The Cheltenham Festival is a celebration of great equine achievements.
But aside from the horses, it is the range of people associated with the big meeting which help make it such a unique sporting occasion.
Here is a look at some of the characters who could be making news at the meeting, which starts on Tuesday.
Liam Brady The Arsenal legend and ex-Republic of Ireland midfielder is part-owner of Cerium, a leading contender for the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
Still on the coaching staff at Highbury, Brady will be hoping his horse, trained by Paul Nicholls, can win the new day four's opening race.
Amongst his legions of fans, Brady can count champion jump jockey AP McCoy, an Arsenal fanatic.
Paul and Nina Carberry
The brother and sister from County Meath have both been making headlines this season.
Colourful Paul, a self-confessed party animal, considered the most cool and stylish rider of his generation, has a string of fancied mounts.
Little sister Nina, the strongest female jockey in years, is making her Festival debut, with Karanja well-fancied for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. Their brother, Philip, may also ride at the meeting.
Jessie Harrington
Jessie Harrington's Moscow Flyer recorded an unforgettable Festival victory in the Champion Chase of 2003, but endured defeat last year when crashing out late on, behind Azertyuiop.
Tall and willowy, with a film star's presence and poise, Mrs H was perhaps always destined to be a training star being based, as she is, in the village of Moone, County Kildare. "The Flyer" once again heads her powerful team.
John Inverdale For the umpteenth year, John Inverdale anchors BBC Radio's award-winning coverage of the Cheltenham Festival.
A meeting regular for well over 30 years, "Invers" might have won the 1997 Champion Hurdle, as part-owner of the winner Make A Stand, but for spurning the chance for a half-share shortly beforehand.
A shrewd punter, those listening hard enough are virtually guaranteed rich rewards.
JP McManus The legendary punter and renowned businessman can almost literally shake the betting ring by its roots when choosing to support one of his Festival fancies.
Dubbed the "Sundance Kid" for his six-figure shoot-outs with the bookies, McManus has also owned a series of talented horses, notably triple champion hurdler Istabraq, their jockeys wearing his distinctive gold, green and white coloured silks.
Jonjo O'Neill County Cork-born Jonjo O'Neill has been a Festival favourite since twice steering Ireland's fanatically supported mare, Dawn Run, to big race victory, in the Champion Hurdle of 1984 and Gold Cup (1986).
Having successfully fought cancer, O'Neill, now - barely believably - 52, is training close to the racecourse, principally for owner JP McManus. However, recently, the stable has been plagued by a virus.
Zara Phillips With such a horsey pedigree, the Queen's grandaughter was a natural for the Festival.
That became an even bigger certainty during a long-running friendship with jockey Richard Johnson, which earned him a right royal smacker when successful on Rooster Booster in the 2003 Champion Hurdle.
For the paparazzi present, she will be a favourite, especially if spotted with new boyfriend, Mike Tindall.
James Simpson-Daniel The up-and-coming England rugby union player, based at nearby Gloucester RFC, is the new president of Cheltenham's young racegoers' promotion, the 16-24 Club.
Resident barely a canter away from the two-mile start, Simpson-Daniel is a regular at his local track when not required to pull on a cherry and white jersey at Kingsholm.
He will present �3,000 on behalf of the 16-24 Club to Sport Relief on Gold Cup day.
Lord Vestey
Appointed chairman of Cheltenham racecourse in 1990, Sam Vestey, head of his family's Dewhurst meat empire cuts a dash through the Festival crowds in his trademark checked suit and bowler hat.
Success in the 1997 Stayers' Hurdle for Karshi, owned and bred by Vestey, and trained by Henrietta Knight, his sister-in-law, sparked memorable celebratory scenes in the chairman's viewing box.
Freddie Williams
The Scottish bookmaker's pitch in Cheltenham's betting ring is amongst the most frenetic, as bets that seem to resemble telephone numbers fly around.
As well as bookmaking, Williams runs a company bottling mineral water, prompting a famous exchange with one gambler who asked for a seven-figure bet.
"I am into water, not whisky," he roared before accepting a wager made up of a mere six numbers.
MMIX
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