Cheltenham Festival 2020: Al Boum Photo wins Gold Cup again – live!

Gold Cup Day 2020 @Cheltenham Festival 2020; @thejockeyclub.co.uk/


Powered by Guardian.co.ukThis article titled “Cheltenham Festival 2020: Al Boum Photo wins Gold Cup again – live!” was written by Barry Glendenning, with Greg Wood and Chris Cook (at Cheltenham), for theguardian.com on Friday 13th March 2020 17.22 UTC

Martin Pipe Hurdle (5.30) betting

  • Front View – 4/1
  • Column of Fire – 7/1
  • Five O’Clock – 13/2
  • Ilikedwayurthinkin – 7/1
  • Pileon – 10/1
  • Umbrigado – 9/1
  • Escaria Ten – 18/1
  • The Bosses Oscar – 11/1
  • Flash the Steel – 25/1
  • Espoir De Domay – 30/1
  • Doctor Duffy – 40/1
  • Happygolucky – 40/1
  • Indefatigable – 40/1
  • Ecco – 66/1
  • Great White Shark – 50/1
  • My Sister Sarah – 50/1
  • Cliffs of Dover – 90/1
  • Everybreathyoutake – 50/1
  • Mill Green – 110/1
  • Anything Will Do – 110/1
  • Thomas Macdonagh – 110/1
  • Ruthless Article – 125/1
  • View the market moves

Martin Pipe Hurdle (5.30) preview

This handicap is an acknowledged target for Gordon Elliott, who used to work for Pipe, and he won it in 2017 and 2018. He missed out last year, somehow, but had the second and the third. He fields four this time, with Column Of Fire perhaps looking the most likely after a fine third of 28 on his handicap debut. The Bosses Oscar and Escaria Ten also have masses of potential on their handicap debuts.

Five O’ Clock, a Grade Three winner last time, looks fairly treated and comes from the Willie Mullins yard that used to have a good record in this until Gordon came along. Front View has been well supported and looks like starting favourite for last year’s winning team of Joseph O’Brien/JP McManus/Jonjo O’Neill Jr. He ran on nicely to be second behind Five O’Clock and can be expected to step forward on that first outing for three months.

Grand Annual (4.50) result

1 Chosen Mate (D N Russell) 7-2 Fav
2 Eclair De Beaufeu (S F O’Keeffe) 13-2
3 Us And Them (J J Slevin) 10-1
4 Greaneteen (H Cobden) 5-1
18 ran
Non Runners: 12,18
CSF: 25.46
Tricast: 215.45

Grand Annual (4.50) 2m

Chosen Mate leads over the last under Davy Russell and wins from Eclair De Beaufeu. Chosen Mate makes it seven wins for trainer Gordon Elliott.

Chosen Mate, with Davy Russell up, jump the last on their way to winning the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup.
Chosen Mate, with Davy Russell up, jump the last on their way to winning the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup. Photograph: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images

Updated

Grand Annual (4.50) 2m

Marracudja takes over in front four from home, followed by Croco Bay and Gino Trail … the Bay Birch is making ground from midfield … Paloma Blue is also looking in with a shout … Jan Maat is also in contention …

Grand Annual (4.50) 2m

Gino Trail continues to lead from last year’s winner Croco Bay. Marracudja is third making it a line of three across the front of the field …

Grand Annual (4.50) 2m

Gino Trail and Jamie Moore make the early running in the penultimate race of the Festival. Croco Bay is upsides him followed by Marracudja …

Grand Annual (4.50) betting

  • Chosen Mate – 7/2
  • Greaneteen – 9/2
  • Lisp – 15/2
  • Éclair De Beaufeu – 7/1
  • Paloma Blue – 10/1
  • Us And Them – 12/1
  • Two Taffs – 16/1
  • Jan Maat – 20/1
  • Capeland – 25/1
  • Gino Trail – 25/1
  • Great Field – 28/1
  • Croco Bay – 33/1
  • Ballywood – 33/1
  • Theinval – 40/1
  • Winter Escape – 40/1
  • Marrucudja – 50/1
  • The Bay Birch – 66/1
  • McGroarty – 66/1
  • View the market moves

Grand Annual (4.50) preview

Gordon Elliott may be the handicap king at the Festival but he hasn’t won this one yet. Perhaps that’s why he fields a strong duo this time in Chosen Mate, a Grade Two winner as a hurdler who has been brought along steadily over fences, and Eclair De Beaufeu, who was in the front rank when unseating in the County Hurdle a year ago.

Eclair beat 14 rivals at Leopardstown last time and clearly has no problem with big fields. Henry de Bromhead also has an interesting pair, led by Jan Maat, who seems to have been put away for this after winning a Grade Three in October. He might have preferred drier ground.

Paul Nicholls has won this twice in four years and tries again with Greaneteen, a winner of his last three, though the form does not look irresistibly strong. Gino Trail is 13 but was revived by a change of stable to score a fortnight ago and is 1lb lower than when second in this two years ago.

