SEVERAL Festival heroes already making their mark in new disciplines will join the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Parade, sponsored by the Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust at the opening day of the Festival at Cheltenham, next Tuesday.

The parade, scheduled to start at 12.30pm, showcases the range of activities open to racehorses when they finish their racing careers and has become an increasingly popular attraction in the build-up to racing on the first day of the meeting.

There are also some familiar horses from past RoR parades, such as the former Champion Hurdle winner Punjabi and two old sparring partners in Big Buck’s and Barbers Shop and another familiar name in Silviniaco Conti, now in the care of Charlotte Alexander, who formerly looked after and rode Denman before his full-time retirement in 2017. Like Denman before him, Silviniaco Conti is enjoying hunting and team chasing.

There is also the wonderful story of the not un-aptly named Back In Focus, who the despite the loss of an eye in a freak accident has subsequently adapted to a successful second career team chasing. Clare Burrows took on the former Willie Mullins-trained Festival winner, giving the horse the opportunity to thrive in another discipline.

Also parading are Scottish Grand National winner Wayward Prince, who is already competing in dressage classes, and Wild West who was crowned ROA and Goffs UK Supreme Champion at the RoR National Championships and he also was awarded the 2017 RoR Elite Performance Award for Showing.

The full line-up is as follows:

1. Annacotty (Showing and show jumping) - ridden by Hannah Bishop

10-year-old by Beneficial, formerly trained by Alan King and Martin Keighley

Annacotty provided his owner Liz Prowting with her first Grade 1 win, as well as three memorable victories at Cheltenham, including the 2015 Paddy Power Gold Cup.

2. Any Currency (Show jumping) - ridden by Harley Cornock

15-year-old by Moscow Society, formerly trained by Martin Keighley

A Cheltenham specialist whose feats include being first past the post in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the 2016 Festival.

3. Barbers Shop (Showing) - ridden by Chris Hunnable

16-year-old by Saddlers’ Hall, formerly trained by Nicky Henderson

Owned by HM The Queen, since his retirement from racing in 2012, Barbers Shop has been with Katie Jerram and under her schooling he became one of the leading former racehorses to compete in showing classes.

4. Back in Focus (Team chasing) - ridden by Clare Burrows

13-year-old by Bob Back, formerly trained by Willie Mullins

On the track Back In Focus won a Grade 1 and the 2013 running of the National Hunt Chase, however, a freak accident in 2015 fractured his cheekbone and resulted in him losing an eye, ending his racing career.

5. Big Buck’s (Hunting) - ridden by Lucy Felton

15-year-old by Cadoudal, formerly trained by Paul Nicholls

Winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle a record four times, Big Buck’s retired from racing in 2014 with a career record of 23 wins from 40 starts and prize money earnings of £1.3m. He still enjoys a day’s hunting.

6. Dodging Bullets (Dressage and Showjumping) ridden by Lucy Sharp

10-year-old by Dubawi, formerly trained by Paul Nicholls

The pinnacle of Dodging Bullets’ racing career was victory in the 2015 Queen Mother Champion Chase, giving his owners Martin Broughton and friends a day to remember.

7. Hunt Ball (Hunting) ridden by Sarah Henderson

13-year-old by Winged Love, formerly trained by Keiran Burke and Nicky Henderson

In the 2011-12 season Hunt Ball won seven races, including victory at The Festival.

8. Punjabi (Hunting and hunter trials) - ridden by Rachael Kempster

15-year-old by Komaite, formerly trained by Nicky Henderson and David Pipe

Winner of the 2009 Champion Hurdle, Punjabi retired in 2013 and moved to Kinsale Stud, Shropshire.

9. Silviniaco Conti (Team chasing) - ridden by Charlotte Alexander

12-year-old by Dom Alco, formerly trained by Paul Nicholls

During an illustrious racing career, Silviniaco Conti won seven Grade 1 races, including two King George VI Chases and over £1.1m in prize money.

10. Wayward Prince - (Dressage and hunting) ridden by Megan Harper

14-year-old by Alflora, formerly trained by Ian Williams and Hilary Parrott

Winner of the 2015 Scottish Grand National and a Grade 2 chase, Wayward Prince was also third in the 2012 RSA Chase. Retired after winning the 2015 Scottish National.

11. Wild West (Showing) - ridden by Lizzie Harris

10-year-old by Galileo, formerly trained by Jonjo O’Neill

Despite being in training first with Aidan O’Brien and then Jonjo O’Neill, where he was ridden by A P McCoy.

For more information visit RoR’s website: www.ror.org.uk