Racing: Britain enjoys thrilling four-day punting fest

The dawn of racing's greatest jumps extravaganza, the Cheltenham Festival, is captured in this shot of two participants exercising on the course. Photo / AP

A remarkable feast of racing lies ahead in Britain over the next four days but it is rare a Cheltenham Festival should have so many subplots.

It all kicks off today with the most eagerly awaited Champion Hurdle in a decade and Quevega's attempt to win the Mares' Hurdle for a sixth consecutive year, continues with the head-to-head between Annie Power and Big Buck's in Friday's World Hurdle and ends when Bobs Worth attempts to retain a perfect record on his favourite course and win back-to-back Gold Cups.

Extra spice was added to the Gold Cup yesterday when trainer Nicky Henderson secured A.P. McCoy for Triolo D'Alene, who is likely to get his preferred good ground, but the Philip Hobbs-trained Captain Chris is now to miss the race because of an injury.

There was also huge disappointment for Jason Maguire, who had three rides on the opening day. He was airlifted from Stratford racecourse yesterday after suffering a suspected abdominal injury in a fall. Conditional rider Ciaran McKee was also injured in the same race and left the course for hospital by ambulance.

Those are just the headlines. In between, there is a host of minor championships, from which future stars will emerge. Throw into the mix the usual array of ultra-competitive handicaps and you have a perfect racing blend befitting a meeting that celebrates everything that is admirable and good about jump racing.

This year, though, there is a media alert about the participation of horses sent over from Ireland by Philip Fenton, the trainer who faces criminal charges of being in possession of unauthorised substances, including anabolic steroids, at his yard two years ago. His case is to be heard in an Irish court six days after Saturday's Gold Cup, in which Fenton is set to run Last Instalment.

The recent visit by the British Horseracing Authority to carry out tests on Fenton's horses at his stable produced negative results to steroids. No doubt the BHA, while attempting to maintain public confidence, was also mindful that to do anything but give the green light to Fenton's horses in such circumstances would have been to prejudge the court hearing.

Few punters will be concerned with such matters when the runners mill around for today's first race, which is always greeted with a huge roar from the stands. When the commentator shouts "They're off", Europe's biggest four-day punting fest will begin.