Photo finishes first in back-to-back Gold Cups

Al Boum Photo galloped into National Hunt folklore as he joined the elite band of horses to record back-to-back victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Giving Willie Mullins a fantastic four-timer on the day, Al Boum Photo (100-30 favourite) had to dig deep to see off the opposition in a close finish up the famous hill.

Al Boum Photo, Santini, Lostintranslation and Real Steel had led the pack heading to two out, where Presenting Percy fell. Paul Townend set sail after the last and the winning post came just in time as Santini closed the gap to a neck at the line.

“I thought I’d never feel anything like the feeling I had here last year but I think this is even better,” said Townend. “It’s all about this, it’s all about this lad. Unreal, it’s a credit to Willie. To come here with one run this season, the man’s a genius.”

Lostintranslation was a length and a quarter away in third place, with the always-prominent Monalee fourth and Delta Work fifth, having struggled to get into contention following a mistake at the second fence.

“It’s fantastic, an absolutely unbelievable day,” said Mullins, the winning trainer. “That man there on the screen, Paul Townend – people said he was under pressure. Paul does his own thing, he probably rides better under a little bit of pressure – really really good from him.

“It’s not easy to take over from someone like Ruby Walsh, but Paul’s gone and stamped his authority this season in Ireland riding for our yard, so I’m really delighted for him.”

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates with trainer Willie Mullins after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the second consecutive year. Photograph: Jacob King/PA
Paul Townend kisses the trophy after victory on Al Boum Photo.
Townend kisses the trophy. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

Foxhunters Chase (4.10) result

1 It Came To Pass (Miss Maxine O’Sullivan) 66-1
2 Billaway (Mr P W Mullins) 11-4 Fav
3 Shantou Flyer (Mr D Maxwell) 3-1
21 ran
Also: 15-2 Staker Wallace 4th
Non Runners: 6,7,11
CSF: 248.56
Tricast: 766.77

Foxhunters Chase (4.10) 3m 2f

It Came To Pass wins pulling a cart under Maxine O’Sullivan at a massive price of 66-1. Billaway was second and Shantou Flyer was third.

Maxine O’Sullivan smiles as she takes It Came to Pass over the line to win The Foxhunters Chase.
Maxine O’Sullivan smiles as she takes It Came to Pass over the line to win The Foxhunters Chase. Photograph: Steven Cargill/racingfotos.com/REX/Shutterstock
Maxine O’Sullivan celebrates with the massive trophy after It Came to Pass won The Foxhunters Chase.
Maxine O’Sullivan celebrates with the owners and the massive trophy. Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA

Updated

Foxhunters Chase (4.10) 3m 2f

Marcle Ridge is being reeled in and is caught by Shantou Flyer and It Came To Pass … It Came To Pass leads from BIllaway … It Came To Pass runs clear to win the Foxhunters by 10 or more lengths at 66-1.

Foxhunters Chase (4.10) 3m 2f

Five from the finish and Marcle Ridge leads by 10 lengths from Shantou Flyer. Minella Rocco and Staker Wallace are making headway …

Foxhunters Chase (4.10) 3m 2f

Marcle Ridge continues to lead them around, leading by seven or eight lengths and followed by Stellar Notion, Southfield Theatre and Shantou Flyer …

Foxhunters Chase (4.10) 3m 2f

Marcle Ridge continues to lead by about six lengths from Stellar Notion and Southfield Theatre … Bishops Road has been pulled up …

Foxhunters Chase (4.10) 3m 2f

They’re off and running in the amateur riders’ version of the Gold Cup. Marcle Ridge makes the running in the hands of Sam Jukes. Stellar Notion is behind him followed by Southfield Theatre …

Going back to today’s opener: Goshen was one of the unluckiest losers in Festival history after unseating his jockey Jamie Moore when 11 lengths clear at the final hurdle. As the clip below shows, there was little or nothing Moore could do to avoid being unshipped after one of Goshen’s hind legs got caught in the shoe of of his near fore leg. He was, understandably, gutted.

Foxhunters Chase (4.10) preview

Minella Rocco, who might have won the 2017 Gold Cup if they’d gone a proper gallop, tries this instead. He’s had problems and is not the horse he was but the market is encouraged by a couple of recent wins; they were effectively two-horses races in which his only serious rivals failed to perform, however.

Hazel Hill, last year’s winner, made it hard for himself by jumping to the right at Wetherby last time and he’s older than most Foxhunter winners now. Billaway, for the Mullins clan, is young and progressive and won a key trial in January.

Shantou Flyer, second to Hazel Hill last year, is in good form again. He was beaten just a neck in a Festival handicap in 2018 under a big weight. Caid Du Berlais comes from the same small Somerset yard as Shantou Flyer but seems to have proved he lacks the stamina for this.

Gold Cup (3.30)

It’s another winner for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, who have teamed up to win three of today’s four races. Mullins moves to the top of the Festival’s leading trainer table, while Townend has passed Barry Geraghty in the leading jockey table. They’re both on five winners each, but I’m fairly certain Townend is leading on the count back of second and third placed horses and now can’t be caught as neither jockey has any more rides booked for today.

