Those who arrived early to Cheltenham would be greeted by the traditional parade of former favourites of the track as part of Retraining Of Racehorses. The charity, which is led by horse lovers and racing enthusiasts, help to keep former champions of racing active during their retirement with show jumping and dressage. This parade is always a highlight for racegoers as it gives the crowd a chance to see their old heroes once again on a racecourse. 
The stars on show this year would be:

BALTHAZAR KING (Age: 21)

The parade of former champions would be led by the highly popular Balthazar King. Having retired from racing in 2016, the now 21 year old has been an ambassador for the Retraining Of Racehorses charity and continues to live life to the full. On the track, he would win an impressive sixteen times for the Phillip Hobbs stable and forged a winning partnership with Richard Johnson. Of those sixteen wins, half of them would come at Cheltenham; most memorable would be his four successes on the Cross-Country course. He would win the unique event twice at the Festival as well as finishing second in the 2014 Grand National. 
After suffering a near fatal fall in the 2015 National, he was nursed back to full health and continues to be a crowd pleaser at venues around the country 

BRISTOL DE MAI (Age: 14)
Next up would come the magical looking grey Bristol De Mai, who captured the hearts of many with his gutsy performances and longevity at the highest level. Trained locally in the Cotswolds by Nigel Twiston-Davies, the fourteen year old made a big impression by landing the Grade One Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow in 2014, his very first start in Britain. It would set up a long and productive career which saw him develop an affinity for Haydock racecourse. He would win at the North-West venue six times, most significantly in the Grade One Betfair Chase three times. Later into his career, he would roll back the years by winning the Grand National Trial Handicap at Haydock and took part in races such as the Grand National, Gold Cup and King George Chase.

A highly popular grey who now looks pure white, he is the apple of Daryl Jacob's eye, the jockey who shared most success with the horse.

CONEYGREE (Age: 18)

Another mainstay of the Retraining of Racehorses program is a former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, the very talented Coneygree. Making his debut in 2011, the son of Karinga Bay looked destined for the top throughout the early stages of his career and it wouldn't be until he faced fences when racegoers saw the best of Coneygree. 
Following a superb novice campaign, he would beat much more experienced horses to give his trainers Mark and Sara Bradstock the dilemma of running in the Gold Cup. They opted for the challenge and under rider Nico de Boinville, the eight year old novice made all the running to power clear into the history books. 
Injury issues would plague the rest of Coneygree's career prior to his retirement in 2019, but he left behind plenty of emotional memories of his win in the biggest race of them all. 

ELEGANT ESCAPE (Age: 13) 
The thirteen year old Elegant Escape may not have the glittering CV of some of his counterparts in the parade, but he has contributed plenty to the sport for racegoers in attendance to appreciate him. 
Trained in Dorset by Colin Tizzard, he would start his career brightly over hurdles without looking a potential star. Switching to fences during his second season however would see a rise in profile as he landed a Grade Two event at Newbury before rounding out the campaign with a third place in the RSA Novice Chase. The biggest moment of Elegant Escape's career would come at Chepstow at the end of 2018, where he defied gruelling conditions in the Welsh National under a hefty weight. Later in the season, he would finish a respectable sixth in the Gold Cup at the Festival in 2019. 

His final win came in handicap company at Ascot in 2022 before retiring at the end of 2023. He is relatively new to the Retraining discipline, but will surely enjoy a healthy and happy retirement with those involved.

KEMBOY (Age: 13) 
The often under-rated Kemboy is another recent addition to the ROR ranks as he begins the next stage of his life after racing. 

Trained by the brilliant maestro of Closutton, Willie Mullins, the thirteen year old was perhaps lost amongst plenty of top class horses in his generation. No more than a useful novice hurdler, Kemboy would also be slow to come to hand over fences. His talent began to shine through after a brace of victories towards the end of the 2017-18 season in which he landed a Grade Three and valuable handicap chase off top weight. His first big achievement came during 2018's festive period where he landed the first of his three Grade One victories, the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. He would put behind a first fence mishap in that season's Cheltenham Gold Cup by winning Grade One races at the Aintree and Punchestown festivals; the latter one providing legendary jockey Ruby Walsh with a retirement winner. 

During the remainder of his career, he would consistently run well at a high level and could have ranked even higher without the occasional jumping error. He would make his first appearance at the Festival as retired racehorse. 

