Cheltenham Gold Cup 2021: runners including Rachael Blackmore, what time is it – and odds for today’s race

Today (19 March) is the final day of the Cheltenham festival, and it could be a historic day for one race horse - Al Boum Photo.

The Golden Cup is considered the crowning glory of the four-day festival, with 12 horses expected to race.

Despite there being no crowds at the races this year, due to continued coronavirus restrictions, the horses and jockeys have been on top form throughout the past four days.

So, when is the race, and who is favourite to win? This is everything you need to know about the Gold Cup line-up.

What time is the Gold Cup?

The Gold Cup’s final race, the Steeple Chase, is scheduled for 3.05pm today (Friday 19 March).

This year it is sponsored by local charity WellChild - an organisation which works to support children with exceptional care needs to be cared for at home.

The final day of racing will be as scheduled:

1.20pm - The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)

1.55pm - The County Handicap Hurdle Race (Grade 3)

2.30pm - The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)

3.05pm - The WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1)

3.40pm - The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Steeple Chase

Is the Gold Cup on television?

ITV and Racing TV will have live coverage of the event.

Racing TV will have coverage of all the day’s races, and can be found on channel 426 on Sky, and 536 on Virgin Media.

The Steeple Chase will also be available to listen to on talkSPORT and BBC Radio 5.

Who is favourite to win the Gold Cup 2021?

French-born gelding Al Boum Photo, trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins, is expected to gallop away with it’s third Cheltenham Gold Cup win.

The eight-year-old horse will make history as only the fourth horse to achieve this level of Cheltenham success. Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate are also three-time winners.

Al Boum Photo won in 2019 and 2020, making this year’s race an opportunity for three successive Cheltenham titles.

What other horses are in the running?

Irish jockeys are in the running to take the cup, as Rachael Blackmore looks to round off a show stopping week with her horse, A Plus Tard.

She became the first woman in the saddle to take the Champion Hurdle, one of the championship races.

Blackmore is third in the Gold Cup odds, closing in on expected second-place contender, Champ.

Gold Cup odds

Al Boum Photo 11/4

Champ 9/2

A Plus Tard 5/1

Royale Pagaille 9/1

Santini 12/1

Minella Indo 12/1

Kemboy 12/1

Native River 14/1

Frodon 14/1

Lostintranslation 25/1

Aso 66/1

Black Op 100/1

All odds are subject to change.