Cheltenham Gold Cup: Everything you need to know including odds, runners and riders

The Gold Cup is the highlight of the Cheltenham Festival. The first Gold cup was held in 1819. It is a three-mile flat race with 22 fences to be jumped. Arkle won three consecutive Gold Cups from 1964 to 1966. This year the festival runs from Tuesday March 10 to Friday March 13. Last year Al Boum Photo's handlers received the original Gold trophy for the first time in almost 50 years. The trophy is on display at the racecourse.

Golden Miller won five successive Gold Cups between 1932 and 1936. He didn't win in 1931 or 1937 because of weather problems. In 1938 he came second to Morse Code.

In 2011 Kauto Star won the Long Run for the first time. K auto star won in 2007 and Denman finished second twice. In 2009 K Auto Star reversed the finishing order and forced Denmann into the runners up spot.

Last year's Gold Cup attracted 71,816 people. The total attendance for the four days was 266,779.

Pat Taafe is the most successful jockey to ride in the Gold Cup. He rode Arkle to all three of his victories in 1964, 1965 and 1966 and piloted Fort Leney to victory in 1968. Taafa rode 32 winners at Cheltenham, including five Champion Chases and four Gold Cups.

Best Mate won three Gold Cups in succession in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He was denied a potential four in a row when he was withdrawn from the 2005 race.

Roger Burford rode Poet Prince in the 1941 Gold Cup. He posted a winning time of six minutes and 15 seconds.

Arkle's owner Tom Dreaper won five Gold Cups with three horses. Prince Regent won in 1946, Arkle in 1968 and Fort Leney in 1989.

Arkle's 1/10 favouritism in 1966 was the shortest priced winner ever. Norton's Coin started at 100/1 in 1990.

Al Boum Photo is the favourite to win the Gold Cup. Paul Townend is 7/2.

Bristol De Mai is 2nd and Daryl Jacob is 28th.

Chris's Dream is 3rd, Aidan Coleman is 25th.

Clan Des Obeaux are 4th in the form, while Harry Cobden is 8th.

5. Delta Work 11/2 Mark Walsh. Form: 13-1411.

Elegant Escape is 6th favourite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Jonjo O'Neill Jnr. is the second favourite.

7. Kemboy 10/1 Patrick Mullins.

The winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup will be announced on Sunday.

Monalee is 9th, Rachael Blackmore is 25th and form is 214-P32.

Percy is 10th favourite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Davy Russell is 14th favorite.

11. Real Steel 66/1 Brian Hughes. Form: 2-1141P.

12 Santini 5/1 Nico de Boinville.