The traditional Cheltenham roar which goes up before the opening race will be matched afterwards if the hot favourite wins. Multiple champion jockey Tony McCoy's mount wouldn't be out of place in the Champion Hurdle Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
Grey horses capture the wider public's imagination and this brilliant chaser, potentially better than his invincible near-neighbour and stablemate Sprinter Sacre, will start to do that if he beats the top-class Overturn for trainer Nicky Henderson, above, in what many rate as the clash of the week Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian
But for his blip at the Festival last year with a disappointing third in this race, Ruby Walsh's mount would be hailed a modern great, and he could still aspire to that label if he justifies favouritism and reclaims the title he won in 2011 Photograph: Niall Carson/PA
She only deigns to come out of winter hibernation for this race every year but is on course to become the first horse since Golden Miller in the 1930s to win the same race at the Festival five times. Here she is in her workout on the course on Monday Photograph: Julian Herbert/Action Images
Barclays banker Rich Ricci has Fatcatinthehat entered on Wednesday among his 11 runners at Cheltenham, but Pont Alexandre is his, and many Irish punters', chief hope of the week, which could add some cash to his reportedly £100m fortune Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
The "black aeroplane" is the nearest many people will see to the perfect jumps racehorse. Will start the shortest-priced Festival favourite since the legendary Arkle and Flyingbolt in the mid-1960s Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian
Punters who have been backing this one all winter for the RSA Chase will be hoping to get their money back and then some when David Pipe's runner lines up in the trainer's chosen race Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Vocal critics think he should be running in the mile-shorter Champion Hurdle but this classy runner tries for the long-distance prize for which Big Buck's would have been a long odds-on shot but for getting injured Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
The jockey sold him to the trainer who sold him to a group of his best mates. The Not Afraid partnership now have the favourite for the highlight of the Festival and one with a clear chance on his form here last year Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
The large Irish contingent will be desperate to get out of trouble by Friday via this conveyance if the meeting hasn't gone well. Won easily last year and will make a bold bid to become the first dual winner since 1994 if the ground has dried out a bit by then Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images
