The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old had to dig deep under jockey Mark Walsh to peg back free-running second-placed Captain Guiness but came through to win by three-quarters of a length.

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.

Model Frankie Herbert, 24, is the granddaughter of Lord 'Porchie' Porchester, the 7th Earl of Carnarvon and a lifelong friend of the Queen. She is the glamorous face of the Cheltenham Festival.

Connections of Douvan remain hopeful of getting the classy two-miler to the Cheltenham Festival for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Irish trainer Willie Mullins says Benie Des Dieux might be the best mare he has trained after she romped home in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park.

Trainer Willie Mullins suffered a triple blow on Friday when he had to rule Saldier, Douvan and Klassical Dream out of next month's Cheltenham Festival.

Racing officials are confident the Cheltenham Festival will go ahead next month despite the disruption to travel caused by the spread of the coronavirus.

Nigel Twiston-Davies hopes Ballyandy can continue his revival by getting the victory former stable star The New One could not manage in his attempts at the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

The killer coronavirus outbreak across the globe has lead to a host of sporting events being cancelled, postponed or placed in serious doubt with the Six Nations among impacted events.

Running the Cheltenham Festival virtually behind closed doors if a spread of the Coronavirus restricts major sporting events is not an option according to the man overseeing the jumps meeting.

Joe Tizzard is confident forgotten horse Lostintranslation can sneak in under the radar and bounce back to his best in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday week.

Relegate will bid to earn both herself and trainer Colm Murphy a return to the Cheltenham Festival winner's enclosure when she lines up for the Pertemps Final next week.

In the first of a look at the big races, SAM TURNER (Robin Goodfellow) starts by looking at some race trends for races on day one and highlights some of the main contenders.

Though Minella Rocco may not be the force of old, he has demonstrated with wins at Warwick and most recently at Wetherby he has the potential for one more big effort at Cheltenham.

SAM TURNER (Robin Goodfellow) continues his analysis of next week's meeting with a look at the big-race contenders and trends for day two.

SAM TURNER (Robin Goodfellow) continues his look at the big race trends and contenders at next week's meeting with a looks at the contenders for day three.

We are less than a week away from the start of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival. In the final part of his preview, SAM TURNER takes a look at the big-race trends and contenders for day four.  

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.

Rachael Blackmore concedes she sometimes takes a step back to reflect on the progress of her career and asks herself: 'Is this really happening?'

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.

Nicky Henderson announced on Sunday morning the brilliant two-miler was lame, after a dormant splint that had never caused a problem to the 10-year-old previously 'reared its ugly head'.

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.

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.

Prolific mare Put The Kettle On showed the boys the way home in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy.

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.

Peter and Autumn Phillips, who announced their split last month, appeared sombre as they arrived for the start of the four-day meet at Cheltenham Racecourse today.

The wait is over. The 2020 Cheltenham Festival has arrived and what a four days we have in store. Follow all the live action from the Gloucestershire track with Sportsmail's KATE McGREAVY.

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.

Racegoers pulled out all the sartorial stops as they arrived at Cheltenham race course in Gloucestershire today for the first day of the annual festival.

The reality star, 30, oozed sophistication in the look which she teamed with a matching pearl-studded fascinator as she arrived for the first day of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.

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

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.

The TOWIE star was the every inch the sophisticated lady when she arrived for the first day of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday alongside pal Vas J Morgan

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. 

Willie Mullins' charge was set to clash with main market rival Defi Du Seuil in Wednesday's two-mile Grade One feature, but has been withdrawn with a vets certificate.

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

Envoi Allen maintained his unbeaten career record with victory in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The second day of the Cheltenham Festival - Ladies Day - is set to be another thrilling one with Tiger Roll trying to secure a fifth win at the course. Follow all the live action with Sportsmail right here.

Cheltenham Festival revellers turned the racecourse into a dancefloor and enjoyed an impromptu party as Ladies' Day came to an end this evening.

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.

Champ emerged from nowhere with 25 yards left in the race to win the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase on day two of Cheltenham Festival.

The Irish DJ and reality star, 34, attended Cheltenham Festival's Ladies Day alongside Good Morning Britain's Charlotte, 44, on Wednesday morning.

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.

Simply The Betts proved that it's simply the best on Thursday with victory in the Stable Plate at Cheltenham Festival. 

The third day of the Cheltenham Festival - St Patrick's Day - is set to be another thrilling one with the mighty Paisley Park in the feature race. Follow the action as it happens right here with Sportsmail.

Glamorous women turned heads in vibrant colours and standout coats as they arrived at Cheltenham Racecourse this morning.

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.

The backing track as Paisley Park faded out of contention in the Stayers' Hurdle was the 'Sound of Silence' in the packed grandstands, but the seven-strong Racing For Fun syndicate didn't care.