THE roar of the crowd as the tapes rise for the first race on Tuesday each year tells you everything you need to know - 12 months of waiting is over and The Festival is here again!

Over the course of next week around 230,000 people will witness the unique experience that is The Festival at Cheltenham. Across the nation, well over £500m will be wagered on the outcome of the 25 races.

The feature race on Tuesday is The Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, which is the most sought after prize anywhere for two-mile hurdlers.

The Irish have won seven of the last nine runnings of this historic contest, so the home side will be hoping to redress the balance a little in 2008.

Wednesday sees the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase take centre stage, as the best two-mile chasers produce a fast and furious contest over the famous Cheltenham fences. For many, this is the most exciting race of the season.

On Thursday the long distance hurdlers provide the most important race - The Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Only the brave and the strong prevail in this hurdle race over three miles and Inglis Drever will be trying to win the race for the third time.

Thursday is also Ladies Day when fashion provides a different slant to a day at The Festival before the racing reclaims centre stage in the afternoon.

The name of the lady who has made the most Outstanding Contribution to Jump Racing will be revealed to follow last year's inaugural winner, Heather Atkinson, head nurse in the Jockeys' Hospital at Cheltenham for almost 30 years.

The highlight of the entire Jump racing season is Friday's totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, over a testing three and a quarter-miles, which is the race that every owner, trainer and jockey dreams of winning.

It takes a special horse to win this contest more than once and this season defending champion Kauto Star will be looking to add his name to those of horses like Golden Miller, Arkle and Best Mate as multiple winners of Jumping's Blue Riband event.

Friday also sees a seventh race for the first time under the four-day Festival, with an event for the best mares in the land.

Off the track, there is plenty of entertainment on offer through the trade stands, musical offerings in all enclosures and the amazing variety of dining, entertaining and hospitality options.