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17.30 That’s it from us. It has been a long week but a very, very enjoyable one. Back at the beginning, I don’t think anyone could have predicted that we would have 13 Irish winners including two of the features. It was just that kind of week, wasn’t it?

I’ll wake up tomorrow and very quickly remember that this particular Saturday in March is my least favourite Saturday of the year, solely because next year’s Cheltenham couldn’t possibly be any further away. Still, only 362 more sleeps to go or something like that.

Adrian will be here tomorrow for the Six Nations. I’ll be elsewhere as is my prerogative on a day off. See you all soon.

17.25 I wasn’t planning on making an acceptance speech, but on behalf of Adrian, I think I should thank all of those who ultimately proved to be less-talented tipsters than us, particularly our Newsroom colleague who now owe us “a feed of pints” (their words, not mine).

Thanks to our four Twitter tipsters – Phil, Julian, John and Rob – and to the many faces of Uncle Bill who really played a blinder over the second half of the festival.

The results? But of course.

• TheScore: 32pts
• Uncle Bill: 29pts
• The Newsroom: 23pts
• Twitter Rob: 17pts
• Tea Randomiser: 10pts

17.24 A 40/1 shot romps home to victory in the Grand Annual, followed by a 50/1 and a 20/1. Who said that race was going to be difficult to call?

RESULT 1. Oiseau de Nuit 2. Askthemaster 3. Leo’s Lucky Star

17.19 Henderson 1-2 as they go over the fourth last.

17.18 Well strung out. Anquetta is 6th, I’msingingtheblues is 10th.

17.16 They’re off in the Grand Annual Chase. Expect a fast pace. Top weight Chaninbar decides not to join them. Nicky Henderson’s Tanks for That hammers the first, as does Pigeon Island. What a start.

17.15 Runners are down at the start. We’re just about ready to go in 2011′s final race.

17.14 Just the one Irish runner in this as we head off an search of winner number 14. If it is to be, it’ll be Robert Tyner’s Askthemaster at odds of 50/1 who does it for us.

17.09 David Pipe’s I’msingingtheblues has been installed at the head of the market (9/2) with Shoreacres (6/1) and 2009 winner Oh Crick (8/1) just behind him in the betting.

Nicky Henderson is dual-handed in this one, with Anquetta and Tanks for That given decent chances by many.

A little bit of money has come in for last year’s winner Pigeon Island as well, but given the completely torrid form that Nigel Twiston-Davies’ yard is in this week, I can’t stand by the champ.

17.07 We’re nearly there now and I’m determined not to “do a Big Buck’s” on it and do just enough to win. No, I’m in this for the long haul and I’m going to give this race the same love and attention that I gave the Supreme Novices’ on Tuesday afternoon. That seems like an eternity ago now though, doesn’t it?

17.02 So, the traditionally-meaningless Grand Annual Chase has now become extremely significant. Here are the selections. On that point, I’m beginning to have a sneaky suspicion about just how random the randomiser is – it’s gone for the same horse as Uncle Bill in the last three races.

• TheScore: Anquetta
• Uncle Bill: I’msingingtheblues
• The Newsroom: Anquetta
• Twitter Rob: Anquetta
• Tea Randomiser: I’msingingtheblues

16.55 Well well well, what have we here. I thought that we were home and hosed before the last race, but not so. That’s a big winner for Uncle Bill and all of a sudden, he’s lurking with the intent of joining us on our perch. Squeaky bum time …

• TheScore: 32pts
• Uncle Bill: 29pts
• The Newsroom: 23pts
• Twitter Rob: 17pts
• Tea Randomiser: 10pts

16.49 What an absolutely bizarre finish that was. Sir Des Champs was miles behind coming into the straight, trading at 70/1+ on Betfair, but he absolutely tore up the field over the final furlongs under Emmet Mullins, giving Ireland winner number 13 in the most unlikely of circumstances.

He was well-backed, sent off the 9/2 favourite and for many, he will have just saved their Friday.

