Cheltenham Gold Cup: Rachael Blackmore becomes first female jockey to win on A Plus Tard (3-1)
Blackmore has now won Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle (twice) & Grand National in past 12 months
A Plus Tard won by 15 lengths after finishing second last year
Minella Indo, the 2021 winner, second at 7-1 with Protektorat third (10-1)
Willie Mullins wins five races on final day of Festival & is leading trainer (10 wins overall)
Ireland beat GB 18-10 in Prestbury Cup, completing a clean sweep on Friday
Paul Townend is leading jockey with five wins
Vauban (6-4) wins Triumph Hurdle for Townend & Mullins
That was jockey Paul Townend's fifth victory of this year's Cheltenham Festival and a seventh for trainer Willie Mullins.
State Man runs in the black and yellow Donnelly colours which will be worn by Townend on two-time champion Al Boum Photo in the Gold Cup.
Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
It could be a fabulous day for the combination.
Paul Townend has gone up the stand side rail both times so it will be interesting if people continue trying to go down the outside down the hill and up the rail as the races progress.
John Hunt
Race commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
Two races down and both have gone to Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
They could be on the edge of an exceptional day.
14:10 - McCoy Contractors County Hurdle
1 State Man (Paul Townend) 11-4 Fav
2 First Street (Nico de Boinville) 16-1
3 Colonel Mustard (C J Orr) 13-2
4 West Cork (Harry Skelton) 13-2
26 ran
State Man wins the McCoy Contractors County Hurdle following a strong run to the last.
Turning in and there's plenty of horses with chances now. State Man is running well as Cask Mate falls...
Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
There has been a very strong gallop to this race.
Stepney Causeway continues to lead three out but now has Eclair De Beaufeu for company with I Like To Move It third.
Stepney Causeway heads the large field in the early stages with I Like To Move It in second.
The McCoy Contractors County Hurdle is a go!
Andrew Thornton
Former Gold Cup-winning jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
This is where every jockey wants to be - they want to be here on this big occasion. It is what their year is centered around.
There has been a fair degree of discussion on social media about the cost of drinks and food at the Cheltenham Festival.
Spectators have complained about being charged £7 for a pint of Guinness, more than £8 for a glass of wine and £14 for a gin and tonic or an Irish coffee, while ‘loaded’ chips will set you back £9.
The Jockey Club, which owns Cheltenham, has blamed price rises in the costs of goods and labour, but said the figures being charged were “comparable to other major events”.
Image source, BBC Sport
BBC Radio 5 Live
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Image source, PA MediaIt is another day of absolutely packed stands at Cheltenham. It looks brilliant out there.
It has been confirmed by the British Horseracing Authority that three horses have sadly been fatally injured following falls at this year's Cheltenham Festival.
They are Shallwehaveonemore (Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Tuesday), Born Patriot (Pertemps Hurdle) and Mindsmadeup (Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup) on Thursday.
14:10 McCoy County Handicap Hurdle
A bumper field of 26 goes to post and although Paul Townend and Willie Mullins have the well-fancied State Man, there are a host of horses with good chances.
Suprise Package, who won last Saturday’s Imperial Cup at Sandown, bids for a double for trainer Peter Fahey with Kevin Sexton taking the ride this time.
Top Bandit has won his last three outings including at Cheltenham in October and could challenge again.
Father and son Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies combine with I Like To Move It – a runner-up last time out at Newbury.
Image source, GettyDavy Russell takes the ride on Top Bandit
Image source, PA MediaVauban is our first winner of the day with six more races to come.
Next up is the County Hurdle, which gets under way in around 20 minutes.
Emma Lavelle
Trainer at Cheltenham on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
How do you manage the relationship with a jockey after a fall like Paul Townend had on Galopin Des Champs in Thursday's opener?
You use a jockey because you think they are good at what they do. It isn't always going to be perfect every time they go out there.
This sport is all about confidence so there is no point kicking someone when they are down - they are going to be as gutted as we are. It is about picking them back up and getting them going away and going out there with pure belief that the whole team are behind them.
Vauban's owner Rich Ricci on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: "I didn't watch it. I watched last hurdle actually and he flattened it.
"He is a proper little taxi. He is a lovely horse. He's got some engine and I am delighted with that."
Image source, BBC SportBig beaming smile on Paul Townend's face as he takes Vauban into the winners' enclosure.
There was a mistake at the last flight but they still held it together to take an impressive win.