Top Wood is showing real guts here, digging in to hang on... the cavalry is coming.

Pacha Du Polder bursts past Top Wood, who is still hanging on... it's a two-horse race...

Pacha Du Polder, last year's winner and ridden by Harriet Tucker, has got it!

Image source, PA

Has Top Wood got the engine to see this one through? He's over the penultimate fence... one to go... the pack are closing quick...

Nearest challengers to Top Wood now are Grand Vision and Cousin Pete. They're closing on the frontrunner.. three to go...

Top Wood continues to lead the way with five fences to go. They are starting to string out a touch now...

Wells De Lune has conceded the lead as they go round the bend in front of the grandstand. Top Wood takes over at the front, stretching the legs to open up a five or six length lead...

Wells De Lune has bolted out early doors and is doing the early running.

Meanwhile, I've found my new favourite horse - Shotavodka. Unfortunately it's running like I would after several of its alcohol-based namesake.

Plenty of shouting and squawking as the jockeys are instructed where to lead their horses.... finally the starter is happy... and they're off!

Right, it's time for our next race. As the sun peers from the Cheltenham clouds, the horses gather for the Foxhunter Cup Open Hunters' Chase. Burning Ambition goes off favourite.

Tom Scudamore
Jockey on BBC Radio 5 live

He's gone down to the last. The respect for these horses to keep on coming. He's asked an impossible question at the last and he's delivered, That is what epitomises the sport. It defines national hunt racing. It's wonderful.

BBC Radio 5 live

Joe Tizzard - son of chief trainer Colin Tizzard - on Native River: "Fantastic. He's a tough horse. I thought Mite Bight was going to get him."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Just a heads-up that commentary has switched to BBC Radio 5 live sports extra for the day's remaining races...

BBC Radio 5 live

Nicky Henderson on second place: Second place is funny in these kind of races. No one else ever got into the race. Native River loves that ground and we hate it. The ground beat Might Bite in the end. We'll come back for more next year and hopefully it'll be a little drier next year. They've done their upmost. Two great horses. They out their heads down and locked horns.

A carefully-crafted lump of solid gold is stood waiting to be collected on a plinth in the winners' enclosure. The Princess Royal, looking resplendent in a violet overcoat and matching hat, waits to hand over the Gold Cup to Native River's connections.

Owners Garth and Ann Broom look slightly startled as they walk up first, further roars greeting the introduction of Colin Tizzard and Richard Johnson.

Teeth-white grins all round. Flashbulbs from the throng of snappers in front of the jubilant team bounce off those beaming smiles.

Image source, Reuters

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, PA

Winning jockey Richard Johnson on victory: "Brilliant. He jumped great, he answered every question I asked. He's so genuine and the Tizzards gave him a chance and full credit to them. You couldn't ask for a better partner. He always goes the right way. I was lucky enough to win this race 18 years ago and I'm just making sure I'm enjoying this moment as much as possible."

Image source, Reuters

Colin Tizzard has nailed it. After Native River finished third in the Gold Cup last year, he cooked up a new plan - to peak this spring. And that tactic has paid off big time. Tizzard has claimed the biggest win of his career!

Rory Burnand
BBC Radio 5 live at Cheltenham Festival

What a reception for Richard Johnson and Native River...

BBC Radio 5 live

More from a jubilant Colin Tizzard: "The Irish have been winning everything but Richard Johnson gave it that sort of ride. When Might Bite came beside him, Native River just flew over the last.

"He wasn't quite right after Cheltenham last year so we've stuck to the plan and it has come in.

"I never thought in my biggest dreams that I would win a Gold Cup. If you ask me again I think I'll start crying."

Winning trainer Colin Tizzard: "It was unreal wasn't it? To win the Cheltenham Gold Cup means everything to everyone's life. Let's not pretend it's not. Richard Johnson galloped and jumped as fast as he could and the horse never let him down once. He just powered away.

"We've had a wonderful preparation and you think something could go wrong in the race but it didn't.

"Bloody hell, I can't believe it. It doesn't get any better does it?"

Clare O'Donoughue
BBC Radio 5 live at Cheltenham

Native River and Might Bite at the last fence. It was literally neck and neck...

Winning trainer Colin Tizzard laps up the congratulations and well wishes while telling the media how pleased he is.

Mobile phone cameras are out all over the place as punters try to capture the moment Native River and Richard Johnson trot to the winners' enclosure.

Tizzard welcomes them with a wild cheer and fist pump to the television cameras. He thinks he's about to wake up drooling from an amazing dream.