Irish eyes are smiling, 'luck' of the Irish, etc, etc.

In non-cliched terms... the Irish contingent have been bloomin' brilliant this week.

One of the key themes of the week is the annual battle between the British and Irish trainers, with the visitors from the Emerald Isle absolutely bossing it.

Andrew Thornton
Former Gold Cup-winning jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

It's a different Cheltenham this year but we still have quality racing.

It is all to play for in terms of the leading jockey award - Rachael Blackmore is riding out of her skin but she has also had four falls, dusted herself down and managed five winners.

She also has Jack Kennedy and Paul Townend snapping at her heels.

Michael Jordan: Breakfast, daft jackets and Guinness on Gold Cup Day! Royal Pigaille at 16/1 - get on!

Image source, Twitter

YES LADS! Exactly what we're after from you lot at home. Look at those fried eggs. Perfection.

What about the rest of you?

Zanahiyr v Tritonic was likened to Frazier v Ali, Palmer v Nicklaus and Federer v Nadal in this morning's Racing Post. Blimey.

Quilixios might, therefore, be fancied as the Holyfield/Trevino/Djokovic...

A field of eight for the opening race of the final day - run over 2m 1f - which features the best four-year-olds hurdlers.

Irish hopes are led by the Denise Foster-trained Zanahiyr and former stablemate Quilixios, now with Henry de Bromhead.

But the Irish pair's biggest rival will be Tritonic from the Alan King yard who won at Ascot and Kempton this year, and is already tipped as a future big-race winner.

Image source, Getty Images

The final day of the biggest week in National Hunt racing is a few minutes away from kick-off.

First up is the JCB Triumph Hurdle...

If you've not made your selections yet and need a bit of a steer, here are some tips from our man in the Cotswolds.

(And yes, I did cast doubt on the quality of his choices before yesterday's action. Then, he bagged the first two winners. Frank - this is a formal apology. Sorry.)

A little reminder for you...

While thousands of you will be wishing you were trackside in the Cotswolds, don't worry. We've got you covered here.

As well as our text updates, you can listen to BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra's coverage from 13:15 GMT by clicking the tab on this page.

Sports Extra is bringing you commentary of all seven races on the final day of the Festival, with Gold Cup coverage also on 5 Live between 14:00 and 16:00 GMT.

Whichever you look at it, we have got your back.

Here it is, one of the biggest prizes in racing...

Image source, PA Media

Been here, done it, got the Gold Cup (twice).

The favourite knows this place as well as anyone and looked happy on the gallops this morning...

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."

Absolutely love this front page of the Racing Post.

A beautifully-striking image.

Best Mate v Al Boum Photo v Arkle.

Just imagine and dream.

Image source, Racing Post

The day has finally arrived. How are you marking it?

Of course, thousands of you would love to be wearing your Cheltenham finery (maybe you are?) and soaking up the hustle and bustle trackside.

Breathing in that fresh Cotswolds air, admiring the views of the beautiful landscapes and the beautiful horses. Hopefully next year, eh.

In the meantime, we will try our very best to make you feel like you are there. But we need your help to recreate the same buzz...

Tweet #bbcracing with your musings and tips, perhaps a photo of how you are following the action.

Let's create our own virtual Festival!

Image source, Getty Images

Can't imagine how weird it feels down at the track. Fingers crossed we will all be able to safely go to watch our favourite sporting events as soon as possible.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Friday at the Festival has been when the biggest crowd of the week - about 70,000 - usually gather for Gold Cup Day.

With no spectators, bookmakers or racehorse owners this year because of Covid-19 protocols, it is a little like being at a big party where many of the guests have not turned up.

But the big race itself remains the blue riband of jump racing, a highly-sought after place on the roll of honour still awaits the winner.

As always the final day of the Festival is jam-packed with quality races. Most eyes, of course, will be on the fourth outing of the day.

Here is the plan...

13:20 - JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m 1f

13:55 - County Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f

14:30 - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle 3m

15:05 - Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase 3m 2f

15:40 - Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase 3m 2 1/2f

16:15 - Mares' Chase 2m 4 1/2f

16:50 - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle 2m 4 1/2f

Hello! It's Gold Cup day! You can sense my excitement by the overload of exclamation marks!!

Today is what the great and good of jump racing have been gearing up for.

Or, as legendary jockey AP McCoy concisely put it... "simply the best day in jump racing".

The main event takes place a little earlier than usual - the 12 hopefuls go off at 15:05 GMT, not at the usual 15:30 GMT.

So DON'T be caught out by that and miss the big one.

Of course that will be our main focus. But it is certainly not all that is happening down at Cheltenham today...

Image source, Getty Images

Some call it the 'Blue Riband'. Others call it the '100m final of the equine Olympics'. Everyone calls it the pinnacle of jump racing.

Image source, Getty Images

A test of physical stamina, an indicator of mental endurance. A survival of the fittest.

Image source, Getty Images

Golden Miller. Desert Orchid. Arkle. Best Mate. Kauto Star. The names of the sport's greats trip off the tongue.

Image source, Getty Images

They are etched on the base of a near-century-old trophy, made of nine carat gold, plated in 18 carat and weighing 644 grams.

Image source, Getty Images

Another name will be carved into the plate today.

Another piece of racing immortality awaits.