All you need to know for day four of the Cheltenham Festival

Need to keep up to speed with final day at the festival? Here's your essential guide to all the action on Gold Cup Day at Cheltenham

When is the big race?

The Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30) is the showpiece event on Friday's seven-race card and promises to be another barnstormer.

Nicky Henderson bids to become the first trainer to win the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup in the same year as Might Bite bids to follow the examples of Buveur D'Air and Altior.

Who are the protagonists?

Might Bite has not run since winning the King George VI Chase in December and among his 17 opponents are Native River, who finished a close-up third in last year's Gold Cup, and Our Duke, the Irish Grand National winner aiming to keep trainer Jessica Harrington's grip on the trophy in the absence of defending champion Sizing John.

Killultagh Vic, in front when falling at the last in the Irish Gold Cup – his sole failure in three chase starts – leads a three-strong challenge from Willie Mullins, who is seeking an elusive first victory in the festival's biggest race.

How do I follow the action?

The first race gets under way at 1.30pm and ITV, where coverage starts at 1pm – will be showing the first five races of the day. The whole day, including the final two races (4.50 and 5.30) will be shown on RUK.

You can also keep up to date with the latest reports and new stories on the Racing Post website and social media sites.

What will the ground be like?

After a mostly dry day on Thursday, the going remained soft, heavy in places.

Up to 4mm of rain was forecast overnight, which is not expected to be enough to alter conditions as Gold Cup day promises to be bright and sunny with temperatures of 11C or 12C.

The Gold Cup race itself will be run on fresh ground.

Anything else to note from the other races?

What a final day it could be for Nicky Henderson. Although only nine line up for the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30), the smallest field since seven went to post in 1965, the trainer is bidding to win the juvenile championship for the fourth time in ten years with favourite Apple's Shakira.

Lack of numbers cannot be levelled at the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50), which has one of its biggest fields with 20, including another two Henderson-trained fancies in Chef Des Obeaux and Santini.

The final day also features three seemingly unfathomable handicaps in the shape of the Randox Health County Hurdle (2.10), Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (4.50) and Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (5.30), while the amateurs get their turn for a shot at glory in the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase (4.10).

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