Cheltenham Festival 2016 odds, racecard and schedule: Everything you need to know about Tuesday's Champions Day

A look at the opening day at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival

Annie Power (left) runs in the Champion Hurdle at 15.30

(Getty Images)

The 2016 Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday to get four days of some of the most competitive racing action on the calendar underway as the famous roar greets the jockeys and horses at 13.30 when the Supreme Novices Hurdle raises the curtain.

While most eyes will be on Friday’s Gold Cup, the action begins with a busy day that will see seven races feature on the racecard, with the Champion Hurdle headlining the opening day’s events.

Trainer Willie Mullins will hope to go one better than last year’s opening day hat-trick, with four of his stable’s big names featuring on Tuesday. Had Annie Power not fallen at the last hurdle in last year’s Mares’ Hurdle, Mullins would have claimed four victories on the first day, and bookmakers’ believe he could achieve the feat this time around.

Annie Power’s promotion to pre-race favourite may have only come as a result of Faugheen’s withdrawal from the Champion Hurdle last month, but Mullins will have confidence in Ruby Walsh to guide the mare to victory and emulate his previous Champion Hurdle winners in Hurricane Fly and Faugheen.

Below is the schedule for Tuesday’s racecard at Cheltenham, along with the favourite and odds* at time of writing.

Tuesday's racecard

13:30: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Min (9/4)

14.10: Arkle Challenge Trophy – Douvan (1/3)

14.50: The Festival Handicap Chase – Out Sam (8/1)

15.30: Champion Hurdle – Annie Power (5/2)

16.10: Mares’ Hurdle – Vroum Vroum Mag (10/11)

16.50: National Hunt Chase – Minella Rocco (13/2)

17.30: Novices’ Handicap Chase – Aloomomo (6/1)

The New One will likely pose Annie Power her biggest competition in the Champion Hurdle, with in-form trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies hoping to see the best of his prized asset after disappointing results in 2014 and 2015.

*Odds provided by BetVictor.