Cheltenham’s new boss says festival crowds will be down but vows to act on racegoer concerns

I’ve visited the DRF the last few years. Experience is much more enjoyable than Cheltenham. No stopping people at the entrance because they have bought a bottle of water or a sandwich. Plenty of seating for us oldies.

Cheltenham Members are being took advantage of with additional costs for very little.

As the previous person says the difference between club and tatts is minimal.  Membership offers little more.

Cheltenham will lose all its genuine fans and just felt of the daytrippers. Attendances will continue to fall.

Irish fans coming over is falling but whilst accommodation costs are partly to blame it’s not the whole truth. The Jockey Club is bleeding the visitors dry.

I am going this year but it’s questionable that I will continue to go. I Have never missed a festival except for foot and mouth and Covid. I’ve loved it since I was a teen.

Willie Mullins is correct….its just too expensive. Until they accept the truth, attendances will continue to fall.

The Jockey Club should take a close look at the DRF, they may learn something.

One final point, it’s not Willie Mullins fault, he brings quality horses to the festival and that’s what I want.

Enjoy, whilst you can.

Regards

Forty

don't worry chaps , this guy will have cheltenham turned around in a jiffy . it will once again be the place ordinary racing fans can expect being  valued  and the lifeblood of the great sport . after all , he used to be at the MCC !!!!!!!!!

hope they have sorted the mud bath car parking out so you dont get tractor stressed out before even getting into the course.

Forty I couldn't agree more. The fact there has been more short prices favourites than normal has nothing to do with attendances falling.
Constitution hill will bring people through the gate alone!
The Irish government backing irish racing has put them up to another level and it's up the up to find a way to catch up and stop moaning.

The car parking mud/tractor/price/huge delays of last year will have put a lot of people off for life.

The videos were staggering

I will never use the car parking again i had to leave my car stranded it had to be pulled out on arriving i nearly missed the first race last year.

This means if i ever come to the Festival it will be much more expensive by train.

Accomadation costs in Cheltenham have stopped many regular Irish people going , about ten of us used go every year up to about 5 years ago , 5 went last year and only 2 going this year. It’s just become too expensive for the average punter

ironically its chelt doing the its bet to bring hotel prices down by bringing the attendance down, the less people go the cheaper hotel prices will be,supply and demand,insides the course its punters choice,you can can go 4 hrs without spending a penny if you so wish,

lessons on how to shoot yourself in the foot !

Unless they have Time Machine. Go bzck to 90s  It’s a busted flush.
Champion hurdle pile of **** now
What chznce with food drink hotels
Better off down pub
Better off going away if do 4 day thing at chelts
Hardcore left the building as they say

Maybe consider introducing selective days eg day 1 and day 4 only or even selective races eg Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup. I'd pay a little more for this. The course is charging too high prices for everything.

^
Cobblers, you haven’t been racing since Steve Cauthen was riding.

A high price to pay for a quick kick of adrenaline, both in cost and life.

This bug going around is horrible, I have had a blocked nose and weak breath for 2 months now, if ya going wrap up, and conceal your food well,but enjoy if you can!

Diluted to fook.

End of

The punters dream is in tatters

think many punters also will look at a dominating stable with 3 odds on/near odds on shots today, the other feature race there is an odds on Champion Hurdle fav.

not many like backing at those odds on the course and with the pin job handicaps today other than that are likely to do their gonads on top of their attendance costs and car parking stress.

they wont be getting antepost prices for these odds on shots in future as the leading trainer has set a precedent by deciding to wait until final decs before confirming it runs after saying for months it was being prepared for a different race.

on the last point if punters want a price late on for double entered horses they will have to come on here in the 2 weeks before the race and be subject to insiders and traders with speculation created to ultimately take their money from them.

Looks like plenty of room today in places, must have had a fair few tickets left.

Restricted to 68.5k each DAY

Thursday is guaranteed to be packed now. The stage is set for Galopin Des Champs to cement his superiority.