MELON (Age: 13)
One of the youngest and newest members of the Retraining Of Racehorses program would be the likable Melon, who often came alive at the Cheltenham Festival. 

The thirteen year old was another to be trained by the great Willie Mullins and he enjoyed a high class career on track. He would never win at Grade One level, but went agonisingly close to doing so on four seperate occasions at the Cheltenham Festival. On the first visit to the Cotswolds, he was sent off a short priced favourite in the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle, but found only the rank outsider Labaik too strong in the closing stages. A year later, he would return for the Champion Hurdle, the pinnacle of the day one. After travelling well throughout, he was overhauled only at the line by defending champion Buveur d'Air. Connections would hope for third time lucky as Melon returned to Cheltenham for the third year in a row, once again in the Champion Hurdle. He would be left a distant second by the brilliant yet ill-fated winner Espoir d'Allen. 

His attentions changed to the larger obstacles at a relatively late stage of his career, aged eight. He would line up in the JLT Novices' Chase over two and a half miles but relatively unfancied in the market. Facing the infamous hill and with the electric atmosphere behind him, he would go head to head with Samcro and the brillant Faugheen, but crossing the line; Samcro's nose had inched ahead when it mattered the most. 

It is rare for a horse to become as popular without winning as one that does, but that is the case with Melon; whom the racing public were willing on to gain a deserved Festival win. He may not have broken the curse, but he returned to his favourite venue in much more relaxed settings. 

MINELLA REBELLION (Age: 13)
The story of Minella Rebellion is one of hope for all horses with the conclusion that racing isn't the be all and end all. The thirteen year old was purchased for £90,000 at the sales following his Point To Point career and was trained by Nicky Henderson, one of Britain's all time leading trainers. 

Despite being a full brother to multiple Cross-Country winner Balthazar King, his ability would be limited on track as he managed a best of third place on debut at Doncaster. His last race came in 2017 prior to retirement, but since then he has collected all sorts of prizes in show jumping and dressage. Now a star in the discipline, he has been a fine advertisement for the talent and devotion of those involved at Retraining Of Racehorses. He would also keep it in the family by joining his brother Balthazar King in the parade. 

NATIVE RIVER (Age: 16)

Yet another famous face would be greeted by hundreds of racegoers and given a warm welcome back. The widely recognisable white face of Native River returned to the scene of his greatest triumph and remains as popular as ever.

Spending his racing career with the family run stable of Colin Tizzard, the flashy chestnut was a high class type throughout his career. After showing promise over hurdles, he would live up to his full potential over fences. As a novice, he would win three times including the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree in 2016. During that season, he also finished a close second in the four mile chase at the Cheltenham Festival to emphasise his stamina. The next season would see Native River elevate himself even further. A hard earned Welsh National success came under top weight of 11st 12lbs before finishing third in the Gold Cup behind Sizing John in 2017.

Twelve months later, Native River would join the long list of brilliant Gold Cup winners in 2018 by winning an epic slug-fest. Racing in the lead alongside Might Bite for most of the three and a quarter mile trip, the muddied Native River kept finding more under pressure and galloped on resolutely to break Might Bite's heart and capture the crown. He would go on to win three further times as well as finish fourth in the two subsequent renewals of the Gold Cup. A much loved warrior on track who epitomised the spirit of National Hunt racing.

POLYDAMOS (Age: 16)
In a parade ring full of National Hunt favourites and stars, Polydamos has a slightly different profile but has enjoyed success away from racing courtesy of the Retraining Of Racehorses program.

Trained by John Dunlop and latterly Tony Carroll, Polydamos raced on the flat but retired without success in 2016. In thirty-six starts over five seasons, the son of Nayef would finish second on six occasions and third on seven occasions. 

PAISLEY PARK (Age: 13) 

Making his debut at the Festival as a retired horse would be the excellent stayer Paisley Park, who captured the hearts of the racing public on numerous occasions.

Trained by Emma Lavelle and owned by Andrew Gemmill, who is registered blind, the pair were often seen in the parade ring displaying high amounts of emotion whenever their horse was successful, which was an impressive eleven times in total. His breakout season would begin with a pair of handicap hurdle wins in late 2018 before graduating to the highest level with a first Grade One win in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. He would go on to win his one and only Stayers' Hurdle win later in the season where he took his place at the top of stamina division.