Jockey Paul Townend (right) and trainer Willie Mullins hold the trophy after winning the Gold Cup Chase with Al Boum.
Jockey Paul Townend (right) and trainer Willie Mullins hold the trophy after winning the Gold Cup Chase with Al Boum. Photograph: Tim Goode/PA

Updated

Gold Cup (3.30) result

1 Al Boum Photo (P Townend) 10-3 Fav
2 Santini (Nico de Boinville) 5-1
3 Lostintranslation (R M Power) 10-1
12 ran
Also: 20-1 Monalee 4th
CSF: 18.93
Tricast: 150.97

Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f

Under intense pressure from Santini on the run-in, Al Boum Photo hangs on to win back-to-back Gold Cups by a neck. Lost In Translation was back in third.

Paul Townend celebrates victory on Al Boum Photo.
Paul Townend celebrates victory on Al Boum Photo. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f

Real Steel makes ground around the outside while Lost In Translation also throws down the gauntlet … Presenting Percy is a faller … Al Boum Photo leads over the last … Al BOUM PHOTO WINS THE GOLD CUP!!!

Al Boum Photo ridden by Paul Townend (right) jumps the last on the way to winning the Gold Cup.
Al Boum Photo ridden by Paul Townend (right) jumps the last … Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA
Paul Townend on Al Boum Photo crosses the finishing line to win the Gold Cup.
Then crosses the finishing line to win the Gold Cup. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f

Another mistake from Delta Work as Monalee leads from Bristol De Mai … Santini is under pressure and being scrubbed along, while Kemboy is also struggling … AL Boum Photo takes up the running after two mighty leaps … they’ve three to jump …

Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f

They’ve just over a circuit to go with Bristol De Mai and Elegant Escape leading from Monalee …Al Boum Photo and Santini are also prominent … Monalee takes up the running as the pace increases …

Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f

Bristol De Mai, Elegant Escape, Santini, Monalee and Lost In Translation are at the front of the bunch with Al Boum Photo and Clan Des Obeaux in midfield …

Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f

Elegant Escape and Bristol De Mai make the running with the field fairly tightly bunched … Delta Work and Real Steel are at the back pf the bunch but still in touch …

Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f

Off they go to a loud roar from the stands and Kemboy and Santini are among the first to lead in the very early stages. Delta Work makes a mistake at the second but stays on his feet…

Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f

They’re down at the start for the Gold Cup, the riders giving their horses a look over the birch fence to give them an idea of what lies ahead.

Gold Cup: In what seems like a radical and totally unnecessary new departure that I really hope won’t catch on, the jockeys for the Gold Cup are being introduced one by one to the crowd by ITV’s Oli Bell before emerging from the weigh room and going to chat to the connections of their respective mounts.

We should be thankful there’s only 12 runners – if they did this for the Grand National it would take about an hour. Last year’s winning rider Paul Townend is last out of the weigh room, holding the trophy he won last year on board Al Boum Photo.

Gold Cup (3.30) betting

  • Al Boum Photo – 10/3
  • Delta Work – 11/2
  • Santini – 6/1
  • Kemboy – 15/2
  • Clan Des Obeaux – 8/1
  • Lostintranslation – 12/1
  • Presenting Percy – 14/1
  • Monalee – 20/1
  • Chriss Dream – 28/1
  • Bristol De Mai – 28/1
  • Real Steel – 80/1
  • Elegant Escape –100/1
  • View the market moves

Gallery: Our top photographer Tom Jenkins has been gadding around Prestbury Park, camera in hand, capturing the spirit of the Festival in pictorial form for your viewing pleasure …

Updated

Gold Cup (3.30) preview

No horses older than nine in this Gold Cup, so there’s scope for imagining that almost any of the dozen runners could put up a career best. The exception would be Bristol De Mai, or Bristol De Haydock as he is affectionately known, who would struggle to match the amazing figures he put up in beating Cue Card 57 lengths back in 2017.

Al Boum Photo has followed the same path he took a year ago and it may be good enough for a second win. Delta Work has won five Grade Ones over fences but was a bit disappointing here in the RSA last March and must leave that behind. Santini, who was just ahead of him, beat Bristol De Mai here in January but he’ll need to take the second-last more cleanly than he did that day.

Clan Des Obeaux failed to stay last year and the odds are pretty good that he’ll do something similar, this being a hot race on ground with plenty of juice in it. Kemboy hasn’t shown the spark that made him so good last year, while Presenting Percy’s best is also a fair time ago.

Lostintranslation flopped in the King George but had looked the right type until then and is normally an excellent jumper. Henry de Bromhead has an interesting pair of outsiders in Monalee, unexposed at this distance, and the progressive Chris’s Dream, who looks an each-way option.

