Champ - named after legendary jump jockey AP McCoy - is another obvious contender for the big race.

Nicky Henderson - a two-time Gold Cup winner - knows how to train a champion. However, nine-year-old Champ only returned to the track last month.

"It's gone well for Champ building up to the race, especially this last little bit, and I just hope that having his first run of the season at Newbury isn't too close to the race," Henderson told the Racing Post.

"He's been doing plenty of schooling but he was also very fast and accurate with his jumping at Newbury.

"He'll have to be the same in the Gold Cup because it all comes down to jumping in the end."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Bryony Frost, like Blackmore, will also be looking to become the Gold Cup's first victorious female jockey.

Frost was the first woman to ride a Grade One winner over fences at the Festival, with Frodon in the Ryanair Chase two years ago, and the pair come here after landing the King George VI Chase.

She says Cheltenham "is his playground" and few could argue, given he has won at the course six times.

"Every year somebody triumphs and makes history," she said. "We weren't born knowing, we have discovered as we have gone.

"Rachael and Honeysuckle are brilliant to watch. They seem made for each other and it was a mega moment on Tuesday.

"There isn't just me and Rachael in the Gold Cup, though. There are 12 of us and we all know each other and our tactics. That's what makes it fun, finding those inches."

Rachael Blackmore was out on the gallops early this morning, to work with her Gold Cup ride A Plus Tard. She can't, can she?!

Image source, PA Media

Former champion jockey Tony McCoy on Rachael Blackmore on BBC Radio 5 Live:

"She's been exceptional and has been for quite a long time. Her stats in Ireland are phenomenal.

"I thought given how physically demanding it is it would be difficult for a female jockey to make that breakthrough. You need to be physically and mentally tough, but she is.

"She's the first female professional in Ireland for 30 years but has given every young girl a dream that they can compete."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Rachael Blackmore will seek more racing history on A Plus Tard - currently the second favourite - in today's big race.

Blackmore is aiming to become the first female jockey to win jump racing's blue riband event.

The 31-year-old was the first woman to ride the Champion Hurdle winner, with Honeysuckle on Tuesday.

On Thursday, she picked up a fourth Grade One win of the week with a runaway triumph on Allaho in the Ryanair Chase, adding a sixth Festival win on board Quilixios in today's opener.

The Irish rider is almost certain to become the first woman to end the week as top jockey.

Now can she land the biggest prize of all?

There might be thousands fewer at trackside, but make no mistake: there will still be the usual tense air of expectation down there in these final minutes before the big one.

Let's just dream of the crackling hum of bookies and punters, though, to really get us in the mood.

Al Boum Photo is aiming to join an elite club today by winning the Gold Cup for a third time.

Best Mate was the last to achieve the feat, back in 2004 when Jim Culloty rode the much-loved Irish horse to the famous treble.

Few horses have been able to capture the attention of the wider public quite like Best Mate and the likes of Arkle and Kauto Star.

Al Boum Photo, despite two Gold Cups, is yet to really become a household name outside of racing circles.

"People haven't fallen in love with him because they haven't seen him enough," former Gold Cup winning jockey Mick Fitzgerald said earlier today on ITV Racing.

"He's a horse that only ran on New Year's Day at Tramore and they haven't seen him since. There is no reason to have a love affair with him... yet."

Image source, Getty Images

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Al Boum Photo is bidding to become only the second horse since Arkle in the 1960s to win the big race three times.

Trainer Willie Mullins will be hoping he can emulate the last - Best Mate, 17 years ago.

"It's unbelievable to be on the brink of an Arkle achievement," said Mullins, who will also run Kemboy in the race.

"It would be extraordinary if he managed to do it. We never dreamed he would."

Let's go through the Gold Cup field then. Starting with the one, and only, Al Boum Photo...

BBC Radio 5 Live

Remember, you can listen to the Gold Cup on BBC Radio 5 Live, or via this page. Here's Mark Chapman and the team in action...

Image source, PA Media

Right then, how are we all feeling? Excited? Nervous? Both?

It is almost time....

Winning jockey Mark Walsh, who led Vanillier to victory after replacing the injured Jonathan Moore, speaking to ITV Racing: "One man's loss is another man's gain. Thanks to Gavin for giving me the ride.

"He won well. I watched replay of second in Limerick and he stayed on. Gavin said he could be a bit lazy but i thought he easy doing much. I knew he'd stay on and he did."

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Your heart has to go out to Jonathan Moore - that's two Festival winners he has missed out on.

Mark Walsh has stepped in very well.

This horse was up there the whole way and found an excellent rhythm and has seen them all off.

1 Vanillier (M P Walsh) 14-1

2 Oscar Elite (Jonjo O'Neill Jr.) 40-1

3 Streets Of Doyen (S D Torrens) 10-1

16 ran

Never in doubt. A wide margin in the end for Vanillier and Gavin Cromwell.

A stroke of luck for winning jockey Mark Walsh too... he was given the ride after Jonathan Moore pulled out this morning with a back injury.

Moore also missed out on a winner yesterday - Flooring Porter in the Stayers' Hurdle - because of the same problem.

Vanillier moves a length or two ahead going into the last. Loads in with a shout behind...

Vanillier regains the lead as the horses go over the penultimate fence...

Wouldn't like to call this. Plenty of horses in with a shout. Two hurdles to go...

Round the bend, past the grandstand and they make another turn. One more circuit - and six hurdles - to go.

Adrimel leading by half a length. Vanillier and N'Golo still in contention.

Everyone moving well and jumping OK.

Vanillier and N'Golo still setting the pace. Adrimel lurks close by as the pace slows down a touch.