Everyone over the first two fences. And over the open ditch. Majestic stuff.

Ahoy Senor bolts out to lead the field and set a brisk pace.

The 2023 Gold Cup is a-go-go. Buckle up, people.

The horses are jogging forward... this lot are ready to rock'n'roll...

Actor James Nesbitt is at Cheltenham today and is going for A Plus Tard.

He tells ITV Racing: "I just think, it is hard to see why you wouldn't say A Plus Tard - so strong."

No Cold Feet from Nesbitt about his pick...

Image source, PA

Willie Mullins, trainer of Galopin Des Champs, tells ITV Racing: "I think he should stay. He has lots of class.

"The idea will be for Paul to keep him settled and keep his powder dry for as long as he can. I think he is the fastest horse in the race but he needs to stay settled."

Image source, PA

Bravemansgame, third favourite at 11-2, is revved up. Too revved up. Harry Cobden is having to use all of his talent to calm him down.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Sam Ewing will replace Davy Russell on Conflated in the Gold Cup.

Image source, Getty Images

Ahoy Senor may be an outsider for the Gold Cup but Lucinda Russell's yard is bang in form.

They already have more winners than last season or the season before last. Or the six seasons before that.

Yes, they're going up against the mightiest operators in the game - Galopin Des Champs and A Plus Tard - but few thought that a Scottish trainer would deliver a Grand National winner, as Russell did with the mighty One For Arthur in 2017.

So could another surprise be on the cards?

Read more in Tom English's piece on Ahoy Senor here

Image source, Reuters

Noble Yeats could become just the third horse to win the Gold Cup and the Grand National after L'Escargot and Golden Miller.

Trained by Emmet Mullins, it is part of a formidable Irish challenge and owner Robert Waley-Cohen, who won the 2011 Gold Cup with Long Run, is optimistic of a good run.

"We're ready to rock and roll and we're looking forward to it," he said.

"We know he stays and the acceleration he showed when winning the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree earlier in the season was very good.

"The ground is what it is - whatever it is it won't inconvenience him. I suppose if it's softer it will inconvenience some others, but we're not too worried about it."

Image source, PA

Bravemansgame is the leading hope for the hosts.

The eight-year-old provided trainer Paul Nicholls with a 13th win in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day and now aims to give him a fifth Gold Cup.

He could become the first winner trained in England since Native River triumphed for Colin Tizzard in 2018.

"He had one or two issues last year and is twice the horse now, so much bigger and stronger and bounds up our hill gallop three times in the morning," Nicholls said.

"It helps that he is much more mature now and he looks fabulous at the moment.

"The key is whether he stays three and quarter miles. Who knows?

"I don't think I've ever had him in better shape and Harry Cobden is very confident."

A Plus Tard was pulled up on his only run since last year's Cheltenham triumph, but jockey Rachael Blackmore is hopeful he can stage a revival in the big one today.

"He seems very well at home and all roads lead straight to the Gold Cup," said the jockey who won Thursday's Ryanair Chase on Envoi Allen, a third victory of the week for De Bromhead.

"He hasn't had the preparation we'd have liked, but I have no doubt Henry will get him there in perfect order for the day."

Image source, Getty Images

Galopin Des Champs has been the ante-post favourite and jockey Paul Townend will be hoping for better luck than at Cheltenham last year.

Townend came down at the last when leading the Turner Novices' Chase 12 months ago, gifting victory to Bob Olinger.

Trainer Willie Mullins, successful with Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020, will hope his main hope this time can build on victories at Punchestown, Fairyhouse and Leopardstown.

"There's going to be a lot of depth in the race this year. Galopin Des Champs looked very good at the Dublin Racing Festival, but I'm very much looking forward to the Gold Cup again," said Blackmore.

"I'm not too bothered that people are forgetting about A Plus Tard - that doesn't make any difference to me going into the race. I certainly haven't forgotten about him."

Look at these fine specimens! The Gold Cup contenders strut out like prizefighters, sleek and scuplted, as they are led from the stables.

Let's have a closer look at a few of the horses backed to win one of the sport's biggest prizes...

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

BBC commentator John Hunt picked out Dashel Drasher as his selection in the Stayers' Hurdle on Thursday and rewarded each-way backers with a third place at 40-1. Today he goes for one in the Cheltenham Gold Cup:

PROTEKTORAT (20-1) 15:30 GMT

Third in last year's race. He seems to have been completely disregarded after his Cotswold Chase defeat where trainer Dan Skelton admitted he was 'under-cooked'. Big chance.

More late drama from the weighing room... veteran jockey Davey Russell is out of the big race.

Russell, who came out of retirement very recently, is replaced on 20-1 shot Conflated by Sam Ewing.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Galopin Des Champs is clear favourite for the Gold Cup at around 11-8, with last year's winner A Plus Tard at 5-1.

11-8 Galopin Des Champs, 5-1 A Plus Tard, 6-1 Bravemansgame, 12-1 Ahoy Senor, 14-1 Noble Yeats, 16-1 Minella Indo, 20-1 Bar

Will Galopin Des Champs triumph? Hit the thumbs...

In a world where top National Hunt racehorses can fetch more than £500,000, Hewick - who cost £800 - is a bargain buy.

The horse has already won the Bet365 Gold Cup, Galway Plate and American Grand National for larger-than-life Irish trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon.

And after his victory in the United States, Hanlon led him into the Pint Depot in County Carlow where the horse even had a sip of Guinness.

"Maybe we shouldn't be going for the Gold Cup, but when will we ever have a horse to run in a Gold Cup again?" said Hanlon.

"It'd be a great story to win it, wouldn't it?"

Image source, PA Media

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

The Cheltenham Gold Cup

2021 - 1. Minella Indo 2. A Plus Tard

2022 - 1. A Plus Tard 2. Minella Indo

2023 - ???

Could they share the first two spots again for trainer Henry de Bromhead?

The likes of Galopin Des Champs, Bravemansgame and Noble Yeats may will have a say in that...

Jockey Mark Walsh, who fell on Corbetts Cross in the last, will not ride in the Gold Cup.

Walsh was due to ride Minella Indo - a previous winner in 2021 - but has been stood down and is replaced by Nico De Boinville.