RESULT 1. Sir Des Champs 2. Son of Flicka 3. First Point 4. Indian Daudaie

16.45 Two out. Astracad lurks. Sir Des Champs looks out of it, but hang on a second …

16.43 Indian Daudaie, Astracad and Riptide are the ones chasing Barizan. They’ve just about reeled him in now.

16.41 Barizan heads off on his tobler. Remember him from last year’s Triumph Hurdle?

16.40 Horses are at the start … and they’re off.

16.32 At the head of the market is Sir Des Champs (4/1) and Shoegazer (15/2). The former is trained by Willie and saddled by Emmet Mullins – what price a thirteenth Irish winner?

16.29 Couple of big market movers here. Hollins is now 14/1 from 22s earlier; Rose of the Moon is into 12s from 20; Barizan is in from 25/1 to 16/1; and Astracad – who we’ve gotten a well-placed tip for – is in to 20/1 from 33s this morning.

16.15 The next race is the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle. Lest there be any accusations of shenanigans as we march to victory, here are the predictions at a nice early stage.

• TheScore: Shoegazer
• Uncle Bill: Sir Des Champs
• The Newsroom: King of the Night
• Twitter Rob: Shoegazer
• Tea Randomiser: Riptide

16.13 Standings unchanged in the Cheltenham Challenge after that one which means that the worst we can do is finish in a tie for first with Uncle Bill. One point from the last two races will see us over the line and that’s all we’ll be looking for.

• TheScore: 32pts
• Uncle Bill: 26pts
• The Newsroom: 23pts
• Twitter Rob: 17pts
• Tea Randomiser: 10pts

16.11 Quite a lot of fallers there, most notably Baby Run who was perfectly positioned if a little tired when crashing out of of contention two flights from home. Zemsky outlasted them all, however, and that’s another fine ride from Derek O’Connor who has had two festival winners this week.

RESULT 1. Zemsky 2. Mid Div and Creep 3. Oscar Delta 4. On The Fringe

16.07 Baby Run falls two out, leaving Zemsky to stroll home.

16.06 Three out, Baby Run leads over.

16.05 Baby Run and Dante’s Storm are stringing them out here. The favourite is looking very comfortable, but On The Fringe is staying nicely.

16.03 Theatre Diva the first casualty, joined shortly afterwards by Description. Baby Run leads from Heron’s Well.

16.00 They’re off. Baby Run makes the running.

15.56 A couple of points to note ahead of the next race. Baby Run is last year’s winner but, as the RTE lads have just pointed out, Nigel Twiston-Davis’ yard hasn’t exactly been in cracking form so far this week. He’s currently 3-1JF alongside Enda Bolger’s On The Fringe – there’s a lot of love for Bolger out there in horsey-land when it comes to these kind of open field chases.

15.54 A winner here for TheScore and the Cheltenham Challenge could be all over. This is what the panel has decided:

• TheScore: Gone To Lunch
• Uncle Bill: On The Fringe
• The Newsroom: Baby Run
• Twitter Rob: Just Amazing
• Tea Randomiser: On The Fringe

15.51 Alright, time to keep on moving. If you haven’t made any money so far this week, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll do so over the next three races. Says the man who has just stuck a fiver on Gone To Lunch. Partly because that’s where I wish I was, partly because I watched the Scottish Grand National once upon a time and he finished second. Think the ground might suit him more than some of the others.

15.46 Media blackout apparently only applies to football – Fergie is having a good old chinwag with Thommo over on Channel 4. He seems to be enjoying himself.

15.43 I was just about to say that it’s time to move on from that, but that would be forgetting a very important piece of business. “How’s that Cheltenham Challenge going?” I hear you ask.

• TheScore: 32pts
• Uncle Bill: 26pts
• The Newsroom: 23pts
• Twitter Rob: 17pts
• Tea Randomiser: 10pts

15.40 Fergie mooches around in the background as Nicholls is interviewed by the Channel 4 team. Media blackout still ongoing then, Alex?

