Dual winner Altior's run in Wednesday's Queen Mother Champion Chase is in doubt after he was lame on Sunday morning. Trainer Nicky Henderson said he will do all he can to get Altior to the race.

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.

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES: ITV are in danger of losing the live rights to televise horse racing as the broadcaster are refusing to guarantee will be shown on their main channel.

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.

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'.

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

Imperial Aura saw off a good challenge from Galvin to win the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase.

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 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.

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

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charge was set to clash with main market rival Defi Du Seuil in Wednesday's two-mile Grade One feature, but has been withdrawn with a vets certificate.

Champ's breathtaking finish to win the RSA Novice's Chase at Cheltenham left social media dumbfounded after the horse emerged from third 25 yards from the finish to take the win. 

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

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 2-1 shot, ridden by Paul Townsend, held off the challenge of Saint Calvados to secure the victory, with A Plus Tard rounding off the top three.

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.

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.

Zara and Mike Tindall beamed and stood with their arms wrapped around each other as they posed for photos at the start of a final day of fun at the Cheltenham Festival.

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.

If anyone doubted whether Paul Townend had the ability and the nerve to take over from the most successful jockey in Cheltenham Festival history, they know now.

Jamie Moore said he was still 'distraught' on Friday after the cruel episode in which he was unseated from Goshen with the Triumph Hurdle in the bag on the last day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The 28-year-old looked sensational when she stepped out on Saturday night for a date night with her beau who is back in London.

The Little Mix star, 28, took to Instagram on Wednesday night to admit that she doesn't have abs and that her taut torso is created by 'breathing in'.

The 30-year-old is self-isolating at home and has had no contact with his family since Saturday evening, when he started suffering from coronavirus-like symptoms.

SPORTS AGENDA: It would appear to have been a week of cock-ups by sporting authorities. UEFA sent out a tweet announcing that it would still be 'Euro 2020' next year, before backtracking. 

Andrew Parker Bowles has revealed he has coronavirus and believes he contracted it at the Cheltenham Festival (pictured, the Duchess of Cornwall's ex-husband with Princess Anne).

The world-famous Cheltenham racing festival in Gloucestershire went ahead last month despite fears over the spread of the virus which was then in its early stages in Britain.

Cheltenham Festival organisers have defended their decision to go ahead with the meeting after fears were raised that the mass gathering of people helped spread the coronavirus

Cheltenham Festival went ahead two weeks before the lockdown, but there was a debate at the time if it should be scrapped after other sporting events were called off.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 25, looked summery as she soaked up the spring sunshine in a white cropped crochet cardigan.

IAN HERBERT: Looking back now, those last few innocent days in the Cotswolds seem extraordinary - faintly comical you might even say, were it not for the gravity of all that followed.

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'.

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 have had my Barclays accounts since 2014, when I was a student, before moving to Gibraltar. My balances of almost £25,000 have been wiped clean by the bank, without notice.

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.

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.

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 wife and I booked return flights from Luton to Tenerife with Ryanair for September. The cost was £369.24, plus £30 for reserved seats. On July 26 I was hit by a golf ball and suffered an eye injury.

My 22-year-old son graduated university last July and recently received his loan statement through the post. If I pay off the debt and he instead owes me the money what route could I go down?

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.

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

I bought a new Jaguar for £60,000 in 2017. In May this year I was involved in an accident. The garage gave an initial estimate for repairs of £25,563, but said there were likely to be further costs.

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.

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.

My Tesco credit card has been blocked since January. I am a deaf lip-reader so cannot contact the bank by phone. I wrote asking if we could communicate by different means but was refused.

My wife and I have been foster carers for more than 11 years. In 2017 we fostered a teenage girl for three months. In July I discovered she had stolen two credit cards - Barclaycard and Creation.