CHELTENHAM LIVE: Day one (From Swindon Advertiser)

5:33pm

That just about concludes our coverage today. Temperatures are set to drop to minus six tonight so frost covers will again be deployed, with an inspection at 8am tomorrow. Look out for reports and pictures in tomorrow's Adver.

5:30pm

Rajdhani Express (16-1) triumphed from Ackertac (66-1), Ohio Gold (16-1) and Shangani (6-1).

5:26pm

Henderson confirms Grandouet is 'fine' after earlier fall.

5:24pm

The Druids Nephew was completely run out of it in the end and was outside the top four.

5:21pm

Big group approaching the line. Close finish coming.

5:20pm

The Druids Nephew has a slight lead.

5:19pm

Rajdhani Express is in the top six.

5:17pm

The Druids Nephew in a good position early on.

5:17pm

They get away at the second time of asking.

5:15pm

The race has begun. Oh no it hasn't, false start.

5:10pm

Four minutes until the final race of the day.

5:08pm

The Druids Nephew is second-favourite at 6-1. Big field of 20.

5:07pm

Local interest here is Rajdhani Express (Sam Waley-Cohen for Nicky Henderson) and The Druids Nephew (Tom Scudamore for Broad Hinton trainer Andy Turnell)

5:06pm

Still the Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase to come here at Cheltenham.

4:52pm

It's good day to be a punter and not a bookie.

4:44pm

Une Artiste moves into third.

4:43pm

Swincombe Flame leads now.

4:41pm

Une Artiste in the middle of the pack.

4:41pm

Epee Celeste has taken it out.

4:40pm

And they're off.

4:38pm

Quevega has won this race four times before, though, so the favourite tag is well-earned.

4:33pm

Henderson has one runner in this in the form of Une Artiste, ridden by Barry Geraghty, who could potentially give Quevega a problem. We shall see.

4:33pm

The next race us the OLBG Mares' Hurdle with Quevega the favourite at 8-11.

4:27pm

I'm reliably informed that former Swindon Town striker Simon Cox is in attendance today.

4:20pm

Henderson's Khyber Kim finished sixth but generally speaking it was a miserable Champion Hurdle for our local contingent.

4:04pm

Hurricane Fly (13-8F) wins the Champion Hurdle piloted by Ruby Walsh, second is Rock on Ruby (11-2) with Countrywide Flame (16-1) third and Zarkander (7-2) fourth.

4:03pm

Balder Succes has also gone.

4:03pm

Grandouet has fallen.

4:02pm

Rock on Ruby leads from Zarkandar.

4:02pm

Grandouet fourth.

4:01pm

Hutchinson close to the back early on.

4:00pm

And the Champion Hurdle has begun.

4:00pm

It really is wide open this year.

3:58pm

A couple of minutes and then the Champion Hurdle will be underway.

3:57pm

Grandouet is certainly one to watch, as is Binocular, who won this race in 2010 having come back from injury.

3:52pm

Balder Succes is 80-1.

3:50pm

Can Hutchinson follow up 10th at 16-1 in the JLT with a higher finish in the Champion Hurdle? For the record, Henderson's horses were well out of the reckoning.

3:42pm

There's nine runners in this race, which include the Paul Nicholls-trained Zarkander.

3:39pm

Next up is the Champion Hurdle, the feature race of the day. There is plenty of local interest: Balder Succes (Wayne Hutchinson for Alan King), Binocular (AP McCoy for Nicky Henderson), Grandouet (Barry Geraghty for Nicky Henderson), Khyber Kim (Paddy Brennan for Nicky Henderson)

3:26pm

But he wil finish in the middle of the pack.

3:24pm

Cloudy Too is picking his way through the field.

3:22pm

We've lost a couple from the race already including Knockara Beau.

3:20pm

Hutchinson near the back early on.

3:20pm

The race is underway.

3:12pm

Cloudy Too is 16-1 in the JLT.

3:02pm

Plenty of local interest in the third race of the afternoon, the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase. Wayne Hutchinson rides Cloudy Too while Nicky Henderson has two runners in Nadiya De La Vega and Quantativeeasing.

2:46pm

Baily Green (33-1) gave it a good go at the end but Simonsig just had too much, leaving the former in second some two-and-a-quarter lengths behind. His Excellency (80-1) was third with Overturn fading to fourth.

2:43pm

Overturn hits fence hard and Simonsig takes over. He's streaking away.

2:43pm

Simonsig hits a fence hard but gets away with it. He's now second.

