Gold Cup Day at the Cheltenham Festival

Today marks the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival. The final day features the infamous Gold Cup Race.

The race is a steeplechase event over a distance of over 5,300m. There are 22 fences to be jumped.

The event is open to horses aged five years and above. The total prize fun for the race is said to be £575,000.

There are now 13 runners in the race taking place at 3.30pm. There are 7 horses which have connections to the region.

Two of the favourites are Cue Card and Native River. They are both trained by Dorset trainer Colin Tizzard.

Devon's Lizzie Kelly, is set to be the first female jockey taking part in the race for 33 years.

Lizzie will be riding Tea for Two in what is widely renowned as the biggest race of the Cheltenham Festival.

The Gold Cup Race also happens to fall on St.Patricks day.

Irish runners have been dominating the festival, especially jockey Ruby Walsh alongside trainer Willie Mullins.

The pair won four races on Day 3 of the festival and are favourites for the Gold Cup race with their horse Djakadam.

A combination of the recent Irish success and the St. Patrick's day spirit means that Tizzard's horses, after being favourites for much of the run up to the festival, are now 2nd and 3rd favourites for the race.

Hopefully the West Country competitors can put a halt to the Irish dominance.