The Willie Mullins-trained gelding looked a superstar in the making after going through his novice season over fences unbeaten in five starts - a campaign which featured four Grade One wins,

The seven-year-old, who won the Grade One Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, runs for the first time this season in the Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on Friday.

Jockey Robbie Power made all the running on the Colin Tizzard-trained gelding to draw eight lengths clear of runner-up Ribble Valley. Master Debonair has shown improved form.

Thyme Hill completed his hat-trick in the Grade One Challow Novices' Hurdle late last month and is set to head straight to the showpiece meeting in the Cotswolds.

Zara, 38, donned a navy coat, with a Jockey Club brooch, and a grey fedora hat for the Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham Racecourse. The mother-of-two is a regular visitor to the racecourse.

Henderson committed Shishkin to the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on the opening day of next month's Cheltenham Festival after he brushed aside proven performers on Thursday.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has admitted his preference would be to direct in-form Cyrname straight to the Grade One Melling Chase at Aintree's Grand National meeting in April.

Solo is 3-1 favourite for the Triumph Hurdle after sweeping to a 13-length demolition job from Fujimoto Flyer in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton for trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Harry Cobden.

Popular chaser Un De Sceaux has been retired after sustaining a career-ending injury. The Willie Mullins-trained 12-year-old was found to have a ligament injury after working on Thursday.

Popular chaser Un De Sceaux has been retired after sustaining a ligament injury.

Trainer Willie Mullins opted to add the eight-year-old to the field after Cilaos Emery landed with an easy victory in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran last month.

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.

INTERVIEW BY MARCUS TOWNEND: The days when Knight had winners at the Cheltenham Festival are history but that doesn't mean she won't have a huge influence on the biggest jumps meeting

The latest case of coronavirus, the third in Gloucestershire, was diagnosed over the weekend and then announced hours before the start of the four-day fixture Festival.

Ruby Walsh is content. Happy he is going to the Cheltenham Festival and comfortable his contribution will be only from behind a microphone.

Horse racing fans from across the UK will have their eyes on the Cheltenham Festival as the hotly-anticipated four-day meet kicks off today. Here, some of the famous faces you might see.

We have our first winner at this year's Cheltenham Festival following the conclusion of the curtain-raiser in the shape of the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Ravenhill held off the challenge of Lord Du Mesnil in the final straight to win National Hunt Challenge Cup on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival.

Up to 70,000 spectators (pictured, packed stands today) are expected to attend the first day of the annual horse racing festival with fans travelling from across Britain to the Gloucestershire course.

Dame De Compagnie, ridden by Barry Geraghty, has won the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Wrapping up warm from the British spring, the Queen's eldest granddaughter, 38, wore a houndstooth, knee-length coat dress, which she paired with maroon accessories.

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.

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

It Came To Pass caused a mighty 66-1 upset in the St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup at Cheltenham. It was a family affair, as the winner is trained in County Cork by Eugene O'Sullivan.

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.

David Hunter, professor of population health at Oxford, condemned the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' attitude among ministers, while scientists have repeatedly pressed the 'panic button'.

NHS figures show the local hospital trust in Gloucestershire has had 125 patients die from COVID-19, nearly double the amount recorded in Bristol, 58, Swindon, 67, and Bath, 46.

Cheltenham Festival went ahead just 10 days before lockdown measures were introduced by the government and experts want an inquiry to see if it caused a spike in positive tests in Gloucestershire.

My booking with OK Rent a Car at Malaga Airport included Collision Damage Waiver. But the agent told me my CDW was useless, and I needed to pay another €84 (about £75).

The cost of my car insurance with More Than increased dramatically to £325. On a comparison site, I found More Than cover for £214. I chose this and paid by credit card.

I was diagnosed with a rare and incurable form of blood cancer that put me out of work two years ago, can I claim Employment Support Allowance or get any other help?

Falkirk Council has decided to upgrade my block, there are four flats in the block and as I am the home owner it has been assessed that my share will be £14,000.

I bought an iPad from John Lewis in 2017. I started having problems, so they suggested I send it back. Unfortunately the company keeps sending reconditioned replacements.

I decided to cancel my contract with Virgin Media and sign up to broadband with Plusnet. However, after this, I received a letter from Virgin saying I owe them nearly £100. What can I do?

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) claims that I have received untaxed interest of £2,640 from Secure Trust Bank and owe £300 income tax.

Our Consumer Fightback columnist is here to help you get a fair deal, but sometimes we get it wrong on what we think we are entitled to. Here are some common examples of misconceptions.

When you're making a complaint to a company, knowing your consumer law is important. This is what you need to know about what covers you now.

I booked a free cancellation hotel on Hotels.com which said no deposit would be taken. However, money was taken from my account as 'pre-authorisation'. Is the website in the wrong?

My husband died in September 2016, after putting his affairs in order. In February 2017, Interactive Investor was instructed to transfer my late husband's shares Isa to mine.

I took my dog Oliver George to the vet to have his nails clipped - but during treatment, his dewclaw was pulled leaving him needing surgery.

The Financial Conduct Authority was always going to be a bed of nails for Bank of England governor aspirant Andrew Bailey - and so it has proved.

Black Friday might be over-hyped, but there are still some great deals to be had. So if you are tempted, what should you look out for and what are your rights?

My ex moved out nine years ago but Sky refused to change the name of our TV and broadband account even though it changed the payment details. I am now moving. What can I do?

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.

On September 5, I tried to buy Premium Bonds for my new granddaughter. I went online, filled out the forms and paid by debit card. I was then asked to upload documents relating to the child's birth.

I belonged to the Eze Group timeshare scheme before the owners were jailed. I have now been told Spanish courts have seized €1.3million (£1.1million) from Eze, to be repaid to members.

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.

In just the past ten days I've battled with my home insurer after the price of my policy was hiked by 30 per cent for no reason, chased my old energy supplier for a £174 refund.