IT'S the fourth and final day of the 2017 Festival and all eyes will be on this afternoon’s Gold Cup where the Willie Mullins trained Djakadam in the current market leader, writes Oddschecker.

Runner-up in the race for the last two years, the 8yo will be bidding to go one better this year and give his handler his first success in the Gold Cup.

Standing in his way will be the two Colin Tizzard contenders Cue Card and NATIVE RIVER.

The former is one of the most popular horses in training and has amassed over £1million in his career to date including two Festival wins. However, he is now an 11yo and it would be a huge ask to finally land the big one at this stage in his career.

At the other end of the career spectrum is the selection and stablemate Native River. The 7yo hasn’t put a foot wrong all season in landing both the Hennessy Gold Cup and Welsh Grand National, improving with every run. He had the ideal prep when winning Newbury in February and is a proven stayer over further which should prove pivotal coming up the hill after three miles of tough racing.

http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/15:30/winner

Elsewhere today, MASTER BLUEYES ranks a strong each-way bet in the Triumph Hurdle, the opening race of the day. His performance when winning last time at Kempton was extremely impressive, even when you factor in the fall two out from his chief rival on the day Charli Parcs (who re-opposes today).

At 8-1 he rates a cracking bet of finishing in the first three.

http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/13:30/winner

In the Albert Bartlett Gordon Elliott’s Death Duty looks likely to go off favourite after his four straight victories this season. His trainer rates the 6yo as one of the best he has ever had which is high praise from a Gold Cup and Grand National winner.

However, it’s Willie Mullins’ Augusta Kate (part-owned by golfer Lee Westwood) who gets the nod. The 6yo mare was upsides the favourite when falling at the final hurdle last time out and would certainly have gone close. The step up to three miles today should bring out further improvement and the 7lb sex allowance she receives for today’s race could make all the difference.

http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/14:50/winner