Image source, Reuters

21 Mohaayed Bridget Andrews 33-1

9 Remiluc Harry Reed 50-1

14 Whiskey Sour D J Mullins 7-1

18 Chesterfield Daniel Sansom 16-1

Few saw that one coming, even the connections it seems. The 33-1 shot, ridden by Bridget Andrews, came through on soft ground on which it was expected to struggle.

Sternrubin and Tigris River are reined back in as they race towards the last. Sandsend has broken down! Anyone's race is this one...

All the favourites are towards the back as they safely hurdle the next fence in driving rain. Two to go...

Those two are still setting the pace, the rest of the field compact as they bide their time... going up the hill now, about halfway round...

Sternrubin and Tigris River aren't messing about.. they're out the traps quickly and lead by five lengths in these early stages...

Image source, Getty Images

Willie Mullins has got his binos out in the grandstand... hope he's quick at moving between his five horses.

Here we go then... they're off!

The horses are jostling for position at the start line like the punters down at the bar. It's packed down there.

Jockey Davy Russell takes his horse Ben Dundee right up to a hurdle, showing him what he's got to face over the next two miles.

Image source, PA

Willie Mullins has already racked up seven winners this week - no wonder he's laughing like a Bond villain. This looks to be a good chance for the Irish trainer to equal his record eight wins at one Festival.

His stable has won four of the past 10 County Hurdles and has five runners in this 27-horse field.

Leading contender Bleu Et Rouge and Whiskey Sour are Mullins' best bets, although if you simply back the favourite then a word of caution: no market leader has won the race since 2006.

Five-year-olds have enjoyed plenty of recent success, indicating Sandsend, Flying Tiger, Duca De Thaix and Meri Devie - all in this age bracket - could be worth backing.

Back to the track... next up is the County Handicap Hurdle. A mahoosive 24-field in this Grade Three race....

Simon Foat
BBC Radio 5 live at Cheltenham

Image source, BBC Sport

Nicky Henderson could make history at Cheltenham today if Might Bite can win the Gold Cup. He would become the first trainer to win the Champion Hurdle, the Champion Chase and the Gold Cup in the same year. Always deep in thought, a master a work.

We're asking what name you'd give a racehorse if you were lucky enough to buy one...

A reader named 'me' on Twitter: I used to go to Cheltenham every year with my dad until he passed away in 2014. To commemorate where he got his betting money from, I would name my horse: 'daughter's piggy bank'.

Image source, PA

Talking of legends, we've just spotted Carol Vorderman at Cheltenham. Wonder if 'picking one from the top' is her tactic when it comes to betting.

Other famous faces are Kevin Webster from Corrie and, erm... that's it at the moment. Training horses on the Weatherfield cobbles must be tricky.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Image source, Frank Keogh

Famous commentaries from the late great 'Voice of Racing' Sir Peter O'Sullevan were played out at the course before the action began.

The triumphs of legendary previous winners like Arkle, Dawn Run and Kauto Star really whetting the appetite,

Will it be Might Bite, Native River, Our Duke or another added to the roll of honour this afternoon?

Check out my full Gold Cup preview here.

Image source, Frank Keogh

Help Centre, love that. I might name my horse Don't Bet after the opener.

One down, two more to go until THE big race...

Image source, Reuters

We're asking what name you'd give a racehorse if you were lucky enough to buy one...

Darrell: Help Centre

George Alex Currie: Batteries Not Included

Lizzie Kelly
Jockey on BBC Radio 5 live

On Gordon Elliott: "The trust you have to have in your staff is massive as they are the ones that ride them everyday. I think having those people around you on a day to day basis is very good.

"You can't think of everything so he can't look after 200 horses and know everything. So I think they have to take a lot of credit also."

Brilliant line from Jack Kennedy there. It's not very often I hear it on my trips with that particular budget airline... (if their lawyers are watching, I'm joking)

The reference to Ryanair is because Farclas is owned by the Gigginstown House Stud, owned by airline boss Michael O'Leary.

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Reuters

Farclas' winning jockey Jack Kennedy on his victory: "Another Ryanair flight landed on time. I thought I was in with a fair shout - the horse is improving all the time. Gordon is so impressive. The ground is a bit slower than it has been the past few days. I'm not complaining about it though after that!"