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4.48pm That completes the voting from the Cheltenham jury:

• TheScore 27pts
• Uncle Bill 21pts
• The Newsroom16pts
• Twitter John 14pts
• Tea Randomiser 9pts

Niall will be back tomorrow with another liveblog. I’m on a day off but might pop in if we win the predictions league for a lap of honour. Thanks for your company, keep the tips coming in the usual ways, detailed above.

4.47pm He romped home in the end ‘by a queer margin’ as the rest were strung out like ‘Monday morning washing’. It’s a big blow to the bookies.

RESULT 1. Junior 2. Faasel, 3. Deal Done

4.44pm Deal Done is gone clear of the field, Junior is chasing along with Faasel.

4.43pm They’ve done a circuit now and Junior is sharing the lead with Deal Done.

4.40pm As one man at the urinal said to the other – I had a bit of hassle with my stream there. We’re up and running now, relying on a bookmakers’ coverage.

4.34pm It’s the final countdown. I’ll be pulling on my dancing shoes and slapping on a bit’o'Brut after this last race. Here’s the standings and our predictions:

• TheScore 24pts: Junior
• Uncle Bill 18pts: Junior
• The Newsroom16pts: Billie Magern
• Twitter John 14pts: Galant Nuit
• Tea Randomiser 9pts: Khachaturian

4.22pm Our final (proper) race on the card is the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir, a renewal with no real attraction from a betting point of view. Who de we fancy?

4.14 So what does that mean for our little league? Well far be it from me to editorialise… but TheScore rules!

• TheScore: 24pts
• Uncle Bill: 18pts
• The Newsroom: 16pts
• Twitter John: 14pts
• Tea Randomiser: 9pts

4.09 The 9-2 favourite made up some amount of ground to come in third in the end but it’s all about the top two of Holmwood Legend and Aimigayle who were both 25-1 shots.

Aimigayle ran a wonderful race but just seemed to run out of gas in the end. It’s another one back for the English.

RESULT 1 Holmwood Legend, 2 Aimigayle, 3 Beautiful Sound

4.03pm Aimigayle continues to jump well from Gansey and Bible Lord coming up to the third last. You’re the Top is a faller.

4.02pm Aimigayle is leading coming into the last few.

4pm Ireland have only won this once – in ’98 I think Big Mac said – but Beautiful South is favourite now after he came in from 8-1 to 9-2. They’re off here.

3.46pm Let’s look towards the Gold Plate. It’s wise to go for those under a 11 stone according to a stat on Channel 4 – so thats the horses listed from 11 and upwards.

What’s our panel’s predictions, I her you scream? I’m glad you asked:

• TheScore 23pts: Beautiful Sound
• Uncle Bill 18pts: Quartz de Thaix
• The Newsroom 16pts: Aigle D’Or
• Twitter John 14pts: Galant Nuit
• Tea Randomiser 9pts: Edgbriar

3.42pm As regards the header who interrupted the third race earlier, Barry Glendenning tweets: “Police remaining tightlipped about protester’s identity and cause, but say he is ‘being dealt with’”.

Here’s a pic from Ben Hutt. I do wonder what the banner read:

3.37pm I’m back. Ted Walsh has just called Big Buck’s a ‘box-walker’ which means he’s an anxious horse, simply enough. I could listen to Ted all day.

Who do we fancy in the last two? I’ve placed in each race so far but I’m yet to taste sweet success yet. Though we are ahead in the bragging stakes…

• TheScore: 23pts
• Uncle Bill: 18pts
• The Newsroom: 16pts
• Twitter John: 14pts
• Tea Randomiser: 9pts

3.32 I’m off to collect a few each-way pennies after Mourad’s third place finish. Adrian will be back with you for the final two of the day. I’m on Beautiful Sound (4:00) and Junior (4:40) if anyone’s interested. I’ll see you all tomorrow.

3.30 Ladies and gentlemen, arise and welcome your champion. It’s historic, make no mistake about it. 11 races unbeaten, a record-breaking three successive World Hurdles. Whisper it – but is he the best staying hurdler ever?

3.28 Ruby tells Alice that he dropped his stick just before the final hurdle. He’s absolutely livid with himself, blessing himself as he comes across the line. “Schoolboy,” he fumes. “Certainly not my finest hour in the saddle.” This is coming from the man who just won’t the day’s feature. A true pro and true perfectionist.

RESULT: 1. Big Buck’s 2. Grands Crus 3. Mourad.

3.25 No move from Grands Crus. All still with chances. Big Buck’s poised three out.

3.23 Grand Crus held up out the back by Tom Scudamore. Big Buck’s running in third at the moment. Eight lengths cover the lot of them with a circuit left to go.

3.21 They’re off. Cross Kennon heads off as the front-runner.

3.19 Little bit more money coming in for Zaynar. He’s 12/1 now from 18/1 this morning. Just about ready to let them go.

3.15 Unsurprisingly, all of the money is coming in for Big Buck’s. We’re just about finished with the hype of what the experts are calling “a cracking two-horse race.” I strongly disagree, mainly because of the large amount of questions I have about Grands Crus. Prove me wrong!

