Bobs Worth Betting | Cheltenham Festival Runners | Gold Cup Form and Odds Cheltenham Results Bobs Worth Betting Its fair to say that Bobs Worth has developed into something of a Cheltenham Festival specialist for trainer Nicky Henderson. The horse has won at the Festival for the past three years and nearly always seems to save his best form and performances for Prestbury Park in the Spring. In 2011 Bobs Worth won the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle ahead of some excellent horses to mark himself out as a real horse to follow. His followed that up at the 2012 Festival when he produced a fine battling display to win the RSA Chase ahead of First Lieutenant. He went into the race off of the back of a solid if unspectacular season but he showed all of his class and Cheltenham know how to produce on the day ahead of some very good horses indeed. In truth though those moments were put firmly in the shadows last season when Bobs Worth got up to win a thrilling Gold Cup . With Barry Geraghty on board, Bobs Worth simply bounded up the hill to claim his third Festival win on the bounce ahead of Sir Des Champs.

On paper it looked a very strong Gold Cup field and he will be aimed at back-to-back wins for sure this season. It is also worth noting that prior to his Gold Cup success, he won the Hennessy Gold Cup in good fashion at Newbury to put himself right at the top of the staying chase division. This season we can expect Bobs Worth to be trained with the Gold Cup in mind and it is entirely possible that he will only have the one prep race, as he did last season, in the build-up to Cheltenham. It would be no surprise though to see him triumph again at the Festival in March with his Cheltenham record simply sensational thus far during his career. Recent Bobs Worth Form Guide Date Bobs Worth wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup – as it happened | Sean Ingle | Sport | The Guardian 5.17pm GMT JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL: RACE To loud, boozy cheers, we're off: Marshall Zhukov is brought down early and Rody also struggles over the opening fences. Tetlami leads going over the water jump with Petit Robin also prominent ...

Alderwood is in midfield with six fences to go, Oiseau Di Nuit is closing in but there are a dozen still in this ... Kid Cassidy leads ahead of Alderwood, Alderwood holding off Kid Cassidy ... Alderwood wins by three lengths! Updated 5.13pm GMT JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL: BETTING Alderwood is shortening all the time and is 100-30 from around 5-1 this morning. There's been some money for Ulck Du Lin and Rody at 8-1 and Marshall Zhukov, who is now 20-1. 5.00pm GMT JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL This is Proform Racing's analysis of the final race for 2013. I hope you have all had a fantastic and profitable Festival ... POSTIVES: 10 of the last 15 renewals were won by a horse who had previously contested a race at a past Festival, which is 22% better than expectations.

8 of the 15 winners from just 98 runners ran in a non handicap last time out, that's 33% higher than expected. 11 of the 15 had a recent run, within the last 42 days, which is 22% better than the norm. The top 3 in the betting accounted for 8 of the 15 from 52 runners, 21% higher than expectations. French Breds won 6 from 15, 17% higher than expected. Irish Breds won 6 from 15, 14% higher than expected. 11 of the last 15 ran in a Class 1 or 2 race last time out. Horse rated 145 or lower have won all 15 renewals NEGATIVES: Horses coming off a break of more than 42 days have won only 4 of the 15 renewals from 103 runners, 32% lower than the norm. 7 winners from 194 ran in a handicap last time out but that is 23% lower than expectations.

4 winners ran in a Class 3 or worse last time out, which is 21% lower than expected. TREND FITTERS: 4.41pm GMT MARTIN PIPE CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS HANDICAP HURDLE: THE RACE A huge gamble on Gevrey Chambertin, one of the biggest of the week, which goes off at 5-2 after being 6-1 with Paddy Power this morning. The bookies will be hurting if it wins this ... but it doesn't look at will be going down the hill ... Salubrious takes the lead with Double Ross coming back ... but 16-1 Salubrious wins to finally give Paul Nicholls a winner. Updated 4.24pm GMT MARTIN PIPE CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS HANDICAP HURDLE With just four renewals of the Martin Pipe we have nothing solid trends wise to go on, according to Proform, and there doesn't seem a particularly vibrant betting market either. The David Pipe trained Gevrey Chambertin leads the betting but he's gone up in the weights and the stable is hardly in prime form, so that maybe one to swerve.

But the punters think otherwise: it's gone into 5-1, with Edeymi 8-1, Village Vic 9-1, Make Your Mark 9-1 and Ma Filleule 10-1. 4.14pm GMT FOXHUNTER CHASE: RESULT Well that was astonishing. Looking at the replays, Oscar Delta was three lengths clear and looking certain to win before suddenly veering sharply left into the rails. The horse stopped, and threw its jockey, Jane Mangan, off like Buckeroo. I suspect the horse most have been close to 1-100 on the exchanges. The bookies will be hurting but not as much as Mangan, who has her head bowed as she leaves the track. Result 2. Divine Intervention 50-1 3. Cottage Oak 9-1 Jane Mangan reacts after falling from Oscar Delta in the CGA Foxhunter Steeple Chase Challenge Cup Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA Updated 4.04pm GMT FOXHUNTER CHASE: THE RACE They're off! Salsify, who starts as the 2-1 favourite, is last going over the first.

Creevytennant leads by four lengths from the rough and tumble behind him but then struggles to get over the fourth. He's jumping markedly to the right at every fence ... Creevyennant still leads at halfway with Salsify and Chapoturgeon towards the back ... Galant Nuit is struggling badly at the back as they climb to the back of the hill but Salsify is picking off riders ... Oscar Delta leads coming down the hill with Salsify in sixth ... Salsify is in third and going as easy as you like ... but Oscar Delta is three lengths clear over the second last ... Oscar Delta is two lengths clear going over the last and seems certain to win, and then the jockey Miss Jane Mangan slips off over leaving Salsify to win ...