15.37 Honorable mention must go to What A Friend who ran an absolute barn-stormer to force a photo with Kauto for third. Props to Uncle Bill and Twitter Rob for fancying him – nearly won a few each-way euro for some of my co-workers with that tip. 2-3-4 for Paul Nicholls – incredible.

15.36 Three-mile chasing will be a poorer place with Kauto Star and Denman. I love them, absolutely love them.

15.34 Alright stats lovers, this one’s for you. Sam Waley-Cohen is the first amateur jockey to win a Gold Cup in 30 years. Jim Wilson on Little Owl in 1981 was the last.

Long Run becomes the first six-year-old to win the Gold Cup since Mill House in the 1960s. “Myth busted”, as the mythbusters would say.

15.32 Aside from the damage to my betting bank, you really couldn’t have asked for a better race. As Kev says below “he came between the old heads and came out on top. Great run.” Mac says that the torch has been passed. Great, great race.

15.30 Winning jockey Sam Waley-Cohen is absolutely breathless. Great ride by the amateur.

15.28 Result 1. Long Run 2. Denman 3. Kauto Star 4. What A Friend

LONG RUN WINS THE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

15.26 Denman v Kauto coming into the bend. Long Run tracks them.

15.25 Four out. Kauto, Imperial and Denman all there.

15.24 Kauto jumps up to take the lead with a circuit to go.

15.23 Midnight Chase, China Rock, Kauto at the moment. Still well over a circuit to go.

15.21 Kauto nicely positioned in third. Kempes being held up way out the back by McCoy.

15.20 They’re off. Midnight Chase making the early running.

15.19 Final word – head says Long Run; heart says Kauto and Denman; betting slip says Kempes. Sometimes I even confuse myself.

15.17 Joint-favouritism has been been bestowed upon Long Run and the defending champ, Imperial Commander. Kev has been in touch to say that a quick testing of the water suggests that a lot of people are on Kempes with not nearly enough on Long Run. It’s absolutely buzzing on course.

15.10 Time for a quick look at the betting. Lots of money for Long Run who has been backed from 5/1 this morning into 7/2 favourite now. Takes quite a bit of money to force that sort of a move in odds at Cheltenham. Imperial Commander has drifted slightly to 9/2 while there’s a small bit of money coming in for two-time champ Kauto Star. Irish hopeful Kempes has been hammered from 12/1 yesterday into 15/2 now, but I’d be amazed if he went any lower than that.

15.08 Though he’s gone for former champion Denman, Twitter Rob has been in touch let us know that he also fancies What A Friend to run into a place on his first outing in blinkers.

15.06 The Cheltenham Challenge selections are in. This one could be crucial as we go down to the wire.

• TheScore: Long Run
• Uncle Bill: What A Friend
• The Newsroom: Kauto Star
• Twitter Rob: Denman
• Tea Randomiser: What A Friend

15.04 Earlier today, I previewed the race on site. Here’s the one-line summary of my conclusions:

The raiders haven’t disappointed in the features all week so we’ll go for Kempes to spring a surprise though Long Run and Imperial Commander will provide stiff opposition.

15.02 If you’re bored in work and looking for a little something something to spice up the afternoon, I’ve a number you can call. Alternatively, you can print out our Gold Cup office sweepstakes kit and fleece your colleagues for every last penny they’ve got. Your choice.

15.00 Alright people, you’ve about 17 minutes to finish up what you’re doing and plonk yourself in front of a TV. The blue riband event of National Hunt racing is coming up very shortly – it’s Cheltenham Gold Cup time.

14.58 Here are the updated standings. Still too close to call, particularly as my confidence is shot to pieces at present.

• TheScore: 29pts
• Uncle Bill: 26pts
• The Newsroom: 22pts
• Twitter Rob: 15pts
• Tea Randomiser: 10pts

14.52 That’s a first festival winner for Barry Geraghty as well. He has a rather strange connection with the horse he just rode to victory – he bought it initially with his brother, then sold it on to Nicky Henderson, and now rides it at Cheltenham. Madness.

