Time to sign off from Cheltenham for another year.I’ll leave you with Greg Wood’s report from trackside.Thanks for joining me, and enjoy your weekends.Just look at all the sport you can follow on the Guardian website this weekend.Look!So after a week of drama, controversy and strong words off the course, today felt a little more like business as usual – particularly with Mullins claiming three winners, including the Gold Cup, 24 hours after firing thinly-veiled threats at the racecourse.

There was still a shock in the Triumph Hurdle with a 50-1 success, and Gaelic Warrior’s Gold Cup win was surprising in its sheer dominance.The last word goes to Envoi Allen, though: his death casts a long shadow on the final day.There was no Gold Cup glory for Harry Redknapp today, but could he be switching back to football management? He’s not ruling it out, as Sean Ingle writes.Willie Mullins is the champion trainer with eight wins this week, plus six second places.Nicky Henderson has three victories, with Dan Skelton, Henry De Bromhead and Jonjo O’Neill claiming two each.

It’s the eighth successive year Mullins has topped the standings.Paul Townend is the festival’s leading jockey once again, riding four winners with another four second places.Harry Skelton, Mark Walsh and James Bowen all won two races each.It’s Townend’s sixth success in seven years, with Rachael Blackmore topping the leaderboard in 2021.James Given, the BHA director of equine health and welfare, has spoken about procedures after the death of Envoi Allen.

“All the horses are looked at and passed fit to come down the walkway back into the parade ring, and just as he got to the bottom he had what is almost certainly a very acute cardiovascular collapse,” said Given.“It happened very quickly, the vets were immediately with him but he was passing very quickly.Horses who haven’t been racing for a while might be subject to more investigation, but he’d already won a Grade One over three miles this season.“He had the normal pre-race examination this morning, he had his heart listened to, he was trotted up, his limbs were checked.Everything was normal as you’d expect.

“There’ll be a fatality review process which happens every time there is a fatality on the racecourse,We will examine what has happened, but I think it is fairly straightforward,”Our photographer Tom Jenkins has been at Cheltenham all of this week; here are his favourite snaps,That also means the Prestbury Cup goes to Ireland again, by a margin of 15-13,It’s a sixth straight win for Irish trainers, but by the closest margin since a tie in 2019.

Cheltenham 5.20 result1 Air Of Entitlement (Patrick M O’Brien) 10-12 Hot Fuss (Joe Anderson) 25-13 Jump Allen (Anna McGuinness) 8-14 Kel Histoire (Michael Kenneally) 9-224 ran.Also: 4-1 Fav East India ExpressA win for Patrick O’Brien and trainer Henry De Bromhead, and a poignant one after the sad death of Envoi Allen earlier today.Air of Entitlement has just too much for Hot Fuss down the rail, and Jump Allen coming through in third place.Martin Pipe: Still plenty with a chance as the field spreads out.

Roc Dino in contention on the outside, but Hot Fuss takes the lead with Air of Entitlement giving chase …Martin Pipe: Kel Histoire is third in the McManus colours, but East India Express needs a nudge.Hot Fuss has recovered well and is pushing the leaders …Martin Pipe: They let them go after a five-minute delay, with Farfromnowhere and Fiercely Proud leading the way.Hot Fuss is near the back – bad news for Killers fans.Martin Pipe: We’re still waiting, with the 24-strong field asked to turn again.There are still a few horses unsettled at the back of the pack.

They’re off and running in our closing race, the Martin Pipe – or not, as a week of iffy starts concludes with a messy false start.Ireland lead the Prestbury Cup standings by 14-13, so British trainers can earn a tie if one can win this final race.Time for one more race before we close the book on another Cheltenham festival.It’s the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.5.

20 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap HurdleKel Historie – 4/1 East India Express – 6/1 Jump Allen – 9/1 Act Of Authority – 11/1 Roc Dino – 11/1 Air Of Entitlement – 12/1 Wendrock – 12/1 Karl Des Tourelles – 12/1 Fiercely Proud – 16/1 Andashan – 16/1 Bar 16/15,20 Market MoversEast Indian Express (10/1 into 11/2) Act of Authority (14/1 into 12/1) Fiercely Proud (20/1 into 14/1)Odds via Oddschecker, Market Movers from Midnite,“All credit goes to the trainer [JJ O’Shea], and I’ve got a great horse here,” says Henry Crow, after finding out AP McCoy rated his effort the best winning ride of the entire festival,“He rode like God,” says AP,High praise indeed.

Cheltenham 4.40 result1 Barton Snow (Mr H Crow) 9-22 Its On The Line (Mr D O’Connor) 7-2 Fav3 Music Drive (Miss Ellie Callwood) 33-123 ran.Also: 16-1 Golden Son 4thNon Runner: 24A nicely-timed run from jockey Henry Crow, keeping enough in the tank to outlast Its On The Line in a two-horse battle down the straight.Hunters’ Chase: Its On The Line takes the lead from Barton Snow, with Panda Boy, Golden Son and Music Drive in contention.Barton Snow has the edge over the last …Hunters’ Chase: Its On The Line is going well on the outside – apologies, not pulled up after all – although Stattler and Paul Marvel have been tailed off.

Three to go …Hunters’ Chase: The grey Panda Boy leads a group on the outside, with Gracchus De Balme still leading Barton Snow on the rail.Ten fences to jump …Hunters’ Chase: Gracchus De Balme the early leader, the field fairly spread out early on.Barton Snow in behind, while Stattler has struggled to settle.It’s time for the penultimate race of the week – the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase.Or Hunters’ Chase for short.

Harry Redknapp: “He [The Jukebox Man] was travelling well until the second last, [but] I think he’s got a little wind problem we need to sort out.No excuses though, the winner was fantastic.It’s been a great week, this would have been the icing on the cake, but I won the King George! Ben Jones and Ben Pauling have been terrific with him.”Never mind Harry – it’ll all be forgotten on Monday when you’re back in the Spurs job.The death of any horse after a race is tragic, and there were two fatalities earlier this week: HMS Seahorse and Hansard.

It’s inevitable Envoi Allen will cast a greater shadow, as a three-time winner here and a Cheltenham great.The fact he was set for retirement makes it all the more cruel, and might raise questions over the decision for him to run.Now we hear from some of the Gold Cup defeated jockeys, with Sean Bowen saying Haiti Couleurs “didn’t travel at all.” Nico de Boinville is content with second on Jango Baie after a brilliant ride from Townend, while France’s Clement Lefebvre had a “fantastic day” despite finishing seventh on Gold Tweet.Sadly, the worst news is confirmed: Envoi Allen has died, having collapsed after running in the Gold Cup.

4.40 Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ ChaseIts On The Line – 4/1 Panda Boy – 4/1 Cons Roc – 6/1 Wonderwall – 15/2 Barton Snow – 8/1 Solitary Man – 14/1 Golden Son – 16/1 Stattler – 16/1 Willitgoahead – 18/1 Wrappedupinmay – 22/1Bar 22/14.40 Market MoversBarton Snow (8/1 into 10/3)Panda Boy (11/2 into 4/1)Odds from Oddschecker, Market Movers via Midnite.Some troubling news to report: Envoi Allen collapsed on the way back to the paddock after that race, and is being treated behind green screens.More news when we get it, here’s hoping he is OK; this Gold Cup was supposed to be his final race before retirement.

Cheltenham 4.00 result1 Gaelic Warrior (Paul Townend) 11-4 Jt Fav2 Jango Baie (N de Boinville) 11-4 Jt Fav3 Inothewayurthinkin (Mark Walsh) 11-1 10 ranAlso: 16-1 Grey Dawning 4th.Non Runner: 10It’s also a Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup double for Paul Townend, and both on late replacements.It’s his fifth Gold Cup victory, and his 42nd career win at the festival.Few can have been more satisfying: he kept a keen horse in check and found his line at the perfect time to win by a huge distance.

A fifth Gold Cup win for Mullins – tying the record set by Tom Dreaper, Arkle’s trainer – but a first for owner Rich Ricci, who also won the Champion Hurdle with Lossiemouth on Tuesday,“I’ve been trying to win this race for 21 years,” he says,“I was crying from the second last and I haven’t stopped,I love this sport, long may it last,”The winning trainer, Willie Mullins: “Delighted for [owners] the Riccis, and for Paul … can you imagine what was going through my mind at the last fence? The way he did it, he got everything right and put in a tremendous round of jumping.

Fantastic.”Paul Townend: “I’m speechless … we were dealt a blow with Galopin Des Champs being out … Patrick put in a lot of work on this horse, I’m just fortunate to be on his back today.I got the position I wanted, and he just ran away with it.I just had to stay on him!”It’s a dominant victory for Gaelic Warrior, ridden home by Paul Townend for Willie Mullins.Jango Bair holds off a late surge from Inothewayurthinkin, while The Jukebox Man fades on the final run in.

Gold Cup: Gaelic Warrior accelerates away, and only the last fence can stop him now … he’s over it safely, and romps even further clear down the home straight!Gold Cup: Over the last ditch and the leaders stay in formation, but Jango Baie and Gaelic Warrior make moves to the outside and Haiti Couleurs stretches over a fence.Two to jump, and Gaelic Warrior is making a charge …Gold Cup: With 10 to jump, Haiti Couleurs turns up the pace, but the other contenders behind are still moving along nicely.Grey Dawning makes a mistake but recovers to stay second …Gold Cup: L’Homme Presse joins Inothewayurthinkin in dropping to the back, and the defending champion makes another error over a fence.Haiti Couleurs leads a group of five at the front, with The Jukebox Man, Grey Dawning, Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie close behind.Gold Cup: Grey Dawning moves into second, with The Jukebox Man in third on the outside.

Jango Baie is ticking along behind Gaelic Warrior …Gold Cup: Gaelic Warrior edges in front early, but as the pace slows, Haiti Couleurs takes up the running.Inothewayurthinkin is labouring slightly at the back …Gold Cup: The sun comes out for the big race, and they get away first time, the starter letting them go from a long way back …Dark clouds, blue sky and even a rainbow over the hills as the 10 runners make their way to the start.Gaelic Warrior looked a little unsettled in the paddock; the tension is palpable, a packed grandstand hushed to a whisper.Harry Redknapp: “This is just as nerve-wracking as football … at least there, you can change things at half-time! It’s all systems go, but it’s a tough race, anyone has a chance.Every jump, I’ll jump with him.

”Would he take over at Spurs? “I would, but I doubt it’ll happen! I’d go in and have a crack, it’s a big challenge,Do I need the pressure at my age? I’m not too old, I feel fit as a fiddle,If they ask me, I could do a job,Kranjcar, Defoe and Crouchy are all coming back too!”