Cheltenham Festival LIVE: 5:30 result, tips and latest odds after exciting Gold Cup race

Readin Tommy Wrong in the middle of the pack early on. The Jukebox Man roars into an early lead and he’s three lengths clear, with Dancing City and Stellar Story the closest to him

And they’re off in the Albert Bartlett! More success for Willie Mullins incoming? Readin Tommy Wrong a big favourite ahead of Gidleigh Park and Captain Teague.

Here’s what our tipster James Boyle thinks about this race

14:50 Cheltenham – Lecky Watson – 1pt e/w @ 11/1

The market rarely gets a great handle on the Albert Bartlett, with nine of the last 10 winners returning double-figured starting prices. That’s not a huge surprise given the changes at play with trips, ground and generally unexposed hurdlers finding improvement for their experiences.

Readin Tommy Wrong heads the market as he bids to maintain an unbeaten record under rules and there was lots to like about his success in the Lawlor’s of Naas novice, turning over Ile Atlantique. He improved a lot for the 2m 4f trip but how he’ll do at three miles will be interesting.

The way he responded to pressure last time would suggest that it should be no problem granted normal circumstances but I have a nagging doubt that he mightn’t hit the line as well as some of the others. He’s clearly very classy but it’s easy enough to pass by given the short price.

Lecky Watson came home third in the Naas contest and there’s more in his locker. He needs to brush up on his hurdling but it has been reasonable to date and I fancy that what he achieved the last twice was over a trip shy of his best, with improvement to come now that he faces a sterner test.

There’s previous with him at Cheltenham, his run in last year’s bumper catching the eye, and it’s possible that a hood being in use for the first time can help. It’s an awful race to punt in but this fellow should have a chance despite appearing to be down the pecking order for Willie Mullins.

Here are the latest odds for the next race, via Oddschecker, which gets underway in 10 minutes time:

Readin Tommy Wrong 5/2

Gidleigh Park 5/1

Captain Teague 8/1

Dancing City 10/1

Johnnywho 12/1

High Class Hero 12/1

Lecky Watson 14/1

Chigorin 16/1

Search For Glory 16/1

The Jukebox Man 18/1

Stellar Story 28/1

Spread Boss Ted 50/1

Butcher Hollow 80/1

Dripsey Moon 150/1

As expected it’s a sell out for Friday’s Gold Cup Day. Just one more race to go until the big one. the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle is up next.

“A lot of satisfaction in that one, to tell you the truth,” says Paul Townend. “I thought he had the pace, but the ground was a big worry. I was able to go out and take a chance, and it paid off.”

Townend now has five winners at the Festival and moves ahead of Harry Skelton for the leading jockey title.

It’s two for two for Willie Mullins’ stable this afternoon. Here’s Paul Townend reacting to Absurde’s victory:

1st - Absurde (P Townend) 12-1

2nd - L’eau Du Sud (Harry Skelton) 7-2 F

3rd - Pied Piper (D J Gilligan) 14-1

4th - Magical Zoe (Adrian Heskin) 8-1

Paul Townend has his fifth winner of the Festival with a stunning ride from Absurde:

Absurde wins the County Handicap Hurdle!

Wow. What a run, it all happened in the final 100 metres as Absurde went up a gear. L’eau Du Sud tried to hold on as Afadil fell away. Paul Townend has another winner, he kept his mount going, went to the inside of the his rival and pipped him to the line!