5 live's roving reporter Derek Thompson has grabbed a quick word with Total Recall's owners before the big race.

Wish them luck from me, Thommo. I've got them in the office sweepstake....

Image source, BBC Sport

Rory Burnand
BBC Radio 5 live at Cheltenham Festival

Simon Phillip, one of Might Bite's owners: "It's the biggest privilege in the world to be here with a chance with a great horse. The going won't suit him especially well, this is uncharted territory. Nico will sit and sit and sit. Might Bite will decide when he wants to go."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

“Who needs tickets? I’ll buy or sell” is a well-known greeting for punters at the Festival.

Dozens of ticket touts traditionally gather outside the track, but course bosses have been trying to deter them this year.

A public space protection order has been brought in which makes it an offence, with £80 on-the-spot fines, for a tout to operate either in the town or at the racecourse.

"We hope it has assisted in our racegoers getting a little bit less nuisance from touts than in the past. It is not going to solve everything, but it is a step in the right direction,” said course boss Ian Renton.

Image source, Frank Keogh

And if you're in the Cheltenham area and trying to sneak in late doors then you're in bother...

TEN MINUTES TO GO!

Time to stop what you're doing. Close that spreadsheet, put down that spanner. Your mind needs to focus on the Gold Cup and the Gold Cup only...

Image source, PA

Clare O'Donoughue
BBC Radio 5 live at Cheltenham

Our reporter Gina Harding with some punters as they place their bets for the Gold Cup. They've gone for Native River, Road to Respect and Edwulf. Will they still be smiling at the end of the day?

BBC Radio 5 live

Rich Ricci on two-time runner-up Djakadam: "It's a wide open Gold Cup. I am hopeful. He's got great form here. He's never been this fit in his life.I was talking to Ruby yesterday and he said he'd be keen to ride Djakadam. He's got a chance and he's way overpriced."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Since bumping into jockey Patrick Mullins on Monday before the meeting started, I keep recalling our conversation.

I mentioned his trainer father Willie having the Gold Cup runner-up six times, and Patrick replied: "Ah yes, but seven's a charm."

The rider says he was pleased when stable jockey Ruby Walsh (who was subsequently injured) chose not to ride the 2015 and 2016 runner-up Djakadam, and he got the mount instead.

I like the chances of Djakadam at 25-1, particularly with some bookmakers paying five places each way.

The horse has form figures of 2, 2, 4, in the Gold Cup - just like The Fellow who won at the fourth attempt in 1994.

Image source, Frank Keogh

Trainer Nicky Henderson is seeking a historic treble as he sends out Might Bite in the showpiece race.

The King George VI Chase winner is among 15 contenders after last year's runner-up Minella Rocco, Double Shuffle and Shantou Flyer were withdrawn.

Victory would make Henderson the first trainer to win the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup at one Cheltenham Festival meeting.

Henderson saddled Buveur D'Air to win a second Champion Hurdle on Tuesday and won the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Altior 24 hours later.

"It's funny how champions come around in the same breath, but I feel they help each other - if you have good horses, they make good horses," said the 67-year-old.

Cornelius Lysaght
BBC horse racing correspondent at Cheltenham

Image source, Getty Images

It's an open Gold Cup, and though some will say it's more about quantity than quality we do have Might Bite, the King George winner looking to scale the second of steeplechasing's two major peaks.

If Might Bite was guaranteed to run in a straight line, his odds would be miles shorter; I've no real doubts his stamina will last out the distance.

Of the admittedly fairly long list of alternatives, Willie Mullins' four - probably headed by Killultagh Vic who's a class act - attempt to give the prolific stable success after no fewer than six seconds, and Ireland is rampant here this week, while no-one must forget Definitly Red, who'll revel in the going and has good recent Cheltenham form.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

There may be 15 runners, but when I chatted to some of the BBC Radio 5 live pundits, they were agreed on the winner.

Jockey Andrew Thornton:"Our Duke in The Gold Cup stands out to me. He'll relish the soft ground. He's a young horse who's still improving. Last time out he beat Presenting Percy, who won the RSA Chase here on Wednesday."

Reporter Gina Harding:"Treatment for some injury problems has clearly paid off and Our Duke's prep run for this race was further proof of his renewed wellbeing. In a wide-open renewal of the race he looks to hold an excellent chance."

Commentator John Hunt:"Our Duke made astonishing progress last year. He's a guaranteed stayer who will love the ground. What more could you want? No wonder we have all gone for him.

9 Might Bite 4/1

12 Our Duke 9/2

11 Native River 11/2

4 Definitly Red 8/1

8 Killultagh Vic 8/1

14 Road To Respect 10/1

7 Edwulf 16/1

13 Outlander 20/1

Where does the time go? It's 20 years since Andrew Thornton won the Gold Cup on Cool Dawn. He's still riding, aged 45, though not in action today. He's part of the BBC team.

I asked him to sum up that win.

"It's a privilege to take part. From a jockey's point of view it's like the FA Cup and Champions League rolled into one," he said.

"It means everything to win it. You're introduced as the Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey and that feels great."

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More importantly, who's Princess Anne backing for the Gold Cup? I'm challenging one of the 5 live team to grab a word with HRH and find out.

I reckon the Royal Family stick to chauffeur-driven Jags. Which may be how Princess Anne has arrived at the course today...

Image source, Reuters

Planes, trains and automobiles... Wonder if anyone turns up on a scooter?

With a rumoured 70,000 spectators entering the racecourse for Gold Cup day, it's no wonder some fans look to alternative modes of transport into the grounds.

These may be lucky punters perhaps celebrating their wins over the week by taking a luxury ride into Gold Cup day at Cheltenham....

Image source, Getty Images

Or would you be more of a historic steam train rider that rolls into the Festival?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

1 Kilbricken Storm (Harry Cobden) 33-1

2 Ok Corral (B J Geraghty) 16-1

3 Santini (Nico de Boinville) 11-4 Fav

Kilbricken Storm comes through to win! Timed to perfection by jockey Harry Cobden, the 33-1 shot shows he is a stayer to romp through as Fabulous Saga pressed the rewind button.

Fabulous Saga powers round the bend and towards the final fence... too much too early? Kilbricken Storm is lurking behind...