Thousands of Irish in Cheltenham for four-day festival

Thousands of Irish punters have descended on Cheltenham for the beginning of this year's four-day festival of horse racing.

The action gets underway today with the Supreme Novice's Hurdle at 2pm, but the highlight is the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

Last year's winner Brave Inca will go off as one of the favourites, along with two-time winner Hardy Eustace and Richard Johnson's mount Detroit City.