The recent downturn in audience figures at the Cheltenham Festival is concerning, with Wednesday’s official crowd logged at a disappointing 46,771. This continues a worrying trend seen after the 2022 post-pandemic festival, which posted record-breaking attendance numbers exceeding 280,000, with over 64,000 in attendance on the second day. A 14% dip in attendance was seen the following year, a pattern which has persisted into the current festival. Tuesday welcomed around 60,000 visitors which was significantly less than the 68,500 limit set by the Jockey Club. The comparable figure from a year ago almost reached 50,000.
This event witnessed slow ticket sales, causing some unease leading up to the start of the festival, as well as concerns about competition quality at the year’s most significant jump racing event. In addition, Wednesday’s scheduled events were downsized to six races as the Cross-Country course was deemed unfit following a morning inspection and subsequently abandoned.
Ian Renton, the Managing Director at Cheltenham, made a statement on Wednesday evening, asserting that this festival holds a special place for racing fans due to Willie Mullins achieving the remarkable milestone of 100 Cheltenham Festival wins. He added that such a feat may never be accomplished again in our lifetimes and it solidifies Mullins’ legacy as one of the greats in jump training.
Paul Townend, currently with four winners after Ballyburn’s victory in Wednesday’s opening race, is in a good position to defend his leading rider title as we reach the midpoint of the festival. Two winners came to Rachael Blackmore with Captain Guinness’s surprise win in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. English rider Harry Skelton has also racked up two wins, courtesy of his brother Dan, with victories from Langer Dan and an Unexpected Party on Wednesday.
On a disciplinary note, jockey Michael O’Sullivan was slapped with a two-day suspension by the Cheltenham stewards after being deemed to have ridden carelessly on Shanbally Kid, who placed third in the Coral Cup. O’Sullivan was found to have allowed his mount to veer to the left when he was not adequately clear from the preferred Built By Ballymore on the bend following the second flight, causing the horse to lose its intended path and leading to Might I running short on space.
The hopes of premier British equestrian, Harry Cobden, for winning the jockeys’ championship have taken a hit after he was slapped with a three-day suspension on account of his performance in the initial Gallaher Novice Hurdle. He was indicted for inattentive riding when he was discovered to have wrongly directed his equine, Handstands, to the left during the fourth jump, jeopardising the horse ridden by Danny Mullins, Predators Gold. The cancellation of Wednesday’s Cross Country has dwindled the week’s festival races to 27, and at the halfway mark, the score stands at 10-3 in favour of the visitors in the Anglo-Irish competition. Notably, all three respective victories of the domestic team have originated from handicaps.