Appreciate It charges away and takes the first race of the week by 24 lengths!

Image source, PA Media

Three from the finish and Appreciate It is coming up on For Pleasure now...

For Pleasure continues to lead the Supreme field as we hit halfway but the group are closing in with Appreciate It now a length behind.

For Pleasure is straight out in front with a lead of five or six lengths, while Appreciate It leads the group behind.

The first race of the week is under way!

A significant absence is that of the Cheltenham roar as they head off.

Image source, PA Media

We're just a few minutes away from the first race of the week getting under way. The eight runners are going to post now.

Image source, BBC Sport

Mid-March is usually a carnival of colour in this corner of Gloucestershire.

Tall tales, late nights, sneaky tips and a buzz that snakes through the town of Cheltenham and beyond.

At the track, the Arkle Bar - named after the legendary triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner - is normally teeming with boisterous punters.

This year, the forecast is dry, in more ways than one...

Mandy M: Heartbreaking to see an empty grandstand at Cheltenham - looking forward to 2022 already!

Rob Nothman
Reporter on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

And here's the finishing line where John Hunt will call them home...

Not long to go until the opening race of the week gets under way and it's the smallest-ever field with just eight going to post.

This race has belonged to Willie Mullins, who has won it six times and has the favourite in Appreciate It, ridden by Paul Townend, who was runner-up in last year's Champion Bumper.

This season he has won his three races, including victories over rivals Ballyadam, Blue Lord and Iracible.

Metier could be a challenger but the ground may be a problem for him.

Image source, Getty Images

Rob Nothman
Reporter on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

The view from the 5 Live interview position at the Festival… which winners will we be speaking to?

Andrew Thornton
Former Gold Cup-winning jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

I think we could be looking at a good Rachael Blackmore story with her good chances in both the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup. This is one of the few sports where men and women are on a level playing field and she could be a huge story this week.

Rachael Blackmore could create history in the Champion Hurdle with Honeysuckle and is a good bet to be leading jockey at the Festival.

"I'm really excited to get going." she tells ITV's Opening Show.

"Her [Honeysuckle's] performance in the Irish Champion Hurdle was phenomenal but this is a whole new ball game.

"She's a very straightforward horse and is a dream ride for a jockey."

Image source, Getty Images

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Image source, BBC Sport

While spectators and racehorse owners will not be allowed, special areas have been created to minimise mixing of jockeys, trainers and stable staff - with a red zone for the home contingent and green zone for Irish visitors.

There are two separate stable yards and stewards' rooms.

"The only time the two cohorts will come together is when they find their way to the paddock and the horses are off to the start," said BHA chief regulatory officer Brant Dunshea.

Most stable staff will be housed in 104 temporary en-suite units in the Best Mate Enclosure, and people will not be allowed to leave the area.

Irish trainers and jockeys will largely be in two wings of a nearby hotel, with shuttle transport connecting direct to the course from a private driveway.

Irish jockeys, trainers and staff were regularly tested before arriving in the UK and 'isolation units' are available should there be any positive cases.

Simon also gave an update on the going, which is soft, good to soft in places.

Image source, Getty Images

Cheltenham's clerk of the course Simon Claisse tells ITV4's The Opening Show: “It’s been challenging and it’s been different but the racing function is still the racing function and we’ve been preparing that for the past four or five weeks.

“We couldn’t get on to the course until the middle of February, it was still that wet. But the weather has been kind to us, we’ve had a dry fortnight and a bit of rain over the weekend, so we’re really pleased with the conditions.”

Are you a regular Cheltenham Festival goer who is missing not being able to go this year? What are you missing most about not being there, and how are you planning to follow it this year?

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Image source, BBC Sport

Lateral flow tests and temperature checks form part of a series of coronavirus protocols for those attending.

There will be about 40 catering staff on site, compared with 4,000 in previous years. There will be no bookmakers and betting shops are closed, but millions will still be wagered by punters from home.

Special areas have been created to minimise mixing of jockeys and trainers - with a red zone for the home contingent and green zone for Irish visitors.

There are two separate stable yards and stewards' rooms, with most stable staff housed in 104 temporary en-suite units in the Best Mate Enclosure, and not allowed to leave the area outside of racing.

Irish jockeys and trainers and staff are being regularly tested before arriving in the UK and isolation units will be available should there be any positive cases.

Several Festival-winning jockeys miss out as amateur riders are not allowed to compete under the current Covid-19 rules in England. Patrick Mullins, Jamie Codd, Derek O'Connor and Sam Waley-Cohen will all be on the sidelines.

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Things are obviously very different at Cheltenham compared to previous years but while there's no spectators in attendance, you can follow all the action right here, as well as listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra from 13:15 GMT.

Sports Extra will bring you commentary of all 28 races at the four-day festival, with coverage of Gold Cup day on Radio 5 Live including Friday's big race at at 15:05 GMT.

Leading former jockeys Katie Walsh and Andrew Thornton will be part of the team, with Mark Chapman presenting on the final day.