14.50 Great performance from Bobs Worth, looked to have loads in hand as he crossed the final flight and, though he hit a little bit of  flat spot then, held on well to beat stablemate Mossley. Nicky Henderson finally gets off the mark, that’s a 1-2 for his year – a welcome boost ahead of the big race.

RESULT 1. Bobs Worth 2. Mossley 3. Court In Motion

14.45 Three out. Plenty in contention. Favourite going well, as is Champion Court.

14.44 Join Together just being ridden slightly by Ruby. Bob’s Worth going well.

14.43 No Secrets leads from Radetsky March as they pass the stand for the first time.

14.40 Just going to post. This one should be interesting. They’re off.

14.33 Bob’s Worth has now been backed to 15/8. There is another almighty gamble in progress here as punters try to make up for all of the money that they lost earlier in the week. Interesting.

14.30 Here are the Cheltenham Challenge selections – should give you a bit of time to get a few quid on TheScore choice, Gagewell Flier.

• TheScore: Gagewell Flier
• Uncle Bill: Bob’s Worth
• The Newsroom: Bob’s Worth
• Twitter Rob: Join Together
• Tea Randomiser: Radetsky March

14.27 And that’s where all the money is. Bob’s Worth has been backed in from 3/1 to 9/4. Gagewell and Join Together are side-by-side at 8s. No other real market movers at the moment. Just over ten minutes to the off.

14.25 We’ve the Albert Bartlett coming up next. Having been very fond of Gagewell Flier earlier today, the lads in RTE are now convinced that there must be a reason why Ruby has chosen to ride Join Together. But Bob’s Worth is their nap of the day. My head hurts.

14.22 I was getting a little bit nervy there, but we may just be able to see this one out. That one could be a significant two points for us in the grand scheme of things.

• TheScore: 29pts
• Uncle Bill: 23pts
• The Newsroom: 19pts
• Twitter Rob: 15pts
• Tea Randomiser: 10pts

14.20 In all of the excitement, I completely forgot that Final Approach was an Irish winner. That’s a little bit of history, making 2011 the most successful Irish year ever at the Cheltenham Festival.

14.15 I’ll be very interested to see that photo. I would have put my house on Get Me Out Of Here holding on. That’s twice in two years I’ve backed him at Cheltenham and he’s been beaten on the line. Horses for courses was my motto going into today and I’m sticking to it.

Wow. Just wow. What a finish there. McCoy was travelling strongly on Get Me Out Of Here and it looked like the punters’ big gamble would be justified. Get Me Out Of Here battled superbly on the run-in, but behind him all the way was Ruby Walsh on the Mullins-trained Final Approach, making up ground with every stride. It looked for all the world like McCoy had held on, but it’s Ruby’s by a whisker. Can’t stress how close that was.

RESULT 1. Final Approach 2. Get Me Out Of Here 3. Nearby

Gone to a photo. Could be a dead heat.

14.08 Two out. Anyone could win this again. All going very easily.

14.07 They’re off. Ellersley Tom and Hunter View making the early running.

14.05 Just about ready to go. Get Me Out Of Here has been backed in from 16/1 this morning to 7/1. Is that JP’s money driving the price down. If so, be afraid.

14.02 Horses are on their way to post. Here are our pros tips:

• TheScore (27pts): Get Me Out Of Here
• Uncle Bill (23pts): Alarazi
• The Newsroom (19pts): Alarazi
• Twitter Rob (15pts): Alarazi
• Tea Randomiser (9pts): Nearby

14.00 A word of note for Alarazi as well. He won at Sandown at Saturday and is now chasing a huge Cheltenham bonus if he wins today. The handicapper would like to have him off about 7lbs higher, so there’s a chance that he’ll put in an excellent performance off this mark.

13.53 Next race up is the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle. Trying to pick a winner in a 27 horse handicap is not an attractive prospect, but there are a few that people are making arguments in favour of. The lads in the RTE studio have spoken favourably about Blackstairmountain and Alaivan – the latter beat Carlito Brigante recently. Gordon Elliot has two runners in this – favourite Dirar and Davy Russell’s choice, Grey Soldier. The stable is in form, keep an eye out.

