Cheltenham LIVE: Gold Cup Day RESULTS and updates from the Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham LIVE: Gold Cup Day updates

• The Gold Cup is the fourth race of the day and is scheduled to take place at 3.30pm

• Presenting Percy is the bookies’ favourite, though tipsters are backing Native River

• Fans from all over the world are tuning in for what’s set to be another exciting day

13.00 UPDATE: The Cheltenham Festival has captured the hearts and minds of racing enthusiasts for decades now.

And it’s one of those meets which manages to draw in the most casual of fans as well.

Punters up and down the country will be tuning in for the all-important Gold Cup.

And you still have time to download our FREE sweepstake kit right HERE ahead of the big race.

12.45 UPDATE: Racing Post tipster Mel Cullinan has gone somewhat left-field for the Gold Cup.

Cullinan is backing Thistlecrack, who is only the eighth favourite with most bookies.

Preference is for Native River’s charismatic stablemate THISTLECRACK, who showed that the ability is still very much there when second to the up-and-coming but unproven stayer Clan Des Obeaux in the King George last time.

Although 11 now, he has not had much racing for one his age.

12.30 UPDATE: The winners of the Gold Cup are set for a welcome windfall when they come out on top today.

The overall prize money for the biggest race of the festival is a whopping £600,000.

And the winning stable will pocket a cool £351,688 for their efforts.

That’s enough to buy a whole load of carrots for the victorious horse.

12.15 UPDATE: Racing expert Patrick Weaver has given Express Sport the lowdown on which horses to AVOID at Cheltenham today.

In the Triumph Hurdle, punters are advised to lay Pic d’Orhy, with Whiskey Sour equally unfavoured for the Handicap Hurdle.

Weaver cannot see a good day out for Lisnagar Oscar in the 2.50pm either, with Presenting Percy the lay choice in the Gold Cup.

Weaver reckons racing enthusiasts should ignore Stand Up And Fight and Magic Saint in the fifth and sixth races respectively.

12.00 UPDATE: AP McCoy has revealed his tip for the Gold Cup and he’s plumped for the bookies’ second favourite.

I’m going with CLAN DES OBEAUX, I think he’s been so impressive this year.

I can’t believe I’m going against Presenting Percy – he’s a real proven horse trained by a man who’s won four Gold Cups.

The more I watch it (King George) the more Impressed I am with him. He won easily there.

He’s an improving horse and he’s trained by a man who’s trained four Gold Cup winners, 10 King George winners in the last 25 years.

11.45 UPDATE: Ruby Walsh knows a thing or two about horse racing and the veteran jockey has picked his winner for today’s Triumph Hurdle.

SIR EREC has been touted as the Irish banker and he was very impressive at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Tiger Tap Tap was only beaten a neck by him in a maiden hurdle at Christmas but was well behind him the last time.

We’ve done a lot more work with Tiger Tap Tap so hopefully he can get a lot closer this time.

11.30 UPDATE: Daily Express racing editor Jason Heavey gives his verdict on the horse to beat in today’s Gold Cup showdown.

He stays. He jumps. He loves the ground. He has the best jump jockey on the planet on board.

Not many horses win back-to-back Gold Cups but NATIVE RIVER has it within his grasp.

Presenting Percy is fascinating while it might be a year early for Clan Des Obeaux.

With the emphasis on stamina, Elegant Escape is great each-way value.

The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle is next, followed by the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

The Foxhunter Steeple Chase is directly after the Gold Cup, with Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle the penultimate race.

The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Steeple Chase will bring the curtain down on what’s been a terrific week of racing at 5.30pm.

Express Sport is on hand to bring you everything you need, with tips and winners details throughout the day.

11.15 UPDATE: Racing fans are in for a treat this afternoon as Cheltenham Festival reaches its pinnacle with the world-famous Gold Cup.

Enthusiasts from all over the planet are eagerly awaiting the race, which is scheduled to take place at 3.30pm.

Presenting Percy is the favourite, with Clan Des Obeaux and Native River sure to be in the mix as well.

The Gold Cup will be the fourth race of the day, with the JCB Triumph Hurdle kicking off the action at 1.30pm.