3.14 We’ll get the pros’ tips out of the way here so that we can concentrate on the build-up. Lots of support there for the Irish horse, Mourad.

• TheScore 20pts: Big Buck’s
• Uncle Bill 17pts: Mourad
• The Newsroom 14pts: Grands Crus
• Twitter John 13pts: Mourad
• Tea Randomiser 8pts: Mourad

3.09 Yo, form-watchers, here’s one for you. You may have noticed that Knockara Beau finished second carrying top-weight in the Pertemps at 2:05. Grands Crus hammered him by ten lengths here on trials day. So there you go.

3.07 Latest odds are here for you. The champ is at 10/11, Grands Crus is on the drift out to 4/1, Mourad’s still at 8s, Fiveforthree at 11/1 and Zaynar at 16/1.

3.05 We had a preview of the race this morning. This was the overall verdict.

TheScore says: There is very little we have seen to convince us that Big Buck’s won’t make a little bit of history here today.

Mourad and Grands Crus are the only real competition and these three will almost certainly make up the places.

3.01 Ok, we’re just under 20 minutes away from the day’s feature, the 3m World Hurdle. Mourad is being hawked as the each-way prospect of the day to anyone who will listen. In from 10/1 to 8/1 this morning.

2.57 And the updated standings from the Cheltenham Challenge are in. It’s getting a little bit tight at the top. After a shocking first day, Uncle Bill is coming back with a bang. Our colleagues over in the newsroom are faltering slightly but they assure us that they’ve got more left in the tank.

• TheScore: 20pts
• Uncle Bill: 17pts
• The Newsroom: 14pts
• Twitter John: 13pts
• Tea Randomiser: 8pts

2.55 For those of you keeping count, Albertas Run counts as a British winner as that’s where Jonjo O’Neill’s stables are based. They’ve clawed another one back. Ireland 10-7 GB

2.53 Ok, I’ve seen that incident from the race end again. As the horses crossed the finish line, there was a person standing in the middle of the track, waving a sign about. Slightly reminiscent of “Father” Neil Horan’s antics at the Formula One a few years back. Madness.

2.51 Amazing run from Albertas Run. Three successive wins at Cheltenham for him. Great record by the ten-year-old. “Horses for courses” is the motto of the day according to the lads in the RTE studio.

2.49 Apparently some lunatic ran out in front of the horses as they came over the final fence. I was too captivated by the action to notice but hopefully we’ll see a replay soon and I can tell you exactly what happened.

2.47 Alice from Channel 4 tries to get AP’s attention by calling him Ruby. “Ruby? Did you call me Ruby? I feel like Ruby, I’m just after riding two winners.” Fair play AP.

RESULT 1. Albertas Run 2. Kalahari King 3. Rubi Light

2.46 Poquelin under pressure.

2.45 Four  out. All still standing. Rubi leads from Albertas with Poquelin and Voy Por ready to strike.

2.42 Albertas and Rubi Light lead from Voy Por and Poquelin. Still a long, long way to go. Just passing the stands now.

2.41 They’re off. Albertas Run and AP McCoy head off in front as expected.

2.40 Runners are down at the start, just about ready to go. Voy Por Ustedes is worthy of a mention as well – looking forward to seeing how he goes.

2.38 There are a couple of other interesting runners in this. Ferdy Murphy’s Kalahari King was third in last year’s Champion Chase, so it’ll be interesting to see how he fares over the slightly longer course. Nobody seems to want him though – he’s drifted from 7/2 this morning to 7/1. Something’s not right according to Big Mac and Tanya.

2.37 I presume you’ve all downloaded our office sweepstakes kit for this race – send us a tweet to let us know who you drew.

2.36 As I’m sure you’re aware, the top three horses in last year’s race all take to the course again this afternoon – Albertas Run, Poquelin and J’Y Vole. They’re all a year older but are they any wiser?

2.34 Here are the Cheltenham Challenge selections for the Ryanair.

• TheScore 18pts: Kalahari King
• Uncle Bill 14pts: Albertas Run
• The Newsroom 14pts: Poquelin
• Twitter John 13pts: Poquelin
• Tea Randomiser 5pts: Albertas Run

2.31 Afternoon all. The afternoon’s two big races coming up here so we should be in for a cracking hour or so.

First up is the 2m5f Ryanair Chase – I’m not sure where the money is going on as all of the top five or six in the market have started to drift over the last few minutes. Poquelin still the favourite at 5/2.

2.24 Colm Murray is hedging a bit on Poquelin as he’s not quite sure if his best form is on the new or old course at Cheltenham. All the races are on the new one today.

But, he reiterates, it’s Ruby’s pick. It’s good enough for me, I must say. There’s ‘something in his waters’ telling him it could be a Ruby Thursday with Pocquelin and Big Bucks a 7-1 double.

In the meantime, Niall has joined us and will take you through the next few races. I’m off for a lie down.