Updated 3.56pm GMT FOXHUNTER CHASE: Betting Having taking a pounding on Bobs Worth, the bookies are taking no chances with Salsify and have made him the short-priced favourite at 5-2 (9-4 in places), with Chapoturgeon 9-2, Cottage Oak 8-1, Tricky Trickster 9-1, Backstage 12-1 and the rest in the clouds ... Updated 3.42pm GMT FOXHUNTER CHASE: TRENDS AND ANALYSIS Last years Foxhunter worked out very well with five runners winning on their next start which was 44% above expectations. POSTIVES: Horse who ran within the last 42 days have won 10 of the 15 renewals, 28% more than expected. It pays to be up with the pace with leaders or prominent runners winning 9 of the 15 renewals from 140 runners, 26% better than the norm. Aged 10 or younger accounts for 13 of the 15 winners, which is 25% above expectations.

Don't discount outsiders with 8 of the last 15 starting at 10/1 or higher. NEGATIVES: Horses which did not win last time out have won just 4 of the last 15 renewals, 19% worse than expectations. Horses aged 11 or older have won just 2 renewals from 126 runners, which is 59% lower than expected. Only 2 winners from 119 runners hadn't had a run in the last 42 days, which is also 59% lower than expected. TREND FITTERS: We have two qualifiers who make it on all points. Benedictus is a massive price so a very small e/way on that one. Creevytennant is also a big price but that does not put us off a e/way bet. The next best is Tricky Trickster who has past Festival winning form and can't be ignored. Tricky Trickster (Win) 3.41pm GMT FOXHUNTER CHASE CHALLENGE CUP PREVIEW by Chris Cook Salsify travelled and jumped beautifully to win this last year, beating Chapoturgeon by a length.

He battled to success last time in the same Leopardstown prep-race he used last year and will appreciate better ground. Chapoturgeon won a handicap by nine lengths here at the 2009 Festival but seemed to lose his way until being reinvented as a hunter chaser. He was beaten only a length last year, though he appeared comfortably held. An impressive win last time gives hope that he could do even better this time. Cottage Oaks was a useful handicapper for Gordon Elliott until last summer and has won a couple of hunter chases on heavy going this year. He should do better on this better going. Backstage won his only race here, a novice chase, in 2006 and was strongly fancied for the 2010 Grand National, in which he was brought down by a loose horse. He has since become a prolific winner of point to points, comes from a shrewd yard and is likely to be a contender. Tricky Trickster won the four-miler by 10 lengths at the 2009 Festival and ran ninth in the 2010 Grand National at the tender age of seven.

He was beaten at Ffos Las last time but can do better again on a sounder surface. 3.35pm GMT Nicky Henderson: 'Everyone has done a hell of a job' Nicky Henderson is rightly delighted after a Gold Cup first and third, saying: "Everyone has done a hell of a job. Bob's Run hasn't run since the Hennessy and Long Run hasn't run until the King George so it's all down to the team at home. They've all been absolutely brilliant in putting up with me." Betting Zone (@BettingZone) Bobs Worth is a best of 9/2 to defend his Gold Cup crown in 2014. Here's our betting reaction round-up - bit.ly/10XDuuD #CheltFest 3.22pm GMT GOLD CUP: THE RACE We're off! Long Run immediately bounces into the lead, and hits the first of the 22 fences hard. He jumps the second much better, mind. Silviniaco Conti is third, Sir Des Champs is fourth over the seventh ...

Long Run continues to lead at the top of the hill going towards fence number nine, but Ruby Walsh clattered into it on Silviniaco Conti. Meanwhile Wayward Prince is shaken up a bit as they complete the first circuit. Shortly afterwards Sir Des Champs moves into second, close enough to be swished by Long Run's tail. Silviniaco Conti remains in third with Captain Chris and Cape Tribulation further back ... Long Run is leaping like a stag now but they are queueing up behind him ... Suddenly Silviniaco Conti is down. It looks like it's between Long Run and Sir Des Champs with two fences to jump ... no, wait -- here comes Bob's Worth and the Giant Bolster. Bobs Worth jumps over the final fence in the lead but for a moment it looks like Sir Des Champs is closing, but when Barry Geraghty asks for more he gets it. Bobs Worth wins by five lengths. What a race! Updated 3.15pm GMT Nicky Henderson doesn't seem overly confident ... ... he believes that Bobs Worth would be better on good ground.

It's not surprising that Long Run is shortening in price and Cape Tribulation is a lively each way short at 12-1 too. 3.12pm GMT GOLD CUP: BETTING Bobs Worth is the favourite at 5-2, with Sir Des Champs and Long Run at 4-1, Silviniaco Conti at 9-2, Cape Tribulation 12-1, and the Giant Bolster and Captain Chris 14-1. Updated 3.07pm GMT GOLD CUP: TRENDS AND ANALYSIS The Gold Cup is the pinnacle of the Festival and not surprisingly it takes a lot out of a horse to run in it, so you won't be surprised to learn that of the 14 runners in the 2011 Gold Cup not one of them went on to win on their next start and only two placed. POSTIVES: 13 of the winners in the last 15 renewals had a previous run at a past Festival, which is 9% better than expected and 10 winners had either won or placed in a past Festival race from 103 runners, that's 7% better than expected.

Neither of those are massively strong statistics since past festival form horses are over bet, but it can't be ignored when narrowing the field. 8 of the last 15 ran in a Grade 1 race last time out from just 51 runners, which is 49% better than expected. Irish Breds have won 12 of the 15, 34% better than expected. If we add in Grade 2 last time out then 13 of the 15 ran in a Grade 1 or 2 last time out, 30% more than expected. 12 of the last 15 were in the top 3 in the betting. 10 of the last 15 ran at exactly 3 miles last time out. Horses winning last time out won 8 of the last 15 renewals. TREND FITTERS: The top trends topper is Sir Des Champs, and we have very keen on this one. Long Run comes very close on trends in second and would be joint top if in the 1st three in the betting, which in fact could happen.