2:41pm

Overturn leads with Simonsig third early on.

2:41pm

The 13-fence race is underway.

2:38pm

Simonsig's rival will be Overturn for what is one of the most eagerly-awaited races of the Festival.

2:32pm

Next up, Henderson's charge Simonsig in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase.

2:18pm

Meanwhile, the cross-country course has been deemed unraceable and will now take place on Thursday.

2:09pm

My Tent or Yours was boxed on the inside on the turn but now they sprint for the finish.

2:08pm

My Tent or Yours still in contention in third.

2:08pm

Tightly-packed field at the fourth jump.

2:06pm

My Tent Or Yours third early on. Champagne Fever leads.

2:06pm

And they're off.

2:05pm

We are moments away from the start of racing at Cheltenham.

1:54pm

Also running for Henderson in the Novices' Hurdle is the AP McCoy-piloted River Maigue, who doesn't appeared to be fancied all that much by punters at 16-1.

1:52pm

Henderson is of course the most successful Cheltenham trainer of all time having surpassed Fulke Walwyn's winning record last year. I fancy he'll have a few more this year as well.

1:50pm

The parade is taking place right now...

1:47pm

Nicky Henderson's My Tent Or Yours is the 15-8 favourite in the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle (grade one), which begins at 2.05pm.

1:46pm

You can feel the atmosphere building here with the first race coming up in 20 minutes. A quick walk around and everyone is buzzing. Plenty of people gathered at the parade ring waiting in anticipation.

1:45pm

A minor wi-fi scare here at Cheltenham but now we're back up and running.

1:20pm

The going today is soft, good to soft in places. Away from track conditions, it's absolutely freezing.

1:20pm

We are 45 minutes away from today's opening race.

1:03pm

TODAY'S RACES INCLUDING LOCAL TRAINERS AND RIDERS

2.05pm - William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle (grade one) - My Tent Or Yours (AP McCoy for Nicky Henderson), River Maigue (AP McCoy for Nicky Henderson)

2.40pm - Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (grade one) - Simonsig (Barry Geraghty for Nicky Henderson)

3.20pm - JLT Specialty Handicap Chase (grade three) - Cloudy Too (Wayne Hutchinson for Suzy Smith), Nadiya De La Vega (AP McCoy for Nicky Henderson), Quantativeeasing (Barry Geraghty for Nicky Henderson)

4pm - Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (grade one) - Balder Succes (Wayne Hutchinson for Alan King), Binocular (AP McCoy for Nicky Henderson), Grandouet (Barry Geraghty for Nicky Henderson), Khyber Kim (Paddy Brennan for Nicky Henderson)

4.40pm Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (cross country, grade one) - no local interest

5.15pm - OLBG Mares' Hurdle (grade two) - Une Artiste (Barry Geraghty for Nicky Henderson)

5.45pm Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase (listed) – Rajdhani Express (Sam Waley-Cohen for Nicky Henderson), The Druids Nephew (Tom Scudamore for Andy Turnell)

12:55pm

12:54pm

Today's feature race, the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy, is now due off at 4pm. Local involvement is as follows: Balder Success (Wayne Hutchinson for Alan King), Binocular (AP McCoy for Nicky Henderson), Grandouet (Barry Geraghty for Nicky Henderson), Khyber Kim (Paddy Brennan for Nicky Henderson)

12:44pm

WAYNE HUTCHINSON, WHO GOES IN THE JLT SPECIALTY HANDICAP CHASE AND THE STAN JAMES CHAMPION HURDLE CHALLENGE TROPHY TODAY

“Cheltenham is the pinnacle of the year.

“It’s an exciting time and where every jump jockey wants to be this time of year. It’s just great to be a part of it.

“Last year went a bit flat for me (he had two fallers) but Cheltenham can be a bit like that.

“It can be a place where you can lose yourself a bit sometimes, it either goes for you or it doesn’t.”

12:37pm

12:29pm

Have you made the trip to Cheltenham? Who are your tips for today? Tweet us on #racingadver or leave your comments below. The best tips will be included in this liveblog and you should also feel free tell us about your winnings and near-misses.

12:27pm

I've run through the six races this afternoon and there is local involvement in five of them, so there is plenty to get your teeth into over the next five or six hours.

12:16pm

The likes of Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson and Swindon jockey Wayne Hutchinson are involved this afternoon so make sure you follow their progress later.

12:02pm

The opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is go despite concerns over the cold conditions. The first race has been delayed by 35 minutes and is due off at 2.05pm, which is the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle.