Cheltenham Festival 2024 LIVE: Racecard, tips and odds from Gold ...

The Gold Cup will headline Friday’s racing at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, as Galopin Des Champs returns chasing a second successive triumph in the showpiece event.

Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, Galopin’s Gold Cup glory would cap another dream week for the Irish duo, who were leading the trainer and jockey standings respectively after the Festival’s first two days having dominated Cheltenham over the past half a dozen years.

The 2024 edition of the Gold Cup marks the centenary of the race, first won by Red Splash in 1924.

Hewick, the King George VI Chase winner, has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday. Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon walked the course on Thursday and decided the ground was too soft to suit his horse.

Hewick, who was bought for just £800, may line-up at next month’s Grand National in Aintree.

A Cheltenham Racegoer who called in sick to work so he could attend the popular event was caught out by his boss after he was spotted on live TV.

The man was spotted on a live segment of This Morning on Thursday (14 March), when presenters Josie Gibson and Sam Thompson visited the race ground.

Later in the show, Ben Shephard read out a message the show had received from a man called Harry, who claimed to spot his colleague in the background of the live Cheltenham report and said his boss was now aware.

Presenter Cat Deeley laughed as she declared “he is in trouble”.

Things are quite close in the Prestbury Cup after a storming day for Great Britain yesterday. They still trail by four meaning they must win six of the seven races today to claim the bragging rights.

Zara Tindall, who has been at the Cheltenham Festival with her husband Mike this week, spoke about her time at the racecourse.

She said: “It’s been good this week, it’s been busy. It’s great to have racing this week and be involved. There has been some incredible racing - it’s exciting.

“Today has been an amazing day. More winners from the English trainers, so that’s great. That was incredible for Sir Alex Ferguson (to have two winners) today. The support he’s given the sport over the years, it’s great to get payback with a couple of winners. He’s an incredible advocate for the sport.”

Asked if Queen Camilla and the Princess Royal have enjoyed their time at Cheltenham this week, she said: “Yeah, I think everyone loves their racing and they love the horses, that’s why everyone gets involved. We’ve been involved with horses for a long time, so we always love being at Cheltenham.

“Getting them all along is great fun and some time to hang out together. I’ve put no money on whatsoever. I’m too busy for that.”

Paisley Park ran his final race in the Stayers’ Hurdle yesterday and Emma Lavelle has confirmed that the hugely popular 12-year-old, who won the race in 2019, will now be retired.

“We have an awful lot to thank him for, we really do,” Lavelle said. “It’s definitely the right thing to do, we said this season would be on a race-by-race basis but he kept running his heart out, it was just a shame he couldn’t get his head in front for one last time.

“Today was the big test and he doesn’t have the same pace that he used to, that turbo button is missing and based on that, Andrew [Gemmill, the owner] had a discussion as we crossed the line and as he’s done so much for us, he doesn’t need to do any more.”

A reminder of the winners from Thursday meeting:

1:30: Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) - Grey Dawning

2:10: Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) - Monmiral

2:50: Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) - Protektorat

3:30: Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) - Teahupoo

4:10: TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase - Shakem Up’Arry

4:50: Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) - Golden Ace

5:30: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase - Inothewayurthinkin

Champion Bumper winning jockey Patrick Mullins, spoke to Racing TV about what makes his dad Willie so successful: “In his early 60s instead of consolidating, he went out and got more horses and more owners.

“Then there’s the calibre of staff here and the owners he has built. He has made the very most of everything he has been able to.”

What’s it like working with him? “Several headaches. He could say something one day and then give out the next day for doing it. He is always chopping and changing. He can’t be told no. He has outside the box thinking, at times it can be like man from the moon, but enough times it works.

“He is a funny man in that the more you try to tell him to do something, the more he will try to do the opposite!”

Here’s a look at today’s race schedule:

13:30 - Triumph Hurdle

14:10 - County Handicap Hurdle

14:50 - Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

15:30 - Cheltenham Gold Cup

16:10 - Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase

16:50 - Mares’ Steeple Chase

17:30 - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle

Following his son’s win in Tuesday’s Champion Bumper Willie Mullins said: “It’s a wonderful day, it’s fantastic. As much I enjoy what’s happening, I think of my colleague and fellow trainer Nicky Hendersonand what’s happened with his yard this week.

“That’s always a worry that we have in the two or three weeks coming up to Cheltenham, that something will come in and bite you from outside.

“As much as we’re enjoying it, I don’t know how he must be feeling. You want competition and it must be gutting for him. You’d like good opposition to have fun with because I’m sure he would have beaten us a few times this week.”