Sir Des Champs (Win) 3.05pm GMT GOLD CUP PREVIEW by Chris Cook Barry Geraghty riding Bobs Worth clear the last to win The Hennessy Gold Cup Steeple Chase at Newbury racecourses) Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Bobs Worth has won both previous visits to the Festival, in the 2011 Albert Bartlett and last year's RSA, in which he beat First Lieutenant. He has had only one run this season but it would amount to the strongest piece of form on offer, storming home in the Hennessy, three lengths ahead of Tidal Bay, who then won Ireland's Lexus Chase over Christmas, with Sir Des Champs behind him. Sir Des Champs is another dual Festival winner, though his successes came in the Martin Pipe, a handicap, and the Jewson, a Grade Two, in which he beat Champion Court. His jumping has not been the cleanest this season, though he was still beaten less than a length in the Lexus and won Ireland's Gold Cup last month. This sounder surface should show him to better effect and he comes from a yard that could not be in better form.

Silviniaco Conti has only run at Cheltenham once before, when a highly respectable third to Menorah and Cue Card over hurdles in 2010. He is unbeaten this season, winning the Charlie Hall, the Betfair (beating Long Run) and Newbury's Denman (beating The Giant Bolster by seven lengths). A decent surface is fine for him but this counts as a significant step up on what he has done so far. Long Run beat Denman and Kauto Star to win this in 2011 but has mostly run below that level since, including when third in what seemed a weaker renewal last year. He needed the run when behind Silviniaco Conti on his reappearance and rallied impressively to beat Captain Chris in the King George last time. Captain Chris prefers right-handed tracks, like Kempton, where he ran a blinder to be beaten just a neck by Long Run in the King George. This sounder surface will suit him better and he won the Arkle here two years ago but he jumped repeatedly right when fourth in last year's Ryanair. His stamina will probably last on this surface.

Wayward Prince was a running-on third in the 2011 RSA, beaten just a length. After losing his form, he was a decent second to Silviniaco Conti in the Charlie Hall but flopped badly behind Cape Tribulation last time. A first-time tongue tie gives a possible clue as to why that happened and he is a moderately interesting place prospect at big odds. The Giant Bolster often goes well round here and ran a monster race to be second to Synchronised in last year's race. He has twice finished seven lengths behind Silviniaco Conti this season and, although better ground may help, the suspicion is he would need absolutely everything to fall right for him. Updated 2.51pm GMT 'We feel guilty being here, I just wish he could be ...' There are few smiles from AP McCoy despite his first win of the Festival, because he is thinking about his friend JT McNamara, who suffered such a terrible fall yesterday. And the winning owner JP McManus can barely hold back the tears as he says: "We feel guilty being here.

I just he could be." At Fishers Cross is as short as 4-1 for next year's World Hurdle, although Ladbrokes make him 8-1. We feel guilty being here, I just wish we could. Result 2.42pm GMT ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES HURDLE: THE RACE It's a canter of a start: there are three miles ahead, the ground is slowing all the time, and no one wants to take the lead. As they take the fifth, and approach halfway, O'Faolains Boy leads with At Fisher's Cross in about fourth but all horses in contention until I Shot The Sheriff falls and brings down the fancied Our Vinnie ... Going up the hill, O'Faolain Boy continues to lead with At Fishers Cross and African Gold well placed and Inish Island closing. As they run down the hill, O'Faolain's Boy continues to lead with Le Bec second but At Fishers Cross is looking ominous, as does African Gold... it's African Gold and At Fishers Cross over the last ... but At Fishers Cross has far too much in hand and wins going away.

Finally, after 23 races, Tony McCoy has a winner! Updated 2.33pm GMT ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES HURDLE: BETTING The money is pouring in for At Fisher's Cross, which is into 11-8 from 100-30 this morning, and you can see why: it showed it had plenty in the tank when beating The New One, which subsequently won the Neptune, over 2m4f on heavy ground in Cheltenham in January. And the ground is coming in the horse's favour. Elsewhere African Gold is 5-1, Inish Ireland is 6-1 and Our Vinnie 8-1. Crowds gather around the bookmakers Photograph: Julian Herbert/Action Images Updated 2.24pm GMT There's been a going change ... It's now soft, good-to-soft, in places. Our racing editor Tony Paley suggests it will be bordering on heavy in half an hour ...

2.23pm GMT ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES' HURDLE: TRENDS AND ANALYSIS This from Proform Racing: The 2011 Albert Bartlett produced two winners and one placed horse from 11 runners at the 2012 Festival. The winners were Bob's Worth at 9/2 and Teaforthree at 5/1, so worth looking back at last year's race to see what is declared this time around. POSTIVES: Not many strong valid trends with just 8 renewals so far. All 8 winners raced in a Class 1 race last time out, that's from just 60 runners and equates to 54% better than expected. The top 5 in the betting have won 7 of the 8 renewals. 7 of the 8 winners were 1st or 2nd last time out. TREND FITTERS: 2.19pm GMT ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES' HURDLE: PREVIEW At Fishers Cross has taken time to fill his frame but is an impressive looker now and has won all four this season, showing good battling qualities.

He beat The New One in a Grade Two here last time and the runner-up won Wednesday's Neptune here. Better ground is not in his favour but the extra three furlongs should help. Ballycasey is unbeaten since leaving point to points to join Willie Mullins. He has been the easy winner of a maiden hurdle and a novice hurdle but this is a major step up in class. Rain would help but his pedigree suggests he should cope with a decent surface. African Gold was beaten by Ballybough Pat on his hurdles debut in October but has improved since to win four in a row, albeit without tackling a Graded race. He looks a stout stayer who is versatile as to ground and his yard has made a good start to the week. Utopie Des Bordes was brought over from France in midwinter, having beaten Fago in a Grade One chase there. She has won both her British starts, one on good and one on heavy, but both were in mares races and she has more to do here. Cloudy Copper proved his stamina with a three-mile win at Kempton on soft in January, though the form may not be strong, as the runner-up is a 10-year-old chaser.