13.50 And here are the results from the Cheltenham jury. Have I spoken too soon?

• TheScore: 27pts
• Uncle Bill: 23pts
• The Newsroom: 19pts
• Twitter Rob: 15pts
• Tea Randomiser: 9pts

13.41 Watching the replay again there. Sam Winner was never really travelling but ran on fantastically to finish fourth. “One to watch in the future,” according to Ted – that’ll hardly be any consolation to the punter who he’s just cost £1m.

13.38 Classy, classy performance from Zarkander there. He travelled pretty sweetly throughout, cutting through the pack on the straight. Unaccompanied put in a good performance on the flat to run into second, but the winner was a good ‘un.

First four in the market are the first four home. First and fourth for Paul Nicholls there – he had a win with Celestial Halo in this race a couple of years ago.

RESULT 1. Zarkander (13/2) 2. Unaccompanied (11/2) 3. Grandouet (13/2) 4. Sam Winner (4/1F)

13.35 Grandouet, Unaccompanied and Zarkander chase down Sailors Warn

13.34 All of the favourites are well positioned two out. Anyone’s race.

13.31 They’re off. Houblon des Obeaux leads off but they’re not that strung out.

13.30 Here are the choices by the way:

• The Score – Sam Winner
• The Newsroom – Zarkander
• Uncle Bill – Unaccompanied
• Rob – Grandouet
• Randomiser – Third Intention

13.28 Speaking of Sam Winner, how about these for a rake of bets – wqorth a grand total of £1million apparently. Would you be able to watch the 1:30 with these in your pocket? Kev Coleman sent them in to us, but he swears that he found them on Twitter and that they’re not his. We know where you live Kev, don’t worry …

13.26 Ok, so the first of the day is the JCB Triumph Hurdle, a race that the Irish don’t normally do that well in. Dermot Weld’s Unaccompanied is the main Irish hope, while punters are hoping to get off to a good start with Ruby Walsh on Paul Nicholls’ Sam Winner – all the money is coming in for him at the moment.

13.23 Please give a warm welcome to Rob who is today’s Twitter tipster. He had this to say earlier today:

“I see there is a bit of ground to make up after yesterday but stamina is everything at Cheltenham.  So far I’ve managed five winners and am 35 per cent ahead to my staking plan.  I normally would put up two in each race and two of the winners, at 16/1 and 25/1 have come from my second choice but today could be more of a punters day.”

13.20 Just in case you needed a little reminder, here are the standings at the beginning of play today

• TheScore: 27pts
• Uncle Bill: 21pts
• The Newsroom: 16pts
• Twitter Tipster: 14pts
• Tea Randomiser: 9pts

13.15 Welcome one and all to the fourth and final day of the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. I’m not sure about you, but we’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last three days. A healthy dose of Irish winners certainly helped in that regard, but really, it has just been great to watch some top-quality horses duke it out in cracking races.

Before I start to cry at the thought that we’re a full year away from Cheltenham 2012, we should just get focused on today’s card. The fact that nearly every race is wide-open won’t be ideal for punters, but there’ll be plenty to enjoy right up until 5:15 this evening.

Of course, there could be a little bit of history for Ireland today. One more win will push the raiding party to a remarkable tally of 11, making this our most successful year ever at Cheltenham.

And, lest we forget, we still have the final day of TheScore’s Cheltenham Challenge to come. Your gracious hosts have pushed into a six-point lead after yesterday’s racing but the others are still snapping at our heels. Uncle Bill woke me up with a phone-call this morning to tell me that he’s definitely going to pip us at the post today – funny that, he doesn’t even call on my birthday.

The Newsroom are making noises as well, but I reckon we put their challenge to bed with St. Patrick’s Day revellers early yesterday afternoon. The words “peaked”, “too” and “soon” spring to mind.

Anyway, enough boasting from me. Time to get this show on the road. Send us your tips etc via the usual manner – it would be great to hear from you.

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