It's been seven months - but the thrills and spills of Cheltenham are back!

In a world where so much has changed over the past seven months, this is a day to give thanks for the return of live action to arguably the greatest sporting amphitheatre of them all. Cheltenham, it's been far too long.

To be precise, it's been 224 days since the curtain fell at Prestbury Park after four days of high drama in the middle of March. From Epatante's decisive Champion Hurdle success to Al Boum Photo's Gold Cup defence, the festival stirred the soul like only the festival can.

Yet for all those four days offer the ultimate form of escapism from the wider world, there was no doubt a sense that change was upon us. As the week progressed, trepidation among professionals and fans alike began to heighten, with Cheltenham not the only c word being uttered in the terraces overlooking the freedom of the Cotswolds.