Cheltenham Festival 2020
The field for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, which was won by Monkfish. Photograph: Tim Goode/PA

Albert Bartlett (2.50) result

1 Monkfish (P Townend) 5-1
2 Latest Exhibition (B J Cooper) 9-2
3 Fury Road (D N Russell) 5-1
19 ran
Also: 4-1 Fav Thyme Hill 4th
CSF: 27.00
Tricast: 122.04

Albert Bartlett (2.50) 3m

It’s another winner for Irish trainer Willie Mullins and his jockey Paul Townend, who saddled Monkfish. Thyme Hill was squeezed out on the run-in by Latest Exhibition and we may have a stewards enquiry.

Albert Bartlett (2.50) 3m

Monkfish jumps into the lead at the second last, but there are plenty in with chances. Latest Exhibition and Thyme Hill make their moves as they approach the last. Monkfish wins by a head from Latest Exhibition and Fury Road. Monkfish wins the Albert Bartlett …

Monkfish ridden by Paul Towned (centre) jumps the last on the way to winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
Monkfish ridden by Paul Towned (centre) jumps the last on the way to winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA

Updated

Albert Bartlett (2.50) 3m

Monkfish clatters a hurdle but stays on his feet, while Thyme Hill makes ground up the outside. Three hurdles from home, House Island and Oscar Academy lead the way, while Ramses De Teillee is also in a good position …

Albert Bartlett (2.50) 3m

House Island continues to lead the way followed by Monkfish. Cobbler’s Way is also prevalent, as is Oscar Academy and Ramses De Teillee … they’re tightly bunched and Oscar Academy takes up the lead … Latest Exhibition is in midfield but travelling well …

Albert Bartlett (2.50) 3m

Off they go in the Albert Bartlett with a dozen flights of hurdles to negotiate over three miles. House Island leads the way followed by Monkfish …

Albert Bartlett (2.50) betting

  • Latest Exhibition – 5/1
  • Thyme Hill – 5/1
  • Monkfish – 5/1
  • Fury Road – 15/2
  • Sempo – 12/1
  • Ramses De Teilee – 14/1
  • Cobblers Way – 14/1
  • Janidil – 20/1
  • Harry Senior – 20/1
  • Lieutenant Rocco – 28/1
  • The Cashel Man – 33/1
  • Redford Road – 33/1
  • Aione – 40/1
  • Cat Tiger – 80/1
  • House Island – 80/1
  • Kitealy Briggs – 125/1
  • Oscar Academy – 125/1
  • The Wolf – 150/1
  • Foxy Jacks – 150/1
  • View the market moves

Albert Bartlett (2.50) preview

Another Friday race in which Willie Mullins has a poor record, 1/35 in this case. He’s represented by the fancied Monkfish, whose stamina is proven although this is a serious step up in class. Mullins also runs Janidil, who might have been seen more as a handicap type. The trainer likes the fact that he is experienced, with seven runs over hurdles, but this is a big step up in trip.

Thyme Hill was favourite, having won the Challow in December, but people are worried about the stable form after a couple of significant flops, and his form does not look as strong as it did. Latest Exhibition, another Grade One winner, has taken over at the top of the betting. Only Abacadabras has beaten him over hurdles and there’s no shame in that after his close second in the Supreme this week.

Gordon Elliott’s only runner is Fury Road, who was five lengths behind Latest Exhibition last time, but someone likes him as he’s shortened from 14-1 to 8-1 in the past 24 hours.

County Hurdle: Barry Geraghty has now ridden five winners at the Festival and leads the Festival’s top jockey table by two from Paul Townend. Geraghty has no more rides booked for today, while Townend and Davy Russell (two winners) could conceivably still reel him in, however unlikely a prospect that might be. Willie Mullins has moved to within one of Gordon Elliott, currently the leading trainer of the Festival with six wins.

County Hurdle (2.10) result

1 Saint Roi (B J Geraghty) 11-2 Fav
2 Aramon (P Townend) 8-1
3 Embittered (J J Slevin) 14-1
4 Buildmeupbuttercup (D E Mullins) 16-1
24 ran
Non Runners: 22,23
CSF: 41.14
Tricast: 616.77

County Hurdle (2.10) 2m 1f

Saint Roi pulls away on the run-in to win under Barry Geraghty for trainer Willie Mullins. Aramon was second and – I think, but am not sure – Buildmeupbuttercup was third.

Saint Roi ridden by Barry Geraghty (centre) jumps the last on the way to winning the County Hurdle.
Saint Roi ridden by Barry Geraghty (centre) jumps the last … Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA
Barry Geraghty uses his whip to guide Saint Roi to victory
And then Geraghty uses his whip to guide Saint Roi to victory. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

County Hurdle (2.10) 2m 1f

Buildmeupbuttercup makes ground around the outside as Pakens Rock leads on the outside of Le Ligerian … Moon Over Germany is making ground under Rachael Blackmore … there are any number in with chances as they hit the second last …

County Hurdle (2.10) 2m 1f

Le Ligerian leads from Pakens Rock and Embittered as they head for the third last …

County Hurdle (2.10) 2m 1f

They’re off and running in this 24-runner handicap over two miles and one furlong and they’re going aqt a fair old lick over the first couple of obstacles. Sir Valentine, Embittered, Lethal Steps, Pakens Rock, Le Ligerian are among the frontrunners …

