CHELTENHAM TEAM LOOKS FORWARD TO THE FESTIVAL

Cheltenham Racecourse is being readied for The Festival, which lasts for four thrilling days between Tuesday, March 12 and Friday, March 15.

Ian Renton, the Regional Director of Jockey Club Racecourses, said today at a media event at the racecourse: "I am delighted to be here with the 2013 Festival less than a fortnight away, witnessing the anticipation which builds every day, and very lucky to have a fantastic team around me who will deliver the best possible experience for all our racegoers.

"Regarding ticket sales this year, we have reduced capacity on Gold Cup Day to a maximum of 67,000 people and, as a result, we are almost sold out for the day. The Best Mate Enclosure sold out a while ago, the Tattersalls Enclosure earlier his week and we anticipate the last few badges for the Club Enclosure will be sold by this time next week.

"Ticket sales for the first three days are ahead of last year's level, which is a great indication of the continuing popularity of this tremendous event. There will still be tickets available on the day for all enclosures at the entrances over the first three days.

"Hospitality sales continue to be very strong and many of the facilities over the four days are already sold out but we have got some restaurant space available.

"We have not made massive changes from last year. When I came here four months ago, I recognised that the event we have got is fantastic - a wonderfully successful  four days of racing in March - and therefore it did not need radical change.

"People who come here in March remember what the participants do, the horses, riders, trainers and owners, rather than what I and the team do.

"There will be a few minor changes this year, hopefully adding to the experience of racegoers.

"We have been working closely with Jockey Club Catering to improve three of the facilities in the main grandstand including the Tommy Atkins bar, while there will be more toilets in the Best Mate Enclosure and the tented village.

"We are improving ticket collection as well as trying to reduce the impact of ticket touts, moving them back to ensure they are not the overpowering presence they have been in the past - we are working very closely with the police on this."

       

Simon Claisse, Head of Racing, South West Region & Clerk of the Course, reported that his groundstaff were able to get on the track with light machinery last week for the first time October and all the courses have had aeration treatment, with fertiliser also applied.

The going is currently soft, good to soft in places and drying out slowly. Without any rain, the going description will change in five or six days to good to soft, soft in places.

Temperatures are set to rise next week, climbing to be between 9C and 12C, while rainfall is forecast between Thursday, March 7 and the start of The Festival on Tuesday, March 12, with between 15 and 18 millimetres due to fall.

He said: "If the rainfall materialises as forecast, then The Festival is likely to start with soft ground. If so, there is a good chance we will get through the four days without having to do any watering.

"Because the weather has been so wet this season, tiny amounts of rain have been making a difference.

"The ground used at The Festival has not been raced on since March of last year so it is fresh ground. On the New Course, which we switch to on the Thursday of the Festival, there is fresh ground then for the chases and again on the Friday for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

"The hurdles are the nearest to the stands that we have them during the whole year. All the fences are in place except for second last on the Old Course and the fourth last on the New Course which are both portable obstacles." 

Claisse is encouraged by the 15 race entries for The Festival made for French-trained horses this year and looking forward to welcoming raiders from across the Channel.

Following the fall of Wishfull Thinking on the first circuit in last year's Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase, the final fence was dolled off and not jumped. Wishfull Thinking and his rider Richard Johnson went over the fence to the left and through the running rail.

There is a now a new layout at that fence, with the running rail moved back so that if a horse went left-handed again over the obstacle, they would not collide with photographers or the crowd.

Also, there will be more directional boards should a fence need to be by-passed.

Kauto Star, the two-time Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup winner who is now retired, will lead the parade before this year's renewal of the chasing championship on Friday, March 15.

TurfTrax sectional timing is being introduced at The Festival for the first time this year.

 

 THE FESTIVAL 2013

First Day - Champion Day

Tuesday, March 12, 2013 (Old Course)     Distance Prize Money

1.30 William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade One)  2m 110y  £120,000

 

2.05 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Grade One)  2m  £150,000

2.40 JLT Specialty Chase (Handicap) (Grade Three)    3m 110y £90,000

3.20 Stan James Champion Hurdle (Grade One)   2m 110y  £400,000

4.00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase (Handicap) 3m 7f  £50,000

4.40 OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Grade Two)     2m 4f  £85,000

5.15 Pulteney Land Investments Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m 4f 110y £60,000

          TOTAL £955,000

Second Day - Ladies Day

Wednesday, March 13, 2013 (Old Course)     Distance Prize Money

1.30 John Oaksey National Hunt Chase (Amateurs)   4m  £85,000

2.05 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Grade One) 2m 5f  £120,000

2.40 RSA Chase (Grade One)     3m 110y £150,000

3.20 Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade One) 2m  £350,000

4.00 Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade Three)   2m 5f  £80,000

4.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade Three)  2m 110y £75,000

5.15 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade One)   2m 110y £60,000

          TOTAL £920,000

Third Day - St Patrick's Thursday

Thursday, March 14, 2013 (New Course)     Distance Prize Money

1.30 Jewson Novices' Chase (Grade Two)    2m 4f  £100,000

2.05 Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Listed)   3m  £80,000

2.40 Ryanair Chase (Grade One)     2m 5f  £275,000

3.20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade One)    3m   £275,000

4.00 Byrne Group Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade Three)   2m 5f  £90,000

4.40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Amateurs) 3m 1f 110y £60,000

5.15 St Patrick's Derby (Charity Flat Race)    1m 5f  -

          TOTAL £880,000

Fourth Day - Gold Cup Day

Friday, March 15, 2013 (New Course)     Distance Prize Money

1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade One)     2m 1f  £120,000

2.05 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade Three)  2m 1f  £80,000

2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade One)    3m  £120,000

3.20 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (Chase) (Grade One)   3m 2f 110y £550,000

4.00 CGA Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup (Amateurs)  3m 2f 110y £40,000

4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle   2m 4f 110y £50,000

5.15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (Handicap) (Grade Three) 2m 110y £90,000

          TOTAL £1,050,000

TOTAL PRIZE MONEY AT THE FESTIVAL OF £3,805,000

(UP £425,000 ON 2012 TOTAL OF £3,380,000)

AVERAGE RACE VALUE £140,925

(£125,000 IN 2012)