This week thousands of racegoers will head to Gloucestershire for the most important week in the National Hunt calendar — the Cheltenham Festival (12-15 March).

But if you can’t make it, there’s no need to miss the action.

Channel 4 Racing will be live at the course, with the Morning Line show (7.55am), live afternoon racing (12.35pm-4.20pm) and then an evening highlights package.

Channel 4’s coverage will be headed by Clare Balding, who will be presenting her first Cheltenham Festival.

“When joining Channel 4 Racing I said that my highlight will be broadcasting live on television from the Cheltenham Festival for the very first time, and I can’t wait,” said Clare.

“The Festival attracts the best horses in a beautiful setting with a constant atmosphere of excitement and enthusiasm.”

Clare will be joined by Nick Luck, Jim McGrath, Mick Fitzgerald, Graham Cunningham, Ted Walsh, Alice Plunkett, Rishi Persad, Tayna Stevenson and Simon Holt. And fans of Alastair Down will be pleased to hear he returns to the team to deliver daily essay-style previews.

There will also be behind the scenes coverage — including from the weighing room and any potential stewards enquiries will be screened live throughout the meeting.

And if you’re not near a TV, there’s no need to miss out — you can listen on BBC Radio 5 Live, 909 and 693 AM.

Every race of the Festival will be live [from 1.30pm-4pm], with additional coverage daily between 4pm-5.30pm on 5 Live Sports Extra.

The coverage will be headed by Cornelius Lysaght and John Hunt with former jockey Luke Harvey. Jockey Andrew Thornton joins the team, with analysis from Peter Scudamore and John Inverdale — and Derek Thompson also joins the line up.

H&H racing editor Catherine Austen will be at Cheltenham and will be reporting daily on www.horseandhound.co.uk and tweeting from @horseandhound.