The going remains good to soft on the old course…

The going on the Old Course remains good to soft despite a flurry of sleet and snow early on Wednesday morning.

The Cross-Country Course is also in use on Style Wednesday for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (3.20pm). The going on that course is Good to Soft, Good in places (Soft on the top loop in front of the stands).

Action moves on to the New Course on Thursday (St Patrick's Thursday) and Friday (Gold Cup Day).

Jon Pullin, Cheltenham's Clerk of the Course, said this morning: "We had some fantastic racing yesterday with lots of excitement and are very much looking forward to the same today.

"We had a covering of snow this morning, but it turned to sleet as forecast and that should soon disappear.

"The going for today remains Good to Soft on the Old Course and is Good to Soft, Good in places and Soft on the top loop on the Cross-Country Course.

"We have got seven races today, starting at 1.20 pm with the first six races shown live on ITV. The feature race is the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase."

Galopin Des Champs heads nine Gold Cup declarations

Galopin Des Champs will face eight rivals in his bid to claim a third successive Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

Willie Mullins' star staying chaser has been a dominant force in the staying division, winning back-to-back Boodles Gold Cups alongside his Irish triumphs at Leopardstown.

The Mullins-trained nine-year-old is a general 1/2 chance to become the first horse since the great Best Mate to win three Cheltenham Gold Cups, but will face a new challenger in the shape of Joseph O'Brien's Banbridge, who has been declared for the contest on the back of his success in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The supplemented Inothewayurthinkin, who finished fourth behind Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup last time, will represent owner JP McManus alongside Emmet Mullins' Corbetts Cross.

Lulamba and East India Dock will take each other on in the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle on Friday. The former created a huge impression when winning on his British and stable debut at Ascot, but the latter has edged the ante-post market for James Owen following victories in trial races at this venue.