County Hurdle (2.10) betting

  • Ciel De Neige – 13/2
  • Saint Roi – 11/2
  • Aramon – 17/2
  • Thatsy – 9/1
  • Mohaayed – 12/1
  • Adjali – 16/1
  • Stolen Silver – 12/1
  • Buildmeupbuttercup – 18/1
  • Elusive Belle – 20/1
  • Sir Valentine – 20/1
  • Embittered – 20/1
  • Oakley – 28/1
  • Rathhill – 30/1
  • Tiger Tap Tap – 33/1
  • Moon Over Germany – 33/1
  • Christopher Wood – 33/1
  • Zanza – 35/1
  • Eldorado Allen – 33/1
  • Le Ligerien – 50/1
  • Scaramanga – 50/1
  • Pakens Rock – 50/1
  • Lethal Steps – 80/1
  • Tiger Voice – 90/1
  • Beat The Judge –11/1
  • View the market moves

Footballer watch: Former Brentford, Coventry, Reading and Ipswich Town footballer Jay Tabb has embarked on a post retirement career as a stable lad and is leading the Philip Hobbs trained Oakley around the parade ring ahead of the County Hurdle. He’s just been interviewed on ITV Racing.

County Hurdle (2.10) preview

Good luck with this 26-runner handicap, which has two JP McManus-owned horses at the top of the betting. Saint Roi has crashed from 14-1 to 6-1 in the last 24 hours, having been put up by an influential tipster. That’s terrible news for him because favourites have a poor record and it does not improve matters (trends-wise) that he is a handicap debutant who races prominently. But he won in a good time at Tramore and has more to offer.

Ciel De Neige, also representing the JP/Willie Mullins team, was a good second in the Betfair Hurdle last time and is only up 4lb. From the Dan Skelton yard that has won three Countys in the past four years comes Mohaayed, the 2018 winner, back down to a beatable mark for the first time in ages. He goes well fresh and has had a wind op since he was last seen in December.

Aramon, another for Mullins, has been in Grade Ones for his last eight starts. He’ll travel well and the question is whether he can finish strongly enough. Adjali is, according to the betting, the first string of Nicky Henderson, who hasn’t won this since 1997. This one became disappointing as a juvenile and has work to do on his sixth at Ascot when last seen in November. Stolen Silver, for Team Twiston-Davies, has some good form with some leading novices and was a staying-on eighth in the Betfair Hurdle.

Jamie Moore and Goshen
Jamie Moore and Goshen approach the last 11 lengths clear of the field. Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA
Jamie Moore and Goshen
Goshen slips on landing and Moore struggles to stay on board. Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA
Jamie Moore
Gravity wins and Moore begs the ground to open up and swallow him. Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA

Jamie Moore and Goshen update: One of the weigh room’s elder statesmen, Moore took a bit of a kicking after being unshipped at the last, but he is physically fine. He spent some time leaning against the rail, presumably trying to gather his thoughts after being robbed by some cruelly bad luck. Goshen didn’t actually fall and finished the race minus his rider. He’ll win plenty more races in the future. “I feel like a bit of an imposter,” says winning trainer Willie Mullins. “I feel hugely for Gary [Moore] and Jamie.”

Goshen and Jamie Moore
Goshen throws his jockey Jamie Moore out the side door after skidding on landing over the final fence while 10 lengths clear of the field. Photograph: Racing TV

Triumph Hurdle (1.30) result

1 Burning Victory (P Townend) 12-1
2 Aspire Tower (Rachael Blackmore) 5-1
3 Allmankind (Harry Skelton) 7-2
13 ran
Also: 5-2 Fav Goshen, 50-1 Navajo Pass 4th
Tote: win 13.20 places 3.00 2.00 1.60
Tote Exacta: 71.50
CSF: 70.78
Tricast: 261.13
Tote Trifecta: 363.60

Triumph Hurdle (1.30) 2m 1f

Burning Victory wins under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins, but it was a gift. Goshen jumped the last 10 lengths clear of the field and unseated his jockey, Jamie Moore, who was riding for his father Gary. There’ll be a strained atmosphere at that dinner table later.

Triumph Hurdle (1.30) 2m 1f

Goshen turns for home and moves clear under Jamie Moore … Jamie Moore falls off Goshen at the last while leading by 10 lengths … Burning Victory wins the Triumph Hurdle … but it’s a disaster for Goshen and Jamie Moore. Burning Victory wins the Triumph Hurdle …

Triumph Hurdle (1.30) 2m 1f

With half a mile to go All Mankind continues to lead from Goshen and Aspire Tower … Goshen is trying to get around the outside of the leader …

Triumph Hurdle (1.30) 2m 1f

Away they go in the day’s opener, the 13 runners and riders setting off at the first time of asking to the sound of a loud, beery roar from the grandstand. All Mankind pings the first with Aspire Tower, Goshen and Sir Psycho among the front runners … All Mankind continues to make the running, a length clear of Aspire Tower, Goshen and Sir Psycho …

