As the excitement builds ahead of the 2010 edition of the famous Cheltenham Festival, a few contenders get schooled over the racecourse gallops on a bright, cold morning in the Cotswolds
Zaynar, one of three horses entered by trainer Nicky Henderson in Tuesday's big race, the Champion Hurdle, is eased out of his box at Prestbury Park. The five-year-old will be ridden by Andrew Tinkler
Over the course of the week, 200,000 people will attend the four days of racing with around �500m wagered on the outcome of the 26 races
Among the crowd enjoying the sun at Prestbury Park and some quality horse racing are Manchester City footballers Joleon Lescott and Gareth Barry
Ruby Walsh, stable jockey to Paul Nicholls, has a stunning book of rides and is hot favourite to be the Festival's leading rider. He rides Celestial Halo in the Champions Hurdle and Quevega in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle
Menorah, ridden by Richard Johnson, clears a hurdle on his way to winning the day's opening race, the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Irish-trained winners are always popular at the Festival and Sizing Europe, ridden by Andrew Lynch and trained by Henry de Bromhead, who wins the Arkle Chase, ensures an early start to the celebrations
After recovering from a muscle injury to take his place in the Champion Hurdle, Binocular (right) puts in an impressive display to win
Despite winning 14 jockeys' championships and enjoying plenty of success in his career, jockey Tony McCoy's joy at Binocular's win is evident
Binocular's impressive win is McCoy's 22nd Festival success and is a particularly sweet victory after a difficult build-up to the opening day's feature race
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is always keenly contested but 25-1 chance A New Story (left) ridden by Adrian Heskin, wins to give the young jockey success on his first Festival ride and it is another win for the Irish contingent
Horses safely negotiate the water jump during the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham as Sizing Europe makes up for his 2008 Champion Hurdle disappointment with success over fences
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