What a Festival.

28 winners have been crowned after four days of highly competitive racing at Prestbury Park.

There's been plenty of shocks and drama, with very few odds-on favourites actually winning their respective races.

But there's no doubt that the standouts are Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend, who take home the Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy and The Gold Cup after respective victories on Lossiemouth and Gaelic Warriror.

We hope you've enjoyed it. Thank you for your company and see you in a couple of weeks for Aintree!

Henry de Bromhead's travelling head girl Zoe Jane Smalley, speaking to Racing TV about the death of Envoi Allen: "Every festival [Zoe travelled with Envoi Allen to Cheltenham].

"Devastating. Lynne [Persson], who looks after him, is absolutely devastated. The lads are home, Davy Roche [Head man at De Bromhead's training yard], all the team at home – you never want to see it happen to a horse.

"He was a really special horse. He was amazing. I'm just pleased that it was quick, painless in a place that he loved."

Gold Cup winning jockey Paul Townend ends the Festival as the most successful overall. He rode four winners and four runners-up from 16 runners.

Harry Skelton was second in the standings with two winners, two second-places and four finishing third. Mark Walsh and James Bowen also rode two winners.

Willie Mullins was far and away the most successful trainer, with eight winners. The next most successful was Nicky Henderson, with three.

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport Journalist

Big-price winners continued on the final day of the Festival as 50-1 shot Apolon De Charnie finished in front of 6-1 Maestro Conti in the Triumph Hurdle.

Trainer Willie Mullins joked to BBC Radio 5 Live: "Only 50-1? Last year was 100-1 [with Poniros] - so disappointing."

Mullins' son Patrick was the winning jockey - and it was not the last success for a father-son duo.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained 14-1 chance Wilful stormed over the line in the County Hurdle, ridden by his son Jonjo Jr.

The younger O'Neill told ITV: "I've had quite a troubled year on and off the track. I've had a lot of support from my mum and dad and brother and to repay them with a win like this means everything."

Mullins claimed his second winner on Friday when 11-8 favourite Dinoblue eased to her second consecutive victory in the Mares' Chase.

In the Novices' Hurdle, Johnny's Jury (20-1) was guided to the win by jockey Gavin Sheehan, while Barton Snow (9-2) won the Hunters' Chase.

One of the big positives of this year is the increase in attendances.

Cheltenham Festival will, no doubt, be glad to see the changes they have made have been effective after three declining years.

Here's to a big 2027 at Prestbury Park.

Image source, Getty Images

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport Journalist

Gaelic Warrior won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in supreme fashion as Harry Redknapp-owned Jukebox Man finished eighth.

Gaelic Warrior, trained by Willie Mullins, went off as the 11-4 joint favourite alongside Jango Baie, but outclassed the field after making the turn for home.

Jockey Paul Townend barely had to move on the impressive winner, who crossed the finish line eight lengths clear of Jango Baie.

The 2025 Gold Cup champion Inothewayurthinkin finished strongly to come third in this year's edition at 8-1.

Winning jockey Townend said after the race he was "fortunate" to be riding Gaelic Warrior, having been due to ride two-time Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs before his withdrawal.

Leigh Boobyer
BBC News, West of England

A third horse has died at this year's Cheltenham Festival after collapsing on the way back to stables following the Gold Cup race.

Envoi Allen, which finished ninth in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase, was, at age 12, the oldest contender in the race. Vets were not able to save the horse.

It follows the deaths of HMS Seahorse on Wednesday and Hansard on Tuesday.

The race was set to be Envoi Allen's last, with its owners Cheveley Park Stud previously confirming he would retire. He was considered a legend by fans of the sport, having won three times at Cheltenham. He was also a 10-time Grade 1 winner.

Emma Slawinski, chief executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "There would be a huge outcry if this death toll happened in any other sport, so we need to start prioritising horse welfare."

The Jockey Club, which runs Cheltenham Festival, has been approached for comment.

1. Air of Entitlement 10-1
2. Hot Fuss 25-1
3. Jump Allen 8-1
4. Kel Histoire 9-2

Andrew Thornton
Gold Cup winning jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live at Cheltenham

You have got to say Air of Entitlement has won with bags in hand.

Gina Bryce
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter at Cheltenham

Unfortunately, Saint Le Fort took a fall at the final obstacle, and he is being attended to by the veterinary professionals.

Charlie Poste
Welsh Grand National winning jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live at Cheltenham

I wonder if Patrick M O'Brien was celebrating that Prestbury Cup win. A fantastic moment for him and Air of Entitlement ran out a good winner in the end.

The 10-1 shot pulled away at the end and was the comfortable winner.

Victory for Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead, meaning Ireland maintain their hold on the Prestbury Cup for the eighth successive year.

De Bromhead was also the trainer of Envoi Allen, who passed away after running the Gold Cup.

Anyone's race over the last...

Air Of Entitlement and Hot Fuss have escaped the pack!

The field is spread down now, 10 abreast as they leap the penultimate hurdle.

Kel Histoire is going backwards a bit.

Charlie Poste
Welsh Grand National winning jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live at Cheltenham

East End Express is running up a blind alley.

Two to go.

Farfromnowhere and Fiercely Proud lead them down the hill.

The favourite, East India Express, is well back at the moment.

One final circuit.

Well-fancied Kel Histoire is currently third.