This one looks a future chaser though he may have the talent to get involved here. Britain's Prince William (2nd L) and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (C) look at racecards during the first race at the Cheltenham Festival Photograph: EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS Updated 2.15pm GMT Bryan Cooper: 'You dream of this when you're small' Ted Veale's winning jockey Bryan Cooper, who has had three winners this week, can't believe he has done so well. "It's only my third season riding," he says, face splattered with mud. "He traveled everywhere, he never missed a beat. I kept sitting and sitting and then went ..." There's no chance of him overtaking Ruby Walsh however: he has no more rides in the Festival. On Channel 4, Ted Veale's trainer, Tony Martin is interviewed. "We can barely hear you, you're so hoarse," says Rishi Persad. "Arrh, I had a heavy night," replies Martin, ye-arhhing like a pirate. Result 2.07pm GMT VINCENT O'BRIEN COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE: THE RACE We're off!

Ifandbutandwhynot is at the back of the field and for the good of this commentary it's probably best he stays there ... Princeton Plains is also held up as Tennis Cap takes them towards the fourth ... Princeton Plainsakes a minor error at the fifth, a fence that nearly does Hisaabaat. Tennis Cap still leads going down the hill from Dan Breen and It's a Gimme in third ... Cotton Mill, the favourite, doesn't look to be in contention here. Tennis Cap is still holding them off but Ted Veale is gaining ... Ted Veale is stalking Cotton Mill, waiting for the right moment to pounce. Tennis Cap leads over the last and then strikes for the front. He doesn't exactly charge clear but he does enough to win by a length. Updated 2.04pm GMT The 10-1 on Our Conor is long gone ... ... William Hills remain at 8-1, but Paddy Power, Bet365 and Ladbrokes are as short as 5-1. 1.58pm GMT VINCENT O'BRIEN COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE: BETTING The rain continues to hammer down.

Cotton Mill is drifting but is still the market leader at 8-1 ahead of Ted Veale and Ifandbutandwhynot, who are both 9-1. There's been some money for David Pipe's Tanerko Emery, which is in from 12-1 from 16-1. As for the outsiders, Punjabi is into 25-1 and Il Fenomeno is also attracting interest at 20-1. Updated 1.53pm GMT VINCENT O'BRIEN COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE: TRENDS AND ANALYSIS Proform had the winner in the first race, here's what it says about the County Hurdle: Loads of trends in the County and two points to note. Last years renewal produced seven winners and four placed horses on their next start and the year before produced a winner at 20/1 and a placed horse at 6/1 at the following years Festival from just 10 runners. A race to keep tabs o for future winners.

POSTIVES: A run at either Newbury, Cheltenham or Leopardstown last time out is a strong positive with 10 of the last 15 winners from 126 runners, which is 82% higher than expected. 5 year olds have won 8 of the last 15 renewals from just 89 runners, that's 53% above expectations. Racing in a Class 2 or lower last time out equates to 47% above the norm with 10 winners. Hold up horses have won 13 of the last 15 renewals, 38% better than expected. The top 4 in the betting have won 9 of the 15. Irish Breds have won 8 from 15. Horses finishing 1st or 2nd last time out have won 7 of the last 15 renewals. NEGATIVES: Only 2 winners from 155 have won running up with the pace in the County, that's 69% less than expected. Horses aged 6+ have won 7 races but from 295 runners, which is 34% worse than expected.

5 horses won after running in a Class 1 last time out from 157 runners, which equates to 32% lower than expectations. TREND FITTERS: We have three qualifiers all worth a bet. They all qualify on 5 of the 7 trends. Ifandbutwhynot (Win) 1.47pm GMT VINCENT O'BRIEN COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE PREVIEW by Chris Cook Cotton Mill hasn't won for more than a year but has some top-quality form. In a Grade One novice hurdle at the last Festival, he was the only horse giving Simonsig a race when diving off the course at the second-last. Last time, he was runner-up to My Tent Or Yours, getting 7lb, in the Betfair, for which he has been raised 5lb. The third and fourth from that race have been a shade disappointing this week. Ifandbutwhynot gave 5lb to Tanerko Emery and beat him three lengths round here in November. He flopped at Sandown the next month but was back on form around Musselburgh last time, for which win he has been raised another 5lb.

Ted Veale looks a progressive handicapper of a kind his trainer does well with. Second in a Grade Three in November, he was fancied for a Leopardstown handicap in January but could only run third and the first two have since let down the form. He has a bit to prove. Tennis Cap took six attempts to win a maiden hurdle but has won handicaps on his last two starts, making all both times. That will be much harder to do here and he has been raised a stone since last seen. Tanerko Emery is an admirable beast who may have left his chance behind with a running-on second in desperate ground at Sandown on Saturday. He was not quite fit when a close third to Medinas, a winner this week, in the Welsh Champion. He ran well here in November but is held at the weights by Ifandbutwhynot and might have preferred another half-mile. Updated 1.40pm GMT Dessie Hughes: Our Conor is 'special' Dessie Hughes, the trainer of Our Conor, says his horse is "special", while the winning jockey Bryan Cooper also lauded his mount, praising its "exceptional cruising speed" and no wonder: he romped that by 15 lengths!

15! Could he be a Champion Hurdle horse next year? He's as short as 8-1 with William Hill for the race, with Corals at 10-1. Graham Cunningham on Channel 4 says he's "never seen a better Triumph Hurdle winner." Incidentally, the winning time was 4m11s - 13 seconds slower than Countrywide Flame in winning this race. I doubt there's much good-soft in the ground now given this rain. The result 1.32pm GMT JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE: The Race A couple of minutes later than planned, due to Cape Explorer taking his time to examine the first hurdle the horses walk forward, the crowd roars and boos and the roars again ... they're off! Far West made a mistake in the opening hurdle. Diakali is leading after three fences while Cape Explorer is taking a very strong hold early on ... Rolling Star has moved up to third and AP McCoy's Stockton's Wing is also running well at halfway ... Diakali leads by three lengths as they come down the hill with Our Conor in pursuit but there is plenty in this coming up to the second last ...

