves this racecourse."

Andrew Thornton
Jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 live at Cheltenham

"We've had the build up and now this is the dessert. You can feel there is more buzz in the air today. Everyone talks about the Gold Cup."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Champagne moment: A punter studies form by the statue of Golden Miller, five-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner:

My colleague Ian Baker has once again picked out some horses to watch today. Don't send in any complaints if he is wrong but you can buy him a pint if he gets any right!

13:30 Abbyssial, 14:05 Cheltenian, 14:40 Briar Hill, 15:20 Bobs Worth, 16:00 That's Rhythm, 16:40 Une Artiste, 17:15 Mr Mole.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

"Iconic Gold Cup commentaries from the legendary BBC broadcaster Sir Peter O'Sullevan are being played on the big TV screens around the buzzing racecourse as punters enjoy glorious spring sunshine.

"Tips are being shared and some sleeves bared as a capacity crowd of 67,500 get revved up for a captivating day.

"Arkle, Dawn Run, Desert Orchid - the words, images and atmosphere send a shiver down the spine. This is the holy grail of jump racing - the top steeplechasers competing over 22 fences on a rollercoaster test of more than three-and-a-quarter miles.

"Sir Peter, now aged 96, misses the Festival this year but will be following from home, and is reported to be in good form. Word is he drove himself from London to Paris last October for flat racing's showpiece Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe."

Earlier this morning, Last Instalment was cleared to run following an inspection of the ground at Cheltenham. Last Instalment is trained by Philip Fenton, who faces charges of possessing banned substances, including anabolic steroids. Last Instalment passed a dope test earlier in March.

Speaking to BBC Sport on Thursday, the owner of Last Instalment Michael O'Leary says he is "very comfortable" with his horse running in the Gold Cup, saying: "People are desperate to make a controversy out of nothing."

Sue Montgomery in the Independent is backing Silviniaco Conti, under Noel Fehily, to learn from the mistakes of last year, external and give trainer Paul Nicholls a joint record eight wins in the race.

"Silviniaco Conti came into last year's Gold Cup on a roll and was going ominously easily in third place when he landed too steeply at the third-last fence and fell for the first and only time in his life," she says.

It is a view shared by Chris Cook in the Guardian who claims the harder ground will hit the favourite's challenge., external

"Soft going is not a must for Bobs Worth and the ground was fairly dry when he scored his first two Festival successes," he says. "But the evidence of the Betfair Chase in November is that he can be vulnerable in races requiring a modicum of speed."

Bobs Worth may be the much-fancied favourite but there are many pundits in the national press that believes others can pull off an upset in the Gold Cup.

Mark Winstanley in the Daily Star believes the ground favours Triolo D'Alene,, external ridden by Tony McCoy. "Around the 12-1 mark, Triolo D'Alene is the each-way steal of the race," he claims.

Cornelius Lysaght
BBC horse racing correspondent at Cheltenham

"Bobs Worth does not race that often, twice so far this season. But he's the winner of 10 of 14 races and five times from five starts at Cheltenham. Winning two Gold Cups used to be rare but both Best Mate - who won three - and Kauto Star have done it in recent years. Silviniaco Conti is rated the biggest danger."

BBC Radio 5 live

Jockey Ruby Walsh, who rides On His Own in the Gold Cup, says it will be difficult to beat Bobs Worth: "This is the blue riband of all sport. The Gold Cup is the race for the best horses. I'm riding On His Own, I suppose he's an each-way chance. He jumps and stays but could be third or fourth. It will be a really good race but I think Bobs Worth will be hard to beat."

It's not too late to run an office sweep on the Gold Cup. Here's the full list of runners and riders, which you can print out, cut up and throw into a colleague's bowler hat.

Racecard number, name, breeding, trainer, age, weight, jockey, odds

1 Bobs Worth (IRE) Nicky Henderson 9-11-10 Barry Geraghty 7-4

2 Cloudy Too (IRE) Sue Smith 8-11-10 Jonathan England 66-1

4 Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) Venetia Williams 7-11-10 Liam Treadwell 100-1

5 Katenko (FR) Venetia Williams 8-11-10 Aidan Coleman 50-1

6 Knockara Beau (IRE) George Charlton 11-11-10 Jan Faltejsek 50-1

7 Last Instalment (IRE) Philip Fenton IRE 9-11-10 Brian O'Connell 8-1

8 Lord Windermere (IRE) Jim Culloty IRE 8-11-10 Davy Russell 25-1

9 Lyreen Legend (IRE) Dessie Hughes IRE 7-11-10 Paul Carberry 40-1

10 On His Own (IRE) Willie Mullins IRE 10-11-10 Ruby Walsh 25-1

11 Silviniaco Conti (FR) Paul Nicholls 8-11-10 Noel Fehily 3/1

12 Teaforthree (IRE) Rebecca Curtis 10-11-10 Nick Scholfield 50/1

13 The Giant Bolster David Bridgwater 9-11-10 Tom Scudamore 16/1

14 Triolo D'Alene (FR) Nicky Henderson 7-11-10 AP McCoy 9/1

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

The going description remains Good, Good to Soft in places on the New Course at Cheltenham for the final day of the Festival.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: "I think the course is in great nick. We have opened up, on the inside of the chase course all the way around, another seven to 11 yards of ground which has not been run on since March of last year so that is in beautiful condition. We have been delighted with the ground so far this week and the key thing about today is the Gold Cup is the first chase run on that lovely inner strip of fresh ground."

Keep your money in your pocket if you were thinking about backing any of these three:

13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle

Ballyglasheen

14:40 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

Blakemount (Self Certificate, Lame)

15:20 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup

First Lieutenant (Self Certificate, Not Eaten Up)

Are you on a winning streak at Cheltenham? Perhaps you need a change in luck? Feel free to send your tips throughout the afternoon, stating why you believe your chosen horse will win.

And if you're one of the lucky 67,500 crammed into Prestbury Park this afternoon, let us know what the atmosphere is like and feel free to send photographs from the racecourse. Usual drill: #bbcracing on Twitter, external or send a text to 81111, remembering to include your name.