Confirmed runners and riders for the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday

Minella Indo will face ten rivals on Friday when he seeks to retain his crown in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30) on the final day of the festival.

The nine-year-old claimed the Gold Cup last year in a 1-2 for trainer Henry de Bromhead and his two star chasers will take each other on once more, with Rachael Blackmore set to continue the partnership with last year's runner-up A Plus Tard.

Only two runners were absent from the declarations for Friday's Grade 1 feature, with Conflated and Melon both set to contest the Ryanair Chase (2.50) on Thursday.

Minella Indo will be ridden by Robbie Power following the pair's second-placed finish behind Conflated in the Irish Gold Cup, leaving last year's winning jockey Jack Kennedy without a ride in the race.

Gordon Elliott, who won the Gold Cup in 2016 with Don Cossack, will be represented solely by Galvin, who snatched the Savills Chase in the dying strides from A Plus Tard on his last start in December.

3.30 Friday: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup racecard and betting

Willie Mullins got off the mark for this year's festival in the final race on Tuesday and will field three runners headed by dual Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, with Asterion Forlonge and surprise King George winner Tornado Flyer completing the Irish line-up.

Protektorat heads the British hopefuls for Dan Skelton, who has kept his runner away from the track since romping to victory in Aintree's Many Clouds Chase at the start of December.

Nicky Henderson, who claimed two winners on the opening day of the festival, will be represented by last year's festival winner Chantry House.

He claimed the Cotswold Chase on his latest start ahead of the Polly Gundry-trained Santini and Scottish runner Aye Right, who will both take on the JP McManus-owned chaser once more on Friday.

Peter Marsh winner Royale Pagaille completes the line-up for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch.

2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup: trainers on their chances of winning Friday's big race

Friday runners: 12 declared for Triumph Hurdle

Irish hopefuls dominate the head of the market for the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30), with 12 runners set to contest Friday's opening race.

Mullins fields another trio in this Grade 1 contest with Icare Allen, Il Etait Temps and Grade 1 winner Vauban, who runs under Paul Townend in the Ricci silks.

They will have to fend off the formidable Gordon Elliott pair of Fil Dor and Pied Piper.

Knight Salute will put his unbeaten jumps record on the line for trainer Milton Harris after extending his winning streak to five in the Adonis Hurdle at Haydock.

He finished ahead of the Gary Moore-trained Teddy Blue, who is one of two Triumph entries for Moore alongside Porticello.

A total of 19 runners remain in contention for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50) including market leaders Ginto and Hillcrest, who have been two of the leading staying novices this season and are set for a tantalising first clash.

Hollow Games, who held an entry for the Albert Bartlett, will instead go for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (5.30), in which he will face a full field of 24 for the closing race of the festival.

Won last year by Galopin Des Champs, the Martin Pipe includes a leading British challenger in Langer Dan, while Silver Sheen and Bigz Belief are the last two to make the field.

State Man heads the field for the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (2.10), with Mullins opting for the 2m1f test over the Martin Pipe.

He heads 26 entries for the contest, including Greatwood Hurdle ace West Cork and course winner Top Bandit.

20 were declared for the St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase (4.10) and that includes last year's runner-up Billaway, who will be ridden by Patrick Mullins.

The smallest field of the day comes in the Grade 2 Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (4.50), with the absence of Robcour's Gin On Lime and the Alan King-trained The Glancing Queen leaving eight runners in contention.

Cheltenham Gold Cup runners and riders

Al Boum Photo Paul Townend
A Plus Tard Rachael Blackmore
Asterion Forlonge Bryan Cooper
Aye Right Callum Bewley
Chantry House Nico de Boinville
Galvin Davy Russell
Minella Indo Robbie Power
Protektorat Harry Skelton
Royale Pagaille Charlie Deutsch
Santini Nick Scholfield
Tornado Flyer Danny Mullins

JCB Triumph Hurdle runners and riders

Ages Of Man Jonathan Moore
Doctor Parnassus Harry Skelton
Fil Dor Jack Kennedy
Icare Allen Mark Walsh
Il Etait Temps Danny Mullins
Knight Salute Paddy Brennan
Koi Dodville Tom Scudamore
Lunar Power Sean Flanagan
Pied Piper Davy Russell
PorticelloJamie Moore
Teddy Blue Josh Moore
Vauban Paul Townend

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