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

Those withdrawn included Tiger Roll's Cheltenham Gold Cup-bound stablemate Delta Work, Chris's Dream, Missed Approach, the injured Native River and Noble Endeavor.

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.

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.

Henry De Bromhead-trained Honeysuckle had been as short as 4-1 to add the Champion Hurdle to her success in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.

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.

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.

The Love Island star, 27, has revealed he's been rushed to A&E with suspected kidney stones ahead of his upcoming hosting stint with ITV at this year's Cheltenham 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Willie Mullins got off the mark for the week at the Cheltenham Festival when Ferny Hollow downed better-fancied stablemate Appreciate It in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

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 Champions League and Europa League could be suspended as UEFA consider action to combat the spread of coronavirus after domestic football in Italy and Spain was shut.

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

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. 

An estimated 70,000 racegoers are expected to flock to Cheltenham Racecourse (pictured) as PM Boris Johnson continues to refuse banning mass gatherings to combat coroanvirus.

The Smile singer, 34, looked effortlessly chic in a long tartan trench coat and a pair of black trousers.

The festival has gone ahead despite fears of the deadly virus which has decimated this weekend's Premier League football and international rugby fixtures.

Willie Mullins revealed his delight after Al Boum's Gold Cup success saw him win his first four races at Cheltenham Festival on Friday. His incredible feat would've commanded odds of 2179/1.

The reality star, 25, was effortlessly chic in a stylish tartan cape as she watched on the races from the balcony with Ollie, 32.

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. 

The Made In Chelsea star, 25, explained that her dog can't walk on the floor as he's not had his second lot of vet jabs due to the UK coronavirus lockdown.

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).

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.

Racing has faced criticism for staging Cheltenham just before the coronavirus shutdown, but the sport should be 'proud' if it is the first to re-start when restrictions are eased by the Government..

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.

67-year-old landlord Alexander Grierson died after contracting coronavirus during the Cheltenham festival. Calls are being made to investigate why the races went ahead.

The sport has held discussions with figures in the Government about resuming action, and BHA chief Nick Rust has claimed racing is 'ready to go' whenever they are given the green light.

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