Our Conor charges into the lead! Suddenly he's three lengths clear. Four! Five! He's eight lengths clear going over the last and he extends his lead going over the last. What a performance by Our Conor, the 4-1 winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle ... Updated 1.24pm GMT JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE: latest betting There's been plenty of money for Nicky Henderson's Rolling Star, which is now into 9-4. Our Conor is out to 4-1, Far West 9-2 and it's 12-1 and above the rest. The rain is continuing to fall incidentally - it will be interesting to see if it's done enough to affect the ground in the first race.

Updated 1.10pm GMT Market movers from William Hill 2.05 14-1 Princeton Plains (from 18-1), 20-1 Hisaabaat (from 25-1), 20-1 Shadow Catcher (from 25-1), 10-1 Ifbutandwhynot (from 11-1) 2.40 * revised book after two non-runners, 9-4 At Fishers Cross (from 3-1), 6-1 African Gold (from 8-1), 10-1 Our Vinnie (from 14-1) 3.20 * revised book after two non-runners 4-1 Sir Des Champs (from 6-1), 5-1 Long Run (from 6-1).

11-1 Cape Tribulation (from 16-1), 50-1 Monbeg Dude (from 66-1) 4.40 10-1 Village Vic (from 12-1), 12-1 Make Your Mark (from 14-1), 20-1 Double Ross (from 25-1), 25-1 Bathwick Brave (from 33-1) Hard To Lay 1.30 7-2 Our Conor (from 10-3), 10-3 Rolling Star (from 3-1) 2.05 14-1 Tennis Cap (from 11-1), 16-1 Tenerko Emery (from 12-1), 22-1 It’s A Gimme (from 16-1) 2.40 8-1 Utopie Des Bordes (from 7-1) 3.20 5-1 Silviniaco Conti (from 9-2), 3-1 Bobs Worth (from 11-4) 4.00 1

1-4 Salsify (from 5-2), 18-1 That’s Rhythm (from 14-1), 12-1 Tricky Trickster (from 10-1), 9-1 Cottage Oak (from 7-1) 4.40 6-1 Gevrey Chambertin (from 5-1), 22-1 First Avenue (from 14-1) Updated 1.07pm GMT Top Festival trainer, standings after day three It's England 10, Ireland 10 as we start the final day's action.

Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson both had blank days on Thursday, as did Paul Nicholls, who continues to seek his first success. Willie Mullins 5 (and 1 second) Nicky Henderson 3 (and 1 second) Nigel Twiston-Davies 2 (and 1 second) Colin Tizzard 2 4.40 Loch Ard, Make Your Mark 12.57pm GMT Top Festival jockey, standings after day two And still Tony McCoy seeks his first winner of the week, his best ride on Thursday turning out to be fourth on Shutthefrontdoor. Frustratingly, Cantlow became a non-runner after bleeding from the nose just before the race, while Get Me Out Of Here looked a blatant non-stayer in the World Hurdle. The horses trying to help McCoy to change his luck today include Sir Des Champs, a much more fancied runner in the Gold Cup than Sunnyhillboy, which he was expecting to ride until this morning. Ruby Walsh also had a quiet day, falling at the second-last on Marito when staying on into contention. After that, he was well beaten on all four rides.

Ruby Walsh 4 12.51pm GMT JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE PREVIEW by Chris Cook A racegoer in fancy dress during the Cheltenham Gold Cup Day on Day Four of the 2013 Cheltenham Festival Photograph: David Davies/PA Rolling Star was bought from France after winning a maiden hurdle at Auteuil in October. He has had one start since, scoring comfortably over this course and distance in January. The runner-up is a stablemate to Far West, who is considered much the better of the two, but Rolling Star must have more to give. This sounder surface will be a new test. Far West, another ex-French type, is unbeaten in four starts in Britain, including a seven-length success in a Grade Two here in November. He showed pace to beat River Maigue in a very steadily run race at Ascot last time. Our Conor was a modestly talented miler on the Flat in Ireland last year, running third off a mark of 85 when last seen. He looks a much better hurdler, being unbeaten in three and pulling five lengths clear in a Leopardstown Grade One last time.

His stable has had two seconds and a third so far this week. Diakali is an ex-French Flat horse who hacked up on his first two hurdles starts for Willie Mullins. In the second of those, he was 28 lengths ahead of Flaxen Flare, a handicap winner here on Wednesday, though it would be dangerous to take that form at face value. He tried to make all last time but his jumping let him down a bit and he was reeled in by Our Conor. Better ground might help but more conservative tactics will probably be required. Kashmir Peak was a Flat horse in Ireland last year, winning off a mark of 74 in May. He might be unbeaten in three over hurdles but for unseating last time, when his jumping appeared a weak point. He had previously won a Grade Two at Doncaster from Sametegal. Updated 12.32pm GMT Nicholls v Henderson Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson are engaged in a fascinating battle to be champion trainer, a title Nicholls has held for the past seven years.

The 62-year-old Henderson hasn't won it since 1987 but went to the top of the table on Wednesday for the first time this season, thanks to the £208,000 won by Sprinter Sacre in the Champion Chase. Henderson had a quiet Thursday at the Festival, all eight of his horses finishing unplaced, including the fancied trio of Captain Conan, Riverside Theatre and Oscar Whisky. Nicholls also drew a blank and his Sam Winner was a most disappointing favourite in the Pertemps, but he landed £58,000 for Celestial Halo's second place in the World Hurdle and is now around £60,000 behind Henderson. Today means an enormous amount for both men, who field their biggest teams of the week. There is a first prize of £313,225 for the Gold Cup and victory for Silviniaco Conti would put Nicholls clear again, even if Henderson's pair were second and third. Both men have high hopes for today's opening race, the Triumph Hurdle, and it would be no surprise at all if Henderson's Rolling Star and Nicholls' Far West were fighting it out over the last.