A seven race unbeaten streak came to an end in the 2020 Stayers' Hurdle and he lost some of his invincibilty. Despite this, Paisley Park would continue to show his customary late surge to win two more Long Walk Hurdles in 2020 and 2022. With four wins at Cheltenham, the latest of those would be his most dramatic. Spinning around as the tapes were released, he lost a huge amount of ground on his rivals. As the race reached its climax, he would emerge once again and defied the odds to raise the roof.
His final season of racing came in 2023/24 where he showed he was still highly capable with agonisingly narrow defeats in the Long Distance Hurdle, Long Walk Hurdle and Cleeve Hurdle before a disappointing run in last year's Stayers' Hurdle. He retired in one piece and will continue to enjoy life away from track. He would first need to adapt at remaining calm in the Cheltenham cauldron he once called home.

PINEAU DE RE (Age: 21) 

One of the elder statesmen of the parade as well as member of racing folklore. 
Pineau de Re will be forever known as a Grand National winner after defeating old foe Balthazar King at Aintree and providing jockey Leighton Aspell with the first of two back to back wins in the great race. Prior to his memorable National victory, he was given the unusual prep run of the Pertemps Handicap Final Hurdle at the 2014 Festival in which he finished a fast closing third. He then breezed around the famous fences to record a runaway victory at Aintree and put his trainer Dr Richard Newland on the map.

He would then make history as the first Grand National winner to win a race of any kind following the National; achieving the feat at Carlisle in December 2015. He would retire a year later after he showed signs of regressing, but he has gone on to enjoy a fruitful career in dressage. The focus may be on Cheltenham, but it is still good to appreciate former Grand National heroes as well. 

SAPHIR DU RHEU (Age: 16) 

Another grey in the lineup, the French-bred Saphir Du Rheu is another high class performer during his time on the track and is now enjoying a new career in retirement.

Trained throughout his racing career by Paul Nicholls, Saphir Du Rheu progressed quietly at first over hurdles, but enjoyed his breakthrough season during 2014 and 2015. Already a smart three time winning hurdler, the son of Al Namix switched to fences but was far from fluent. Unseating on chase debut in a Grade Two event, he then made amends next time at Exeter. Lining up in the Feltham Novices' Chase over the Christmas period, he fell at the halfway point again which prompted a rethink for connections. 
He would return to hurdles and the move paid off immediately with a win in the Cleeve Hurdle on Trials Day in 2015. Lining up in the Stayers' Hurdle at the 2015 Festival, he was sent off favourite but got going all too late as the winner Cole Harden had already flown. 
He would gain an overdue first Grade One victory on his next start at Aintree, when returned to fences but jumped brilliantly for a wide margin success. The grey would win just twice more at a lower level but contested in a handful of Gold Cups and even the Grand National. 
An unsung horse who didn't live up to his full potential, but still a high class sort on his day. 

SHARJAH (Age: 12) 

Another recently retired hero of the track would be Sharjah who, just like former stablemate Melon, was always the bridesmaid at the Festival and high class elsewhere. 

Trained by Willie Mullins throughout his career, the attractive bay was comfortably held in Grade One novice events at spring festivals during his first season. It would be in the summer of 2018 where Sharjah burst onto the scene with a classy victory in the ultra competitive Galway Hurdle. He would follow up later in that year with two Grade One victories to enter the Champion Hurdle fray, but during the race, he was brought down when travelling very well at the halfway stage. 
Redemption almost came Sharjah's way a year later as he chased home the mare Epatante in the 2020 Champion Hurdle which would set up a series of near misses. A year later, he would fill the same spot in the Champion Hurdle, this time behind Honeysuckle and in 2023, he would carry top weight to a close up fourth in the hotly contested County Hurdle. His final season of racing saw him take to fences as a ten year old. He coped well with the new task, but found his limitations exposed when running in better company.

He would retire just under a year ago and has already started the process of moving from the racecourse to the show arena. A thirteen times winner from fifty starts, he would be another popular horse who was unable to taste Cheltenham Festival success. 

WONGA SWINGER (Age: 15)

In a field of Grade One winners and National heroes, the inclusion of Wonga Swinger emphasises ROR's approach of all horses are welcome to the program once their racing days are over.

The fifteen year old won just two races for trainer Sam Thomas and both of those came in low grade handicap hurdles. He has since enjoyed a healthy and productive retirement with Retraining Of Racehorses and was able to rub shoulders with some of racing's modern greats at the biggest venue in the sport.