Cheltenham Gold Cup 2019 LIVE results: Race tips, runners, riders, winners, best bets, odds and latest updates as Al Boum Photo wins

Welcome

It's finally here...the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

It's the most contested prize in National Hunt racing and it is the feature race on the final day of The Festival.

Get yourself in the know with all the information on the 16 runners

Going update

The official going for the final day of the Cheltenham Festival is Good to Soft.

Clerk of the Course, Simon Claisse, changed the official going to reflect the weather conditions overnight.

"As anticipated, we've had a dry night," he said. "It was quite breezy so we updated the ground this morning at 6am to Good to Soft all round on both the Chase and Hurdle courses.

"The outlook for today is mostly dry, there may be a little light drizzle, but breezy, so that ground could well dry out throughout during the day.

"It will depend on what rainfall we do have, but i we get as little as is forecast, I think we willl end up with Good to Soft, Good in places at some stage during the afternoon.

"We've opened up fresh ground on the Chase course, which is about seven or eight yards all the way round. The ground looks in superb condition for what should be a fantastic afternoon's racing."

Tips

Yesterday was a very good day for punters and bookmakers estimate that they lost around £50m after four well-fancied horses delivered.

Here's our betting guide for the final day

The king of the jungle and the queen of Cheltenham 

"It's not not quite sunk in"

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Who are we going for in the big one, then? Most punters appear to be venturing into the unknown, here's why.

Weather update

It's freezing and absolutely pelting it down.

It's by far the worst rain we've had this week and that will most probably suit Presenting Percy in the Gold Cup.

Let your personality pick a Gold Cup winner

No really, try it.

Westwood's picks

Golf's Lee Westwood landed £48,200 from a £240 stake on day two at the Cheltenham Festival, so it is no wonder that there is plenty of interest in what he is going for today.

Sir Erec

A lot of people are hoping that Sir Erec can begin the final day with a win, including it's trainer, Joseph O'Brien.

"Obviously he has taken to hurdling well," said O'Brien.

"He ran a nice race first time and improved a good bit to his second run. He'll have to improve again, but we're hopeful he's capable of doing so.

"It's going to be a competitive race - and by far his biggest test so far - and he'll probably have to run a career-best to win it.

"We're very realistic in that sense, but we'd like to think he has a favourite's chance."

Weather update

The weather has not been the best here in Cheltenham this morning. There's been a consistent fall of light rain throughout the day which may see the going change to Soft at some point.