Cheltenham as it happened: Native River wins the Gold Cup in thrilling finish ahead of Might Bite
Follow the latest from the final day at the Cheltenham Festival
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Your support makes all the difference.The final day of the Cheltenham Festival saw all eyes on the Gold Cup as Might Bite was beaten in a thrilling finish by 5/1-shot Native River, with Colin Tizzard preventing rival Nicky Henderson from recording a famous Cheltenham treble.
Henderson has already trained the winners of the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase in Buveur d’Air and Altior respectively, with De Boinville riding the latter to victory after Barry Geraghty won the former.
De Boinville returned to the saddle on 4/1 favourite Might Bite for the Gold Cup at 15:30, with Henderson bidding to become the first trainer in history to win the Cheltenham treble, and his bid wass made that little bit easier in the absence of last year’s runner-up Minella Rocco as well as Double Shuffle and Shantou Flyer.
But after leading from the get-go with Might Bite right on his tail, the Tizzard-trained Native River stayed at the front from start to finish to record a brilliant victory, holding off the favourite as they raced to the line.
Follow the live action below...
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What time does it start?
The action begins from 13:30, with the Gold Cup set to start at 15:30.
Where can I watch it?
The full week will be shown live on ITV from 13:00 each day, with coverage also shown live on the ITV Hub online and on their app. There will also be a preview for each day with The Opening Show from 09:30.
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the final day at the Cheltenham Festival, where Might Bite and Nicky Henderson attempt to make history in the Gold Cup.
No trainer has ever managed to win the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup in the same week at Cheltenham, but after winning the first two with Buveur d'Air and Altior this week, Henderson has the chance to do that with Gold Cup favourite Might Bite.
There will, of course, be no Ruby Walsh competing after the jockey aggravated a stress fracture in his right leg in a fall on Al Boum Photo during the RSA Chase on Wednesday, which may make Henderson's and jockey Nico de Boinville's quest that little bit easier.
Today's races:
- 13:30: 1 Farclas 2 Mr Adjudicator 3 Sayo
- 14:10: 1 Mohaayed 2 Remiluc 3 WhiskeySour 4 Chesterfield 5 Spiritofthegames 6 Lagostovegas
- 14:50: 1 Kilbricken Storm 2 Ok Corral 3 Santini 4 Ballyward
- 15:30: 1 Native River 2 Might Bite 3 Anibale Fly
- 16:10: 1 Pacha Du Polder 2 Top Wood JOINT 3 Barel Of Laughs & Cousin Pete
- 16:50: 1 Blow By Blow 2 Discorama 3 Early Doors 4 Sire Du Berlai 5 Diese Des Bieffes
- 17:30: 1 Le Prezien 2 Gino Trail 3 Top Gamble 4 Theinval 5 Three Stars
Just an hour to go now until the action gets underway at Cheltenham with the JCB Triumph Hurdle!
Of course, the day's big attraction is the Gold Cup, which takes place at 3.30pm.
Stay tuned as we bring you all the action from the final day of this year's festival!
Triumph Hurdle (13:30) odds
- Apple’s Shakira – 11/8
- Redicean – 7/1
- Stormy Ireland – 7/1
- Farclas – 15/2
- Mr Adjudicator – 9/1
- Saldier – 14/1
- Sussex Ranger – 25/1
- Sayo – 50/1
- Gumball – 50/1
Odds courtesy of Oddschecker
Follow the link above and use our cunning generator to pick your horse for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Irish trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are vying for the title of top trainer at this year's festival. Mullins has had seven winners to Elliott's six so far this week.
Who will come out on top? Well, we'll find out over the next few hours.
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