The Cheltenham National Hunt Festival

The horses come round the final straight in the opening race Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

The field head out into the country during the Arkle Chase. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Punters in the main stand watch the cross country steeplechase Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Punters watch the fifth race Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

The Queen Mother Champion Chase Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Punters watch the first race Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Lots of Guinness is drunk in a bar before the racing Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Cheltenham festival Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Dejected Tony McCoy heads back to the weighing room after unsaddling his horse Moncadou in the fourth race Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

The Gold Cup. Kauto Star crashes through the last but still goes on to win Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

The Gold Cup. Kauto Star crashes through the last but still goes on to win Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Cheltenham festival Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

The victorious Kauto Star and Ruby Walsh enter the winners closure Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian