Vauban doesn’t jump it well and stumbles on the exit but he recovers and kicks on in front of Pied Piper. Fil Dor sticks with them up the hill but Vauban opens up a lead.

Vauban makes a move on the outside with Pied Piper just inside him. They move past Porticello but face competition from Fil Dor who is hanging in well as they approach the last jump.

At the back of the field Ages of Man is falling away as they approach the final three fences. Porticello still has the lead over Fil Dor but the rest of the pack has closed the gap. Vauban hovers in fourth with Pied Piper moving up the field.

Porticello and Fil Dor head towards the second fence with a two length lead over Icare Allen and Vauban. They all make is over the hurdle and the two leaders continue to open up their lead.

The JCB Triumph Hurdle kicks off the final day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. The horses head to the tape and they’re off! Porticello takes an uncontested lead to the first hurdle.

Vauban heads onto the course as the 13/8 favourite with Pied Piper his nearest rival at 3/1. 12 horses run in the opening race of the day.

Knight Salute is a potential outside contender at 16/1.

The opening race looks set to be another winning race for the Irish with Willie Mullins’ Vauban and Gordon Elliott’s Pied Piper the two leading fancies.

Pied Piper, who will be ridden by Jack Kennedy, took the honours at Punchestown on the last day of 2021 but Vauban, ridden by Paul Townend, improved for that run.

He was impressive when winning the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown last month for a first Grade 1 win.

Yesterday’s crowd of 73,754 was the largest ever recorded at Cheltenham, beating the previous high of 71,816 (Friday in 2019).

It’s almost time for the last day of the Cheltenham Festival to get underway. Here’s what we’ve got to look forward on Gold Cup day:

1.30pm - JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m 179y

2.10pm - McCoy Contractors County Hurdle 2m 179y

2.50pm - Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle - 2m 7f 213y

3.30pm - Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase 3m 2f 70y

4.10pm - St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase 3m 2f 70y

4.50pm - Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase 2m 4f 127y

5.30pm - Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 56y