Runners in the first race pass by the packed main stands.
Runners in the first race pass by the packed main stands. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30) betting

  • Goshen – 3/1
  • Solo – 4/1
  • Allmankind – 5/1
  • Aspire Tower – 7/1
  • A Wave of the Sea – 12/1
  • Sir Psycho – 18/1
  • Burning Victory – 16/1
  • Cerberus – 22/1
  • Hook Up – 40/1
  • Navajo Pass – 66/1
  • Lord Lamington – 125/1
  • Never Do Nothing – 1501
  • Yellow Tiger – 150/1
  • View the market moves

Cheltenham Festival 2020
Today’s Cheltenham non-runners Photograph: Sporting Life

Triumph Hurdle (1.30) preview

It’ll be interesting to see who gets to lead because a few of these seem natural front-runners, including the headstrong Allmankind. An ex-Flat racer, like last year’s Triumph winner, Pentland Hills, he won here in November and added a Grade One at Chepstow over Christmas.

Goshen, the favourite, has also been making all and winning by wide margins, though he has also been jumping to his right, so let’s hope we don’t have another Asterion Forlonge on our hands. Both meet a drier surface this time than they have been racing on, which, together with competition for the lead, may undermine their chances.

Ireland’s Aspire Tower has also been racing at the front and may have won but for a late fall last time. Solo looks like the type to settle a little behind the pace before finishing strongly and will surely be dangerous. A Wave Of The Sea, who ran on to win when Aspire Tower fell, is another who should be doing his best work at the finish. Those who fancy Burning Victory or Hook Up should know that Willie Mullins is 0/27 in this since Scolardy won in 2002.

Cheltenham Festival 2020
Race-going lads and their banter trousers. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

Updated

Martin Pipe Hurdle (5.30) preview

This handicap is an acknowledged target for Gordon Elliott, who used to work for Pipe, and he won it in 2017 and 2018. He missed out last year, somehow, but had the second and the third. He fields four this time, with Column Of Fire perhaps looking the most likely after a fine third of 28 on his handicap debut.The Bosses Oscar and Escaria Ten also have masses of potential on their handicap debuts.

Five O’ Clock, a Grade Three winner last time, looks fairly treated and comes from the Willie Mullins yard that used to have a good record in this until Gordon came along.

Front View has been well supported and looks like starting favourite for last year’s winning team of Joseph O’Brien / JP McManus / Jonjo O’Neill Jr. He ran on nicely to be second behind Five O’Clock and can be expected to step forward on that first outing for three months.

Martin Pipe
The former racehorse trainer Martin Pipe, in whose honour today’s final race is named. Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PA

Grand Annual (4.50) preview

Gordon Elliott may be the handicap king at the Festival but he hasn’t won this one yet. Perhaps that’s why he fields a strong duo this time in Chosen Mate, a Grade Two winner as a hurdler who has been brought along steadily over fences, and Eclair De Beaufeu, who was in the front rank when unseating in the County Hurdle a year ago.

Eclair beat 14 rivals at Leopardstown last time and clearly has no problem with big fields. Henry de Bromhead also has an interesting pair, led by Jan Maat, who seems to have been put away for this after winning a Grade Three in October.

He might have preferred drier ground. Paul Nicholls has won this twice in four years and tries again with Greaneteen, a winner of his last three, though the form does not look irresistibly strong. Gino Trail is 13 but was revived by a change of stable to score a fortnight ago and is 1lb lower than when second in this two years ago.

Cheltenham Festival 2020
Racegoers rocking up to Cheltenham earlier this morning. Photograph: Jacob King/PA

Foxhunters Chase (4.10) preview

Minella Rocco, who might have won the 2017 Gold Cup if they’d gone a proper gallop, tries this instead. He’s had problems and is not the horse he was but the market is encouraged by a couple of recent wins; they were effectively two-horses races in which his only serious rivals failed to perform, however.

Hazel Hill, last year’s winner, made it hard for himself by jumping to the right at Wetherby last time and he’s older than most Foxhunter winners now.

Billaway, for the Mullins clan, is young and progressive and won a key trial in January. Shantou Flyer, second to Hazel Hill last year, is in good form again. He was beaten just a neck in a Festival handicap in 2018 under a big weight. Caid Du Berlais comes from the same small Somerset yard as Shantou Flyer but seems to have proved he lacks the stamina for this.

Al Boum Photo
Last year’s Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo gets a run-out this morning as he prepares to defend his crown. Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA

Gold Cup (3.30) preview

No horses older than nine in this Gold Cup, so there’s scope for imagining that almost any of the dozen runners could put up a career best. The exception would be Bristol De Mai, or Bristol De Haydock as he is affectionately known, who would struggle to match the amazing figures he put up in beating Cue Card 57 lengths back in 2017.

Al Boum Photo has followed the same path he took a year ago and it may be good enough for a second win. Delta Work has won five Grade Ones over fences but was a bit disappointing here in the RSA last March and must leave that behind. Santini, who was just ahead of him, beat Bristol De Mai here in January but he’ll need to take the second-last more cleanly than he did that day.