2.14 ‘He’s done it again, He’s done it again, He’s done it again,’ shouts the owners’ wife. Indeed he has.

Powerful run from the 10-year-old to win by four lengths and a head. One back for the British – 10-6. Here’s how it affects the predictions standings:

• TheScore: 18pts
• Uncle Bill: 14pts
• The Newsroom: 14pts
• Twitter John: 13pts
• Tea Randomiser: 5pts

RESULT 1. Buena Vista 2. Son Amix 3. Sivota

2.09 Buena Vista is well out in front and has them stretched…

2.03pm Here’s the next round predictions, for those waiting. They’re just off…

• TheScore 17pts: Sivota
• Uncle Bill 14pts: Don’t Push It
• The Newsroom 13pts: Sivota
• Twitter John 13pts: Chartreux
• Tea Randomiser 5pts: Albertas Run

2pm Colm Murray is in absolutely flying form in the RTE studio. What a legend.

He’s shouting ‘Poquelin’ in a French accent at a bemused Tracey Piggott. Murray says that – he’s informed – Ruby picked the Paul Nicholls-trained horse as his nap when asked at a Cheltenham hostelry last night; he runs in the Ryanair.

1.58pm Next up to the Pertemps Final at 2.05 with Chartreux under Scudamore leading the markets. Ted Walsh picked Don’t Push It as his nap earlier though, remember. That’s possibly a sentimental pick however and AP isn’t going to take two on the trot is he?

Let us know who you fancy.

1.52pm One correspondent has been in contact with a nice little loophole: “Paddy Power have an offer where you get your money back if our horse finishes second to a Ruby Walsh horse in the first four races. The big race of the day is the fourth race,the world hurdle at 3.20 which should be a two horse race between Big Bucks (Walsh’s horse) and Grand Cruz.

“Big Bucks will probably win but it’s worth backing Grand Cruz as he’s the only horse who could beat him and should be at worst second. Therefore if you back Grand Cruz you should, at the very least get your money back and at best you’ll be in clover.

“Disclaimer: Don’t blame me if this theory doesn’t hold up,” he adds.

Do send us your tips!

1.48pm Well that certainly makes things interesting in our predictions game. There’s a rake of drinks riding on this one between the Sports Dept and the NewsRoom. And I hate paying for other people’s pints. Here’s the standings:

• TheScore: 17pts
• Uncle Bill: 14pts
• The Newsroom: 13pts
• Twitter John:13pts
• Tea Randomiser: 5pts

1.39pm Trainer Paul Nolan is breathless in his praise for McCoy: ‘he gave him every chance’. Importantly, that equals Ireland’s best ever showing at the Festival. It’s now 10-5 to the so-called raiders.

RESULT 1. Noble Prince 2. Wishfull Thinking 3.Loosen My Load.

Tony McCoy gets off the mark with an immaculate run, sitting patiently until the last and then cruising past Wishfull Thinking who jumped beautifully throughout – until the ultimate fence.

1.31pm The Guardian’s Barry Glendenning is on course: “Today is busiest betting day of #cheltfest and busiest day crowd-wise, apparently. There’s the roar …they’re off”.

Wishful Thinking is leading this one over the water jump by about four lengths.

1.29pm Here’s the predictions from our lot:

• TheScore 16pts: Loosen My Load
• Twitter John13pts: Blazing Tempo
• Uncle Bill 11pts: Noble Prince
• The Newsroom 10pts: Noble Prince
• Tea Randomiser 2pts: Noble Prince

1.14pm Lee Westwood is suited and booted and ready to go. I hope you realise, I’m wearing something similar – minus the champagne flute.

Thanks to the BBC’s Frank Keogh on Twitter.

It’s a really bright… dare I say, sunny day at Prestbury Park. The runners are getting into position now.

1.10pm Our racing columnist Mark Hobbs picked Sizing Europe as his nap of the day yesterday. How many of you lumped on at 10-1?

Find out who he went for today here. Ted Walsh is backing Don’t Push It on the telly.

1pm We’re into the second half of the Festival already. Where have the days (and euros) gone?

There’s a really action-packed day in store so whether you’re at a parade, in the pub or on the couch, stay with us throughout for all the new, analysis and tips.

We’re less than half an hour from the first race of the day the Jewson Novices’ Chase. Wishfull Thinking is much-fancied – by top tipsters Pat Keane in the Examiner, John McCirick of Channel 4 and Today FM’s John Duggan – so we might have a flutter there at 7-2.

We’ll again run our predictions game throughout – with John today representing you lot from Twitter – and the Newsroom getting yet more competitive. We also expect an even stronger showing from Niall’s Uncle Bill today after he came up on the rails yesterday. Here’s the standings at the moment.

As Ted Walsh said yesterday, ‘there’s plenty of horse’ left in this one yet:

• TheScore: 16pts
• Twitter Julian: 13pts
• Uncle Bill: 11pts
• The Newsroom: 10pts
• Tea Randomiser: 2pts