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As it happenedended

Cheltenham Festival 2016 live: Don Cossack wins Gold Cup and Victoria Pendleton finishes fifth on her debut

Follow the latest from the final day at Cheltenham including the Festival headlining Gold Cup

Jack de Menezes
Friday 18 March 2016 09:41 EDT
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Harry Skelton celebrates winning the County Handicap Hurdle on Superb Story
Harry Skelton celebrates winning the County Handicap Hurdle on Superb Story (Reuters)

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The final day of the Cheltenham Festival will see two major events take place as the headline race, the Gold Cup, pits 10 of the best chasers in the world against one another, while British Olympic hero Victoria Pendleton makes her Festival debut. Follow the latest action here.

Friday’s racecard

13:30: Triumph Hurdle - 1. Ivanovich Gorbotov (9-2F) 2. Apple's Jade (12-1) 3. Footpad (5-1)

14.10: County Hurdle - 1. Superb Story (8/1) 2. Fethard Player (33/1) 3. Sternrubin (33/1) 4. Wait For Me (7-1F)

14.50: Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle - 1. Unowhatimeanharry (11/1) 2. Fagan (33/1) 3. Champers On Ice (20/1)

15.30: Cheltenham Gold Cup - 1. Don Cossack (9/4F) 2. Djakadam (9/2) 3. Don Poli (9/2)

16.10: Foxhunter Challenge Cup - 1. On The Fringe (13/8F) 2. Marito (14/1) 3. Paint The Clouds (9/2)

16.50: Conditional Jockey's Hurdle

17.30: Grand Annual Chase

Don Cossack wins the Gold Cup after holding off Djakadam

Victoria Pendleton finishes fifth on Pacha Du Polder in impressive Cheltenham Festival debut

Follow the live action below...

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Read more Cheltenham Festival news:
Pendleton divides the Festival but deserves fair crack of the whip
Cue Card can reward followers in landing Gold Cup bonus
Everything you need to know about the Gold Cup

Friday is the final day of the 2016 Cheltenham Festival. For the latest Cheltenham Festival odds click here.

Timico Gold Cup

Don Cossack clears the last...

Jack de Menezes18 March 2016 15:37

Timico Gold Cup

DON COSSACK WINS THE GOLD CUP!

Jack de Menezes18 March 2016 15:37

Timico Gold Cup

1. Don Cossack (9/4F)

2. Djakadam (9/2)

3. Don Poli (9/2)

Jack de Menezes18 March 2016 15:39

Timico Gold Cup

Good news surrounding Cue Card as he got straight back up and chased the field in to the finish, while jockey Paddy Brennan also got to his feet, albeit distraught after falling as he came to the fore. It was an impressive finish from Don Cossack though, and as he looked to be fading with Djaladam chasing hard, he just found another gear to carry him over the line and win the Gold Cup for jockey Bryan Cooper and trainer Gordon Elliott.

Jack de Menezes18 March 2016 15:41

Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup

So after all the excitement of the Gold Cup, it's time for the Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup and the anticipated Cheltenham debut of British Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton. She's won more Olympic medals than any other British female athlete, but racing is a whole different story. She rides the 25/1 shot Pacha Du Polder for Paul Nicholls.

Elsewhere, On The Fringe goes off as favourite at 7/4 with Nina Carberry on board, with Paint The Clouds an appealing 5/1.

Jack de Menezes18 March 2016 16:02

Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup

Pendleton won her first race over fences at Wincanton earlier this year, but she has also been unseated twice so it's been a mixed bag for the Olympic champion so far in her young career. Trainer Paul Nicholls reiterates that she wouldn't be at Cheltenham if any of her team felt that she couldn't do it, and it's fair to say that all eyes are on her. That may well take the pressure off Nina Carberry on On The Fringe.

Jack de Menezes18 March 2016 16:05

Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup

Off go the field and their making their way down to the start line...

Jack de Menezes18 March 2016 16:08

Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup

THEY'RE OFF!

Jack de Menezes18 March 2016 16:11

Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup

Paint The Clouds takes up position on the inside, and Pendleton starts off out the back to give herself a bit of space. On The Fringe runs in the pack in ninth, with Cave Huntyer leading the way.

Jack de Menezes18 March 2016 16:12

Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup

The grey of Impact Area just nudges ahead, but Richmond soon overtakes him to tcontest the lead with Alskamatic.

Jack de Menezes18 March 2016 16:14

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