Clan Des Obeaux failed to stay last year and the odds are pretty good that he’ll do something similar, this being a hot race on ground with plenty of juice in it. Kemboy hasn’t shown the spark that made him so good last year, while Presenting Percy’s best is also a fair time ago.

Lostintranslation flopped in the King George but had looked the right type until then and is normally an excellent jumper. Henry de Bromhead has an interesting pair of outsiders in Monalee, unexposed at this distance, and the progressive Chris’s Dream, who looks an each-way option.

Best Mate
“You’re my Best Mate …” Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA

Albert Bartlett (2.50) preview

Another Friday race in which Willie Mullins has a poor record, 1/35 in this case. He’s represented by the fancied Monkfish, whose stamina is proven although this is a serious step up in class.

Mullins also runs Janidil, who might have been seen more as a handicap type. The trainer likes the fact that he is experienced, with seven runs over hurdles, but this is a big step up in trip. Thyme Hill was favourite, having won the Challow in December, but people are worried about the stable form after a couple of significant flops, and his form does not look as strong as it did.

Latest Exhibition, another Grade One winner, has taken over at the top of the betting. Only Abacadabras has beaten him over hurdles and there’s no shame in that after his close second in the Supreme this week.

Gordon Elliott’s only runner is Fury Road, who was five lengths behind Latest Exhibition last time, but someone likes him as he’s shortened from 14-1 to 8-1 in the past 24 hours.

Cheltenham Festival 2020
Former Olympians Amy Williams (left), Victoria Pendleton (centre) and somebody we don’t recognise but probably should (right, answers on a postcard) arrive at Prestbury Park for a day’s sport. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

County Hurdle (2.10) preview

Good luck with this 26-runner handicap, which has two JP McManus-owned horses at the top of the betting. Saint Roi has crashed from 14-1 to 6-1 in the last 24 hours, having been put up by an influential tipster. That’s terrible news for him because favourites have a poor record and it does not improve matters (trends-wise) that he is a handicap debutant who races prominently. But he won in a good time at Tramore and has more to offer.

Ciel De Neige, also representing the JP/Willie Mullins team, was a good second in the Betfair Hurdle last time and is only up 4lb. From the Dan Skelton yard that has won three Countys in the past four years comes Mohaayed, the 2018 winner, back down to a beatable mark for the first time in ages. He goes well fresh and has had a wind op since he was last seen in December. Aramon, another for Mullins, has been in Grade Ones for his last eight starts. He’ll travel well and the question is whether he can finish strongly enough.

Adjali is, according to the betting, the first string of Nicky Henderson, who hasn’t won this since 1997. This one became disappointing as a juvenile and has work to do on his sixth at Ascot when last seen in November. Stolen Silver, for Team Twiston-Davies, has some good form with some leading novices and was a staying-on eighth in the Betfair Hurdle.

Cheltenham Festival 2020
Festival organisers broadcast a message on the giant screen in the parade ring urging racegoers to wash their hands. A cynic might argue that not staging four days of racing attracting crowds of up to 60,000 might be a more effective way of stopping the spread of coronavirus. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

Triumph Hurdle (1.30) preview

It’ll be interesting to see who gets to lead because a few of these seem natural front-runners, including the headstrong Allmankind. An ex-Flat racer, like last year’s Triumph winner, Pentland Hills, he won here in November and added a Grade One at Chepstow over Christmas.

Goshen, the favourite, has also been making all and winning by wide margins, though he has also been jumping to his right, so let’s hope we don’t have another Asterion Forlonge on our hands. Both meet a drier surface this time than they have been racing on, which, together with competition for the lead, may undermine their chances.

Ireland’s Aspire Tower has also been racing at the front and may have won but for a late fall last time. Solo looks like the type to settle a little behind the pace before finishing strongly and will surely be dangerous.

A Wave Of The Sea, who ran on to win when Aspire Tower fell, is another who should be doing his best work at the finish. Those who fancy Burning Victory or Hook Up should know that Willie Mullins is 0/27 in this since Scolardy won in 2002.

Cheltenham Festival 2020
A veteran of the turf shows off his badges. Photograph: Tim Goode/PA

Top jockeys after day three

Barry Geraghty 4 wins
Paul Townend 2
Davy Russell 2
Nico De Boinville 1
Mark Walsh 1
Jamie Codd 1
Rachael Blackmore 1
Aidan Coleman 1
Harry Skelton 1
Jonathan Plouganou 1
Daryl Jacob 1
Gavin Sheehan 1
David Bass 1
Rob James 1
Brendan Powell 1
Adam Wedge 1

The bookies reckon this battle is also over, though you can still get 1-5 about Barry Geraghty on the Betfair exchange, where Davy Russell is 4-1 and Paul Townend 6-1. Geraghty was already the winningmost Festival jockey at the start of the week, among those still riding, and he has shown considerable expertise this week.

