Sam Spinner seems to think that the easiest way to win this race is by leading from the off. Sounds like a decent tactic to me.

The favourite leads the way, gliding over the first few fences without any bother.

Gina Harding
Reporter at Cheltenham

Image source, Reuters

The jockeys have just arrived and are collecting their thoughts. All the horses look good and Joe Colliver is keeping Sam Spinner away from the other horses.

Is Joe Colliver going to cap a remarkable comeback by winning today's big race? It's almost time to find out...

Colliver looks focused as he gently guides Sam Spinner forwards, clear of the rest of the hopefuls, towards the starter...

Rory Burnand
BBC Radio 5 live at Cheltenham Festival

Image source, BBC Sport

7 Sam Spinner - Joe Colliver - Jedd O'Keeffe 5-2

13 Yanworth - Barry Geraghty - Alan King 6-1

8 Supasundae - Robbie Power Mrs J. Harrington 13-2

11 Unowhatimeanharry - Noel Fehily - Harry Fry 8-1

Simon Foat
BBC Radio 5 live at Cheltenham

They start them young here at Cheltenham! The new AP McCoy? Kian Kerr, 7, is at the Festival with his Mum, Sheena.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

I've been asking some of the 5 live team for their selections and jockey Andrew Thornton is on a treble after winning picks (Coo Star Sivola, Samcro) on Tuesday and Wednesday,

Jockey Andrew Thornton: 15:30 Sam Spinner

The more rain that falls, the better the chance for Sam Spinner in the Stayers' Hurdle. He's young and still improving.

Jockey Lizzie Kelly: 16:50 Maria's Benefit

The toughest mare that has impressed all season for a small trainer who had his first Cheltenham Festival winner last year.

Where else could you put your dosh?

Other runners include Yanworth, who was seventh when favourite for last year's Champion Hurdle, and The New One, now an old stager but with plenty of followers.

Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, The New One has competed in the past four runnings of the Champion Hurdle - finishing third in 2014, fifth in 2015, fourth in 2016 and fifth last year.

Supasundae is another leading contender, having spent much of the past six weeks at the top of the market. Trained by Jessica Harrington, he already has course-winning form having claimed the Coral Cup last year.

BBC Radio 5 live

Jockey Joe Colliver on being sent to prison: “It was just a blur and I felt weak and couldn’t hear anything. It was a shock. Obviously the boss said the job is open for me which was kind and I am lucky. I thought that was it for me - who would want a criminal? I am very grateful to everyone who supported me."

Read more about Joe Colliver and Sam Spinner's story here

Colliver was released early from jail with an electronic surveillance tag in 2016 after serving three months of a 10-month prison term.

He had pleaded guilty to drink-driving and perverting the course of justice.

His subsequent efforts to rebuild his life have been rewarded with three successes on Sam Spinner - notably in Ascot's Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Christmas.

"I'm deeply remorseful for what I've done," he told BBC Sport. "I couldn't be any more thankful to everybody that's stuck by me."

O'Keeffe, who trains in Middleham, North Yorkshire, has also rebuilt his career after throat and neck cancer.

He has established a thriving stable which has been rewarded with his first festival runner.

And is grateful to Sam Spinner - who has never finished outside of the top two in nine starts - that has put him centre stage.

"It is a good story, but I keep on saying, and it's correct, that we're very lucky to have Sam," he said.

Image source, Getty Images

Plenty of hard-earned cash is being lumped on Sam Spinner - the favourite for the day's showpiece race.

But can a horse that has turned into one of the sport's leading stayers provide a happy ending to a quite remarkable story by winning today?

Trainer Jedd O'Keeffe recovered from throat cancer in 2011 and then faced a financial crisis which almost forced him to quit.

And jockey Joe Colliver is rebuilding his career after being jailed for lying about the circumstances of a car crash.

Right then, as if that excitement wasn't enough, it is now time for the big race of the day....

It's the 3:30 Stayers' Hurdle...

Image source, PA

Smiles and cheers all round as Balko Des Flos owner Michael O'Leary finally gets his hands - and his head - on his own trophy.

O'Leary places it on top of his head after landing the honour he says he has been wanting for 15 years.

He's followed onto the stage by trainer Henry De Bromhead and jockey Davy Russell, whose popularity in the weighing room is showed by a ear-splitting roar when he is introduced.

Image source, Reuters

Not only are Henry De Bromhead and the connections of Balko Des Fos delighted with his win - so are the bookies.

That's because they have recouped some of their losses so far at Cheltenham Festival with Balko Des Fos beating heavy favourite Un De Sceaux in the Ryanair Chase.

"A whopping 43% of bets in the last 24 hours were placed on Un De Sceaux to win at odds between 11/10 and 8/11," says Callum Wilson of Oddschecker.

"The 10-year-old was among, if not the, most popular bet of the Festival."

Rory Burnand
BBC Radio 5 live at Cheltenham Festival

Cue Card's disappointed trainer Colin Tizzard on whether the 12-year-old will now retire: "He's always been a brave horse but that just wasn't him, as the others were going past him he couldn't handle it. We're not going to make any rash statements on him. We're not even going to think about that word [retirement]. We'll take him home and see how he is."

BBC Radio 5 live

Winning trainer Henry De Bromhead: "Davey Russell gave him a brilliant ride. I can’t believe it, I'm over the moon – he was cool and got him settled and the lads rightly said freshen him up today and thankfully everything fell into place and to get a big winner at this Festival is brilliant."

1 Balko Des Flos D N Russell 8-1

7 Un De Sceaux P Townend 8-11 Fav

2 Cloudy Dream B Hughes 10-1

Balko Des Flos accelerates like a Boeing 737 on the runway at Manchester Airport... and lifts off to a five-length victory.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary will be as proud as punch. His horse, the 8-1 shot ridden by Davy Russell, wins the race which O'Leary backs.

Balko Des Flos has overtaken Un De Sceaux with two fences to go! A shock on the cards...