After months of anticipation, form study and ante-post speculation, the Cheltenham Festival is finally upon us. For racing fans and punters alike, this is the week the entire National Hunt season revolves around, and it all begins with one of the most iconic moments in the sport – the famous Cheltenham roar.

As the tapes go up for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday afternoon, the noise that erupts from the packed grandstands is something every racing fan should experience at least once. Thousands of people who have waited all year for these four days let out a deafening roar as the runners charge down to the first flight. It’s a moment that signals the Festival is truly underway.

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle itself has a rich history of producing top-class horses. Many future champions have launched their careers here, and it’s often a race run at a relentless gallop from the outset. With plenty of pace and inexperienced hurdlers, it can also throw up drama, which is why it’s such a brilliant curtain-raiser for the meeting.

Of course, Cheltenham isn’t just about one race. Across the opening day we’ll see a mixture of championship contests, novice races and fiercely competitive handicaps, all featuring the best horses, trainers and jockeys from Britain and Ireland. Every race feels like an event in its own right.

For those looking to get involved from a betting perspective, I’ve also put together a Yankee covering four selections across the opening day. A Yankee consists of 11 bets – six doubles, four trebles and a fourfold – meaning even if one of the selections is beaten, there’s still plenty of potential to land a return if the others run well.

It’s a bet type that suits a meeting like Cheltenham perfectly, where strong opinions across multiple races can combine to produce a big payout if things fall into place.

Below you’ll find the selections that make up the Yankee for day one.

Cheltenham is here, the atmosphere will be electric, and as the runners line up for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle the moment we’ve all been waiting for arrives.

Let’s hear the roar.