Yes, he gets great chances but now we see why and he does them justice. He has just two rides on Friday (A Wave Of The Sea, Saint Roi) and The Guardian likes them both. But if they miss, it is certainly not impossible for Townend or Russell to reel him in. Rachael Blackmore must have hoped to add to her Honeysuckle win but she still has five fair chances. Richard Johnson has Oakley and Thyme Hill left to get him on the scoreboard.

Barry Geraghty
Barry Geraghty salutes the crowd while wearing the armband for leading jockey at the Festival. Photograph: Tim Goode/PA

Top trainers after day three

Gordon Elliott 6 wins
Nicky Henderson 4
Willie Mullins 3
Henry De Bromhead 2
Paul Nicholls 1
Harry Whittington 1
Kim Bailey 1
David Bridgwater 1
David Cottin 1
Rebecca Curtis 1

Ireland 11
Britain 9
France 1

“Stop the fight” came the cry from the bookmakers after Gordon Elliott won three of Thursday’s races. He’s 1-14 on Betfair to end the week as top trainer and the High Street firms have wiped off their prices. But Willie Mullins had a Thursday double and it’s not beyond him to win three on Friday, though he would also need at least a couple of seconds to avoid losing on a countback of placed runners. So this Festival has followed the course of others in recent years, with the three biggest yards on 13 wins against eight for everybody else. Elliott has won three of the seven handicaps so far.

Gordon Elliott
Gordon Elliott oversees his runners for Gold Cup day on their morning gallop. Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA

Today’s races and our tips

Triumph Hurdle (1.30)
A Wave Of The Sea 12-1

County Hurdle (2.10)

Saint Roi (nap) 13-2

Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle (2.50)
Latest Exhibition 5-1

Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30)
Al Boum Photo 3-1

Foxhunter Chase (4.10)
Shantou Flyer 6-1

Grand Annual Handicap Chase (4.50)
Chosen Mate 9-2

Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle (5.30)
Column Of Fire 7-1

Saint Roi was 14-1 at lunchtime on Thursday when I filed my tips, so it’s annoying that the price has collapsed so much, which is at least partly the result of A Particularly Influential Tipster putting him up. In other news, these results would mean six wins for Ireland, with only Rose Loxton holding the line for the English. As Rose was born in County Galway, I should probably find a different way of expressing that thought…

The Betfair Cheltenham Festival tipping competition

Congratulations to Mulldog, who won Thursday’s competition by picking Lisnagar Oscar (50-1), thereby hitting a score of +44. Mmmdanish also had that winner and the same score but posted their tips later than Mulldog and so lost out under our tie-breaking rules (below). Sorry, mmmdanish, but hopefully you backed him! Mulldog, we’ll be in touch by email.

You could win a £100 account credit from Betfair by proving your tipping prowess on today’s races. All you have to do is give us your selections for all of today’s races at Cheltenham. As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional stakes of £1 at starting price on each tip. Non-runners count as losers.

Please post all your tips in a single posting, using the comment facility below, before the first race at 1.30pm.

There are seven races at Cheltenham today and you must post a single selection for each race. Our usual terms and conditions, will apply, except that this will be a strictly one-day thing.

If we get a tie after all the races have been run, the winner will be the one who posted their tips earliest out of those with the highest score. If an entrant has to repost their selections because of a non-runner, we will use the time of their later posting for tiebreak purposes.

Finally, if you don’t win today … despair! This is your last chance until Royal Ascot to win a prize through us.

Some racegoers stock up on hand sanitiser.
Some racegoers stock up on hand sanitiser. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

Good morning

The ground at Cheltenham continues to dry out on the final day at the 2020 Festival, with the official going on the chase course changed this morning to good-to-soft, soft in places, and while the big-race betting remains wide open, it is looking increasingly likely that the punting public will put their faith in Willie Mullins, Paul Townend and Al Boum Photo to land the spoils for the second year running.

The only thing that’s different about the reigning champion is the ‘8’ on the racecard where the ‘7’ used to be, as his buildup to the race has been identical: Punchestown in the spring, a win at Tramore on New Year’s Day and then straight to Cheltenham, and he has a very obvious chance to be the first horse since Best Mate to win consecutive Gold Cup.

Dangers abound, though, including his stable companion Kemboy, the mount of Mullins’s son, Patrick, who would be the first amateur rider to win the Gold Cup since … well, only since 2011, in fact, when Sam Waley-Cohen was victorious on Long Run.

Michael O’Leary, the Ryanair chief executive, has been absent all week dealing with coronavirus-related issues but will probably find five minutes to watch the very able Delta Work attempting to carry his colours to victory for a third time. Santini, Clan Des Obeaux and Lostintranslation, meanwhile, are a strong contingent from some of Britain’s top yards, and even relative outsiders like Presenting Percy, Monalee, Chris’s Dream and Bristol De Mai go to post with at least some kind of chance.

Chris Cook’s tips for the final day include a horse owned by JP McManus that was a 14-1 shot when he sent the selections across yesterday but is now down to 7-1. You can find out which one here, but above all, let’s hope that it is a typically thrilling and dramatic Gold Cup afternoon, because it might well be the last big day at the races for some time to come.

Updated

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