EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES: Sports events could be restricted to crowds of just 500 people if the coronavirus outbreak continues to escalate, under new emergency plans.

Racing experts Robin Goodfellow, Peter Scudamore, Jane Mangan and Ken Pitterson share their top tips for day one of the Cheltenham Festival featuring the Champion Hurdle.

The maths whizz made sure her wardrobe added up by tastefully teaming a skintight black jumpsuit with a camel coat on day one of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.

Zara Tindall, 38, posed for photos with close friend Dolly Maude as she made her way inside Cheltenham Racecourse for the start of the four-day meet.

Honeysuckle got the better of Benie Des Dieux in an titanic tussle for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham. The horse ridden by Rachel Blackmore won by half a length to the favourite.

The biggest cheer on the opening day of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival was reserved for Rachael Blackmore and Honeysuckle after they won the Grade One Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle.

It's hard to believe anyone appreciated their Festival success more than jockey Brendan Powell on Tuesday.

Racemail tipsters made a superb start with three winners including Epatante in the Champion Hurdle. Robin Goodfellow, Peter Scudamore, Ken Pitterson and Jane Mangan share their tips for day two. 

Aramax saw off a stern challenge from Night Edition to win the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on day two.

Jane Mangan and Formcast (Nigel Taylor) continued their brilliant start to Cheltenham with a host of big-race winners on day two. Our racing experts share their tips for day three.

The pair flashed past the line almost inseparable, but Samcro rallied when he had to and won by barely a whisker - officially a nose - with admirable veteran Faugheen just a length behind in third.

The horse emerged triumphant at the 4.50pm race, well ahead of Dolcita and 100-1 shot Rayna's World in second and third respectively.

Milan Native claimed a length-and-three-quarter success in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase to provide Elliott with a treble on the day.

Sportsmail's racing experts Robin Goodfellow, Peter Scudamore, Ken Pitterson and Jane Mangan share their tips for day four of the Cheltenham Festival featuring the Gold Cup.

SPECIAL REPORT BY KATE MCGREAVY: The Cheltenham Festival is in full swing. But what is all the fuss about? Sportsmail went behind the scenes to find out what makes the annual event so special.

The TV presenter, 44, oozed glamour as she attended day four of the Cheltenham Festival alongside Victoria Pendleton on Friday.

Arriving ahead of the Gold Cup today with his wife Zara Phillips, the Queen's eldest granddaughter, Tindall said: 'Do I feel that cancelling everything is going to solve it? I'm not entirely sure.'

On Tuesday, just days after the Cheltenham Festival had reached a conclusion, it was announced there will be no more racing in Britain until at least the beginning of May.

The racing event came under criticism at the time for allowing thousands of racegoers to huddle together, risking a spread of the virus. Over 250,000 people attended the Cheltenham Festival.

Two of this season's successful Cheltenham Festival riders are maintaining their lockdown fitness by partnering some of Ireland's most choicely bred and speediest thoroughbreds.

We had a 25 hour delay to Mexico, we applied for compensation and were told it was on its way via BACs, then a few days later Thomas Cook folded. Will I get it?

I asked Virgin if it would cancel my partner's phone if I sent it back. It said I couldn't cancel until December 2018 as it was in my name, so I would have to continue to pay for the two phones.

My partner's father died in South Africa and his girlfriend has cut all ties with us after the funeral. We think she may have made of with the inheritance - what can we do?

My hotel wasn't as described but I was told as I paid through a third party on my credit card, I am not liable to claim a refund through the Section 75 rule.

My wealthy mother is engaged to remarry and my siblings and I are worried that if it doesn't work out a large part of our inheritance might be at risk.

Labour promises, such as free broadband and a pensions bailout for women born in the Fifties would eviscerate public finances, destroy our credit rating and lead to a run on the pound.

I have just started a new job and joined the company pension plan. I'd like to take a more active role but I don't know how to find out what I can and can't do and where I should go from there.

Have you bought someone a Christmas present they didn't like, received one you've already got, or bought something in the sales and realised it's not quite right?

The truth is that, in or out of the European Union, the citizens of the United Kingdom often under-estimate all the terrific things we have going for us.

The start of the year often brings with it a raft of new gym membership sign-ups as we try to shift those extra pounds gained over the festive period.

I moved into a property in October and found it had a first generation smart meter installed. When I asked about having it removed, I was told it would cost £150. Can I not have it removed for free?

The recent stock market falls have been the worst since the financial crisis and, just as then, we are in new and sobering territory.

P.S. writes: I am secretary of a not-for-profit charity. ScottishPower for some reason reduced the utility payments for our premises from £748 a month to just £1.

I have an annual train season ticket which cost just over £5,000. However, I now have to work from home until June 2020. Can I get a refund or delay the ticket until I am back to work?

I run three rural pubs which are all closed and may not open again. I cannot afford to keep up my payments. What can I do?

Food sales in the peak week to March 21 jumped by 48 per cent. But the supermarket's general merchandise and clothing business, part of which operates through Argos, has suffered.

JANE FRYER: By the time he was 23, Ronan O'Rahilly had fled his native Ireland for London, was running a successful club in Soho, The Scene and set up a record label.

The comedian, 46, has thanked NHS staff and key workers for taking part in the Amarillo remake as he prepares to reunite with Tony Christie for epic an Big Night In performance on BBC 1.

Joining forces with Who actors past and presenter, the pair will appear in a message for BBC's Big Night In, set to air ahead of the weekly Clap For Carers on Thursday evening.

The BBC's Big Night In kicked off on Thursday evening to raise funds for Children In Need, Comic Relief and the battle against COVID-19.

The One Kiss hitmaker, 24, led the singers in delivering a passionate performance of Foo Fighters' 2003 classic Times Like These for BBC 's fundraiser Big Night In on Thursday.

The Little Britain star, 46, made the remark during an appearance on Friday's edition of Lorraine, as he discussed how he's been in quarantine.

The fitness guru, 33, tried his hand at comedy with a hilarious sketch featuring a lazy pizza ordering PE teacher during BBC's charity fundraising event, Big Night In, on Thursday.

Stars including Oti Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, Amy Dowden and Graziano Di Prima appeared alongside thrilled fans who sent in their own videos dancing to the Dua Lipa Physical.

Postman Darrell Gilmour, 56, from Sheffield, was baffled at first when he saw the vague address along with a rambling description of the intended recipient, David Easson.

AMANDA PLATELL: The most reliable, and dare I say wooden, member of the younger royals stole the show with a comic turn on the BBC's fundraiser The Big Night In.

The gaffe took place on BBC Wales during a live broadcast on Friday and was instantly spotted by eagle-eyed viewers.

Germany's foreign minister Andreas Michaelis has revealed that the country has 40,000 intensive care beds, 30,000 of which could be used with ventilators.

Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall reveals she made a pie with a penis design on it because that's the thing she misses most while in lockdown.

The BBC are remaking Alan Bennett's monologue masterpieces, Talking Heads, recruiting the likes of Jodie Comer and Imelda Staunton.