Racing's greatest show: superstars gather for the 2021 Cheltenham Festival

Monday

One of the greatest weeks in racing gets underway and you can be sure there will be a sleepless night ahead for plenty on what has been christened 'Cheltenham eve'.

However, before the festival gets underway there are still five meetings across Britain and Ireland, with the feature race of the day coming from Taunton where Grade 2-winning novice chaser Danny Whizzbang aims to get his head back in front in the 3m4½f handicap chase (3.40).

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Stratford stages its first meeting of the year and a six-race card from Plumpton complements the action on the jumping front, while Punchestown hosts eight bumpers solely restricted to point-to-point horses. Wolverhampton hosts an evening all-weather fixture.

Tuesday

The 2021 Cheltenham Festival gets underway and while there will be no classic roar this year when the tapes go up for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, we are still set for a fantastic four days on Prestbury Park.

Day one's feature, the Unibet Champion Hurdle (3.05), has developed into a star-studded renewal this year featuring a mouthwatering clash between the unbeaten Honeysuckle and last year's winner Epatante.

Epatante, Honeysuckle and Goshen declared for epic Champion Hurdle showdown

It is not a two horse race, however. Goshen bounced back to his brilliant best in the Kingwell Hurdle last time out and will bid to avenge his Triumph Hurdle heartbreak 12 months ago, while Sharjah, Abacadabras, Aspire Tower and Silver Streak add extra spice in a high-quality renewal.

Honeysuckle: will she be crowned the Champion Hurdle Queen?Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

We were cruelly denied a titanic tussle between Shishkin and Energumene after the latter was ruled out of the festival last week, but the former will aim to continue his ascent to the top of the two-mile chasing division in the Sporting Life Arkle (1.55). Do not discount the mercurial Grade 1 winner Allmankind, who is sure to force a ferocious pace.

If that is not enough to whet your appetite, Concertista and Roksana go head-to-head in the Mares' Hurdle (3.40), while we could see a new star emerge in Appreciate It or Metier in the Supreme (1.20).

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The Ultima (2.30) and Boodles (4.15) provide some fiercely competitive handicaps as well as the National Hunt Chase (4.50).

The other jumps card comes from Sedgefield, while there are all-weather fixtures at Southwell and Newcastle.

Wednesday

The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.05) headlines day two of the festival which features four Grade 1s and a whole host of high-class stars. Chacun Pour Soi has dominated the division in Ireland this season with three imperious victories and he will now get the chance at his crowning glory having been a last-minute withdrawal from this race last year.

Dual winner Altior attempts to regain his crown but must overcome a poor reappearance at Kempton and an interrupted campaign, while last year's hero Politologue will not give up his crown without a fight.

Altior: faces an uphill task to regain his Champion Chase crownCredit: Michael Steele

In the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (1.55), Monkfish will aim to continue a perfect campaign and cement himself as one of the brightest prospects in jump racing.

Punting plans: Tom Segal, Paul Kealy, Keith Melrose and Graeme Rodway on Cheltenham week

The card begins with a pulsating clash between Bravemansgame, Gaillard Du Mesnil and Bob Olinger in a high-class Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (1.20).

The Coral Cup (2.30) and Grand Annual (4.15) look ultra-competitive as usual, while you can also enjoy another bout between Easysland and Tiger Roll in the Cross Country Chase (3.40).

There are also jumps cards at Huntingdon and Down Royal, with all-weather fixtures at Lingfield and Kempton.

Thursday

The third day of the festival begins with a bang courtesy of the unbeaten Envoi Allen, who many view as the banker of the meeting in the Marsh Novices' Chase (1.20).

The seven-year-old has a perfect 11 out of 11 record from his time with previous trainer Gordon Elliott, but has some questions to answer after moving to Henry de Bromhead's yard so close to the festival.

Paisley Park will bid to emulate the legendary Big Buck's by winning multiple renewals of the Stayers' Hurdle (3.05), and become the first since Inglis Drever to regain his crown. Although there is no Thyme Hill, he still faces a tough task against Sire Du Berlais, Flooring Porter and Lisnagar Oscar.

Thyme Hill to miss Stayers' Hurdle showdown with Paisley Park

Paisley Park: comeback king bids for a second Stayers' Hurdle successCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

The Willie Mullins-trained Min bids for back-to-back victories in the Ryanair Chase (2.30) but faces stiff competition from his own stable in Melon and Allaho, while last year's runner-up Saint Calvados is also back for more. The Pertemps Final (1.55), Paddy Power Plate (3.40), Mares' Novices' Hurdle (4.15) and Kim Muir (4.50) make up the rest of the card.

The action elsewhere comes from Hexham, Doncaster and Chelmsford.

Friday

History beckons for Al Boum Photo as he attempts to emulate Best Mate and Arkle by winning three consecutive renewals of the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.05). He faces stern rivals in Champ, A Plus Tard and 2018 winner Native River among a star-studded field. Last year's second and third Santini and Lostintranslation have had below-par campaigns bur are more than capable of bouncing back.

Al Boum Photo and Champ among 13 Cheltenham Gold Cup confirmations

There should be a fascinating clash between future stars Tritonic, Zanahiyr and Quilixios in the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.20), while dour stayers like Fakiera and Barbados Buck's will compete for festival glory in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.30).

Tritonic: could be a first Cheltenham Festival winner for owner Max McNeillCredit: Mark Cranham

The ultra-competitive County Hurdle (1.55), St James's Place Festival Challenge Cup (3.40), the inaugural Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (4.15) and Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle (4.50) bring the curtain down on a glittering week of action.

The action away from Cheltenham comes from Fakenham, Lingfield, Southwell and Dundalk.

Saturday

The Cheltenham blues may have firmly kicked in, but the show must go on as the ITV cameras roll into Uttoxeter, which stages its feature race of the year the Midlands Grand National (3.35).

There is also action from Kempton, while jumps cards at Fontwell and Newcastle, and an evening all-weather fixture from Wolverhampton complement the racing in Britain.

The sole jumps fixture in Ireland comes from Thurles.

Sunday

Fresh off jump racing's greatest week, it is time to get your Flat thinking cap on as the 2021 turf season gets underway in Ireland at the Curragh, where the feature race is the Irish Lincolnshire handicap (4.10).

If you are not ready for the Flat just yet, the Ulster National is the highlight on Downpatrick's card, which saw Grade 1 winner Ballyadam leave a lasting impression in a bumper last year.

In Britain, there are two jumps cards from Carlisle and Chepstow.

Read more Cheltenham Festival news:

Appreciate It and Metier among eight declared for Supreme clash

Royale Pagaille set for Gold Cup and not the National Hunt Chase

'It's baffling Bravemansgame's not favourite' - your festival questions answered

'I don't love Appreciate It' – Pricewise guru Tom Segal answers your questions

'Freak of an animal' First Flow showing right signs for Champion Chase

Quotes of the build-up: 'I often find that everything is forgotten if you get a winner at Cheltenham'

David Pipe on Adagio's chances in 'one of the best Triumphs in recent years'

Lame Energumene out of big Arkle showdown with Shishkin at Cheltenham

Members' Club: Horses moving yards: is it a handicap and will it affect Envoi Allen?

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