Cheltenham Festival: The best pictures from day one

As the sun rises over the course on day one of the Festival, a horse and rider emerge onto the gallops to begin their final preparations
Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PA

Organisers say the going will be good to soft (good in places) on the chase and hurdles courses, and good (good to soft in places) on the cross-country course
Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PA

The first race will be the Supreme Novice Hurdle at 1.30, featuring the Irish odds-on favourite Dunguib. Golden Cygnet was the last successful odds-on shot in this particular race and won by 15 lengths at 4-5 back in 1978
Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PA

Zaynar, one of Nicky Henderson's charges, arrives to compete in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle
Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PA

Two punters from Belfast study the form guide ... Go Native is the favourite for the day's big race, the Champion Hurdle, following its Grade 1 victories at Kempton and Newcastle. Go Native is 9-2 while Khyber Kim, ridden by Caroline Mould, is also well backed
Photograph: David Jones/PA

Greg Wood, The Guardian's racing correspondent, reckons Garde Champetre (running at 4.00) is worth a punt ... the bookies aren't taking any chances - they're offering just 2-1
Photograph: Paul Harding/Action Images

The first race of the day, The Supreme Novice Hurdle, gets underway ...
Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images

Expectant crowds watch from the terraces
Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images

Menorah with Richard Johnson on board (wearing light blue and dark blue checks) has the lead over the final hurdle, while Dunguib (second from the left) trails behind
Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Tony McCoy on Get Me Out Of Here provides a late challenge, but Menorah holds on by a head
Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Later, Sizing Europe ridden by Andrew Lynch jumps the last fence en-route to winning the Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase
Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images

The 6-1 shot foams at the mouth after retaining his unbeaten record over fences
Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images

A punter makes his selections after studying form. Approximately 200,000 racing fans are expected at the four-day festival Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

The runners and riders approach a fence in The William Hill Trophy Handicap Steeple Chase, which was won by Chief Dan George, ridden by Paddy Aspell, centre, in black & yellow silks Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

The big race of the day, The Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy, is won by Binocular, ridden by Tony McCoy, who crosses the line three and a half lengths ahead of Khyber Kim. It is an astonishing result seeing as just four weeks ago a muscle problem was said to be identified which would keep Binocular out of the race. However, the six-year old schooled well at Nicky Henderson's Yard last Wednesday and it was decided that he would run after all.
Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

Tony McCoy gives Binocular an appreciative and well deserved caress as the jockey celebrates his victory. After the race McCoy said that he had been disappointed with Binocular late last year at Newcastle and Kempton and "thought he wouldn't come back, but he was electric when I sat on him last week and I just hoped we'd got him back. This means so much to me."
Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images

25-1 shot A New Story ridden by Adrian Heskin, far left, jumps the last fence on his way to winning the Glenfarclas Handicap Cross-Country Chase. Heskin, having his first Festival ride on the winner, said of his mount "He was just brilliant, absolutely brilliant. He travelled great throughout the race and the one time he met a fence wrong, he put himself right."
Photograph: Tony Marshall/Empics Sport

Ruby Walsh, celebrates a convincing win by 6-4 favourite Quevega, in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle for the second year in succession. Walsh later said "It's great to get a winner on the board and it's great to get it on the first day as it just take the pressure off a bit...She's a great mare and I love riding her"
Photograph: Tony Marshall/Empics Sport