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Those withdrawn included Tiger Roll's Cheltenham Gold Cup-bound stablemate Delta Work, Chris's Dream, Missed Approach, the injured Native River and Noble Endeavor.

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.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls views both Politologue and Dynamite Dollars as lively outsiders for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

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 David Pipe is eyeing potential Cheltenham Festival targets for Brinkley after the five-year-old gelding produced an eye-catching performance in landing the West Berkshire Mencap.

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.

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.

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.

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 Nicky Henderson-trained 10-year-old, who is chasing his fifth Festival win, was among the 11 runners left in the £400,000 race at the penultimate declaration.

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.  

EXCLUSIVE BY MARCUS TOWNEND: Jonjo O'Neill Jnr says he wants to win more races than his father, who rode 901 winners during his career between 1969 and 1987.

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.

This week will be big for Paul Townend. But whatever is thrown at him, the new No1 jockey for trainer Willie Mullins is confident he will take it in his stride.

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.

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.

As the coronavirus epidemic continues to take its toll around the world, more and more sporting events are either in doubt, postponed or cancelled altogether as a result.

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

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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

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. 

The Good Morning Britain host today warned the UK was 'at war' with COVID-19 and slammed MPs for failing to take effective measures to stop the disease spreading.