Henderson fields his usual fleet of six for the concluding race, named after his father, in which he had the first two last year. Standings John McCririck has been discharged from hospital You can read more about the story here. 11.34am GMT Tony McCoy has been speaking about his ride on Sir Des Champs "It's obviously a good spare ride to get," McCoy said. Asked about concerns over the quality of Sir Des Champs' jumping, he said: "He's jumped better as a novice. His jumping hasn't been as sharp this year as you'd have liked but it'd be a good day for him to come right, so hopefully he jumps as well as he did here last year, when he won. He's got a very good chance." Speaking to William Hill online, McCoy added: There's four horses in the Gold Cup at the head of the betting pretty much since Christmas time. Long Run won the King George for a second time, Silviniaco Conti hasn't done anything wrong, he's been very impressive. Bobs Worth's form is pretty solid here at Cheltenham, he's four from four and Sir Des Champs is two from two.

It looks like he's improved each year. Those four horses, their form probably stands a little bit above the others, though obviously The Giant Bolster was second last year, Captain Chris ran pretty well in the King George the last day and I know some people give Cape Tribulation a little bit of a chance to sneak in the places. But those four horses at the head of the betting, for me, it's very hard to split them. They've all got good potential and you could see any one of the four of them [winning]." 11.30am GMT McNamara in theatre Racing UK is reported that J T McNamara, the jockey who was so badly hurt in yesterday's penultimate race, is in theatre and his wife is with him. There is not expected to be further news on his condition today. It goes without saying that our thoughts are with him and his family.

Francis Keogh (@HonestFrank) JT McNamara in intensive care, serious injuries C3+ C4 vertebrae, wife Caroline at bedside - says Lisa Hancock, Injured Jockeys' Fund #JT 11.25am GMT Lay of the day, by Chris Cook The main problem with Silviniaco Conti is the Cheltenham factor. He has never raced here over fences and was beaten on his only hurdles start here, although he ran respectably. He might cope with this place's unique demands but coping is not going to be enough. His four main rivals are all Festival winners over fences. Bobs Worth and Sir Des Champs are, between them, unbeaten in six spins around here. What are the odds that, on his first run over these fences, Silviniaco Conti is going to take to the place better than all of them? He is unbeaten this season but he has been suspiciously well placed to remain so, beating lesser rivals in the Charlie Hall and the Denman and catching Long Run on his reappearance in the Betfair in between. He has made up into a nice jumper but the quality of his form remains a cut below the best on offer.

Updated 11.25am GMT The Stan James Cheltenham Festival tipping competition You could win a £50 bet from Stan James 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 level stakes of £1 at starting price. 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.

Congratulations to KeejayOV, one of two to find Holywell (25-1) yesterday, who won by dint of posting his tips earlier than BennyAndTheJets. Some scores: KeejayOV, we'll be in touch by email this week to arrange your prize. 11.22am GMT Today's best bets, by Chris Cook My thoughts on today's Gold Cup, as well as the other Channel 4 races, are here . In sum, I'm pretty sure that Bobs Worth should win the big race, though you always have to keep some room in your mind for the possibility that a horse who hasn't raced for three months might not be at his peak. No one is better at preparing a horse after an absence than Nicky Henderson. His original plan was to run the horse at the end of January but he ducked the race because the horse's wellbeing didn't quite satisfy him. I should think he was perfectly delighted to avoid risking the horse, knowing that he could get him sharp on the gallops at home. So, in the absence of serious caveats from Henderson, I think we should expect Bobs Worth's true showing, which should be enough.

He's a fair bet at 11-4, though I'll have a saver on Captain Chris, a horse with the raw ability to pull it off if he copes with the course a bit better than in the past. Bobs Worth is nothing much to look at but At Fishers Cross (2.40) certainly is and he may land the Albert Bartlett at a similar price, perhaps on his way to his own Gold Cup challenge in future seasons. Both of those winning would make a horrible day for the bookmakers, but they made their money yesterday. I like Edeymi (4.40) in the Martin Pipe to give Tony Martin a second Festival win of the week. This horse was second to Une Artiste in last year's Fred Winter and is still fairly treated, though I'm also having a bit at huge odds on Loch Ard, a Willie Mullins beast who showed promise when fifth in a handicap last time that was won by a more fancied stablemate. Barry Geraghty riding Bobs Worth to victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury last year. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Updated 10.32am GMT Win! Win! Win!

The Guardian's team for this Festival features Greg Wood and Chris Cook at the track and Tony Paley, Barry Glendenning and Sean Ingle providing the latest news, betting and race-by-race coverage throughout the four days. Post a comment below to tell us what you're backing or take part in our daily tipping competition, which could win you a £50 bet (see below). Or you can reach us through Twitter (@greg_wood_ @claimsfive @tonypaley). 10.06am GMT Of course the big news today is that ... ... Tony McCoy is expected to ride Sir Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup after his original ride Sunnyhillboy was declared a non-runner. As our racing editor Tony Paley writes: Sunnyhillboy was scratched from the race six hours before the jumps season's highlight by trainer Jonjo O'Neill due to an unsatisfactory scope. McCoy, who was due to have ridden Sunnyhillboy, is now free to switch to Sir Des Champs, who is without a rider after Davy Russell was taken to hospital on Thursday with a punctured lung.

There was speculation at the track on Thursday that McCoy was the first choice for Sir Des Champs after Russell was taken to hospital and forced to give up the mount, but trainer Willie Mullins was told by officials that he could only book the champion jockey if Sunnyhillboy became a non-runner. Jonjo O'Neill, Sunnyhillboy's trainer, has also withdrawn Cloudy Copper from the Albert Bartlett Hurdle on Friday's card. Ante-post punters who have backed Sunnyhillboy will lose out unless they had backed the horse with a 'non-runner, no bet' offer many bookmakers had introduced in the last fortnight during the run-up to the Cheltenham Festival . Sunnyhillboy's price varied from 16-1 to 33-1 on Friday morning with the major bookmakers, who were quick to adjust their prices once news came in of O'Neill's announcement that he was withdrawing his horse.

