Former superstars on parade before the first

The 12-strong line-up for the annual Retraining of Racehorses parade, which takes place before the first race today at Cheltenham, has almost as many festival wins between them as the fields for the following 28 races, such is the star-studded nature of those on display.

Four-time World Hurdle winner Big Buck's is joined by two Gold Cup winners - former stablemate and 2008 hero Denman, who also won an RSA, and 2011 star Long Run.

Dual cross-country winner Balthazar King, 2009 Champion Hurdle winner Punjabi, 2005 Triumph Hurdle hero Penzance, 2012 Champion Chase winner Finian's Rainbow and 2009 Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer are also among the Peter O'Sullevan Trust-sponsored parade that includes old favourites The Giant Bolster and Midnight Chase.

Between them they have won 13 races at the festival and have a combined age of 167, but the former stars are now deployed in fields as diverse as hunting, showing, showjumping, dressage, hunter trials and team chasing.

RoR chief executive Di Arbuthnot said: "To have the likes of Long Run and Denman in the parade alongside the reigning RoR supreme champion in the show-ring, Beware Chalk Pit, encapsulates what we as a charity are trying to do.

"Special thanks also to the Peter O'Sullevan Trust for their generous support as sponsors of the RoR Parades and Musical Ride for 2017."