William Hill now bet: 11-4 Bobs Worth, 4-1 Sir Des Champs, 9-2 Silviniaco Conti, 5-1 Long Run, 10 Captain Chris, 12-1 The Giant Bolster, 16-1 Cape Tribulation, 66-1 Monbeg Dude and Wayward Prince. 9.59am GMT Hello and welcome to the final day of our Cheltenham coverage Good morning everyone. It's Gold Cup day at the Cheltenham Festival and a boisterous crowd is expected but the pressing thought on the minds of anyone connected with the sport this morning is of J T McNamara, the jockey who was so badly hurt in yesterday's penultimate race. He was airlifted to Frenchay hospital for assessment of a serious neck injury involving two vertebrae, while those left at the track dropped their heads and brooded once more on the risks these men and women run for the sport. McNamara, a 37-year-old, is one of the most accomplished and talented of amateur jockeys, a part of the landscape of Irish jump racing and the winner of four Festival races.

He won a dozen races on the hugely popular Spot Thedifference, including the cross-country race at the Festival. In last year's cross-country, he was unseated from Dancing Tornado, who then almost stepped on the jockey's neck, a horrifying moment recorded among these pictures by our Tom Jenkins . I showed the pictures to McNamara the next day. He hadn't been aware of the danger at the time, he said, and he wasn't disposed to fret about it after the event. "If we thought about it that much, we wouldn't do it," he said. Here's hoping for some good news from Frenchay and as fast a recovery as JT can manage. Today's action will be as competitive as any staged all year and, while we enjoy it, let's keep our fingers crossed most of all that everyone gets to go home afterwards.

Updated Guide To Cheltenham Gold Cup | Freebets.com Horse Racing Guide To Cheltenham Gold Cup Mr Chris Giles & Potensis Limited Lifetime Earnings 3/4 Betfred Bowl 1st place 1/11 Charlie Hall Chase 5th place 22/11 Betfair Chase 1st place Notable Wins King George VI Chase (2013) Denman Chase (2013) 9/2 Hennessy Gold Cup 6th place 14/3 CGC 1st place 7/12 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase 3rd place Notable Wins CGC (2014), RSA Chase (2013) Trained By 4/4 Betfred Mobile Mildmay Novices' Chase 1st place 2/11 Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase 3rd place 6/12 Betfred 'Racing's Biggest Supporter' Chase Unseated Rider Notable Wins Betfred Mobile Mildmay Novices' Chase (2014) Pertemps Final (2013) CGC 2012 & Grand National 2010 Barry Geraghty Likely To

 Ride at Cheltenham Bobs Worth 5/12 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle – Vyta Du Roc 27/11 bet365 Intermediate Hurdle – L’ami Serge Honours Irish jump racing Champion Jockey (99/00 & 03/04) Interesting Fact The first jockey to have won the big four races at Cheltenham (Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers Hurdle, Gold Cup) AP McCoy Likely To Ride at Cheltenham Holywell 7/12 William Hill - Bet On The Move Maiden Hurdle – Arabic History 6/12 Madinat Jumeirah Dubai December Handicap Hurdle – Snake Eyes Honours BBC Sports Personality of the Year (2010) RTE Sports Person of the Year (2013) Interesting Fact AP McCoy has rode the most winners in horse racing history and has held the British jump racing Champion Jockey title for a record 19 times – all of those consecutively.

Davy Russell Likely To Ride at Cheltenham Lord Windermere 7/12 Annual Membership Maiden Hurdle - On Impulse 7/12 Cavan GAA Handicap Hurdle - Lite Duties Honours Irish jump racing Champion Jocket (2011-12 & 2012-13) Interesting Fact Davy Russell goes into the 2015 Gold Cup race as the defending champion Noel Fehily Likely To Ride at Cheltenham Silviniaco Conti 6/12 Racing Post Henry VIII Novices' Chase – Vibrato Valtat 22/11 Betfair Chase – Silviniaco Conti Honours Helped win Silviniaco Conti the Top-Rated Anglo-Irish jumper in 2014 Interesting Fact Despite being in the autumn of his career at 38, Fehily is finding his best ever form and is fast approaching 1,000 career wins Did you know...? The chase is open to horses aged five years and over, however a horse under the age of seven hasn’t won since 1963.

The oldest horse to win the race was What a Myth in 1969 aged 12. Nicky Henderson has won two of the last four Gold Cups with Long Run and Bobs Worth. The Gold Cup is the most valuable non-handicap chase in Britain with a total prize fund of £550,000 The longest-priced winner of the Gold Cup is Norton’s Coin, who started at 100/1 in 1990 Seven of the last 10 winners have been bred in Ireland 1 Home Bet on the Gold Cup Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of the National Hunt season and one of the biggest betting events in the sporting calendar. Four days of top class equine action are unrivaled anywhere in the world with Grade 1 chase and hurdle races every day including a feature championship race on each day; the Champion Hurdle (Tuesday), Queen Mother Champion Chase (Wednesday), World Hurdle (Thursday) and the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Friday).

The Gold Cup is the showcase of the meeting and we proudly present our Gold Guide To Cheltenham with the Gold Cup roll of honour for the past ten years, major facts on the leading contenders in the Gold Cup betting and the low down on their jockeys. Scroll through the slides on the Gold Guide To Cheltenham infographic to read the need-to-know facts about the big race and the teams behind the leading Gold Cup entries. You can now bet on Cheltenham without worrying about losing your stake if your horse doesn't make it to the starting post. bet365 was the first bookie to go non runner no bet all races at Cheltenham and the others are starting to follow. Freebets.com is the place to find the latest Cheltenham odds and Cheltenham Festival offers from all the leading online bookmakers. Get free tips for the Festival from our horse racing experts, Alan Kelly and Will Smith. Stay up to date by signing up for our newsletter, downloading the app or keep in touch by following us on twitter.

The bookies have been gearing up for 2016 Cheltenham betting for months and punters will have the opportunity to bag loads of free bets with sign up offers for new customers and money back offers for existing customers. Take the Cheltenham Gold Cup sponsor as an example, open an account with Betfred and place a £10 bet to get £30 free bets, here at free bets we have lots of similar offers so don't miss this chance to fill up with free bets and get the most out of your Cheltenham Festival betting. This is also the top website to find enhanced odds offers, the recent incentive to new customers given by online bookies. Instead of receiving free bets when registering a new account, there is often the option to back a hotshot at massively overpriced odds.

Cheltenham Festival 2013: Bobs Worth can win Gold Cup for Nicky Henderson and edge out Silviniaco Conti - Telegraph Cheltenham Festival Cheltenham Festival 2013: Bobs Worth can win Gold Cup for Nicky Henderson and edge out Silviniaco Conti In a Festival week rendered unforgettable by the mesmeric powers of Sprinter Sacre, his understated stablemate, Bobs Worth, gets his chance in the limelight in Friday’s Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup. He is set to become the race’s 29th winning favourite. Golden moment: Barry Geraghty will be aiming to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on board Bobs Worth Photo: GETTY IMAGES By JA McGrath 9:25PM GMT 14 Mar 2013 Nicky Henderson can cap a glorious four days with victory in the showpiece of the meeting, although this will be as tough an assignment as Bobs Worth has faced in his 11-start career. His relative inexperience is outweighed by his love of Prestbury Park’s unique steeplechase course, where he remains unbeaten after four starts.

Amid the inevitable Sprinter Sacre adulation, a welcome and respectful reference to past greats is made through the parading of the recently-retired Kauto Star prior to Friday’s feature. His last ever race was in the Gold Cup a year ago when jockey Ruby Walsh pulled him up before the 10th fence. The Gold Cup crowd are guaranteed to be warm in their appreciation. Henderson has found himself torn between two camps domestically in the run up to this year’s Gold Cup. Apart from Bobs Worth, who he describes as a baby and relatively unexposed, he also saddles Long Run, the consistent but unflamboyant winner of the 2011 Gold Cup. It is a strong hand for any trainer, but Henderson has been very careful not to openly take sides in all the pre-Festival discussions, giving the impression he would be delighted for either to take the honours, and who can blame him? For me, though, Bobs Worth represents the rising generation and the future.

Two years ago, Long Run was the young buck responsible for seeing off Kauto Star, Denman and the old guard, but rather than setting up a sequence, his forceful rise to the top simply stuttered and paused. Related Articles Cue Card holds all the aces 14 Mar 2013 It has become a trend for the leading chasers to be seen on the racecourse less often. A decade ago, Best Mate was restricted to only three outings a season, but Henrietta Knight, his trainer, explained this was not a ploy to protect her horse from would-be challengers, more a matter of dealing with Best Mate’s delicate constitution. At the end of their racing careers, both Kauto Star and Denman had curtailed seasons, and although Bobs Worth comes to his first Gold Cup with only one outing all season under the belt – his victory in the Hennessy at Newbury in December – it is not by design. Originally, Henderson had wanted to run him in the Argento Chase in late January, but the gelding scoped badly and missed the race.

“I would like to have run him, but he missed it, and thank goodness he missed it,” the trainer said, referring to the testing ground that day. “In this Gold Cup, we are really going to find out who Bobs Worth is, and what he is. He’s not yet reached superstar status. He’s won a novice chase, then the RSA [Chase, defeating First Lieutenant last year], and a handicap [the Hennessy],” Henderson said. In his yard at home, Bobs Worth is the complete opposite to Sprinter Sacre, the showman, who loves the attention. “You wouldn’t know Bobs Worth was there,” Henderson reported. “But he’s won four times at Cheltenham, and that must be in his favour. He loves it there.” Paul Nicholls has been relatively quiet this week, but Silviniaco Conti gives him a chance of equalling Tom Dreaper’s record of training five Gold Cup winners. Jumping fences has been the making of this seven-year-old, who was impressive in winning at Haydock Park in November and workmanlike at Newbury last month. I consider him the danger. Long Run will seek to emulate Kauto Star by winning back the Gold Cup crown.

Kauto Star won it again in 2009, having first claimed it in 2007. Once it has slipped from their grasp, it is exceptionally hard to win back, as the statistics show, but the application of cheek pieces should have a significant effect on Long Run. Willie Mullins will attempt to become the 10th trainer to complete the Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup double in the same year, the most recent being Kim Bailey in 1995, with Alderbrook and Master Oats. Mullins, who won with Hurricane Fly on Tuesday, will saddle Sir Des Champs in a race that looks tailor-made for his talents but without regular partner Davy Russell who was injured at Cheltenham on Wednesday. But for me, the winner will be Bobs Worth, the unpretentious star who deserves his place in the limelight. Cheltenham Gold Cup | Cheltenham Race Festival /in Cheltenham News /by Jockey Bobs Worth looks set to go off as favourite in the Cheltenham betting odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the feature of the week at the Festival.

Nicky Henderson’s mount has not been seen since his impressive performance in the Hennessy earlier in the season at Newbury where he conceded weight to the majority of the field. The eight-year old is not only unbeaten in two starts at the Festival but he has won all four of his appearances at Prestbury Park. In 2011 he landed the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and then last year he followed that up by getting the better of First Lieutenant in the RSA Chase. Henderson will also have strong hopes of winning the race this year with the 2011 winner Long Run. Despite finishing second in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, he outstayed the field to win his second King George Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. He was though unable to defend his crown 12 months ago in the blue riband contest at Cheltenham where he could only finish third behind Synchronised and The Giant Bolster. If he does regain his title next month, he will join Kauto Star as only the second horse to achieve the feat in the history of the race.

Also near the top of the market is Silviniaco Conti who represents Paul Nicholls’ best chance in the bet365 racing betting odds this year. The Champion Trainer has had a lot of success in recent years largely down to Kauto Star and Denman but will be hoping his talented chaser can follow in their footsteps at Cheltenham. The seven-year old has had just two runs this season. He held off the challenge of Long Run in the Betfair Chase and then was an emphatic winner of the Denman Chase at Newbury. His run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup will be his first taste of the Festival.

Question: At the recent Cheltenham festival, the horse "Bob's Worth" won the Cheltenham Gold cup. Who trains this horse ?
Answer: NICKY HENDERSON