Cheltenham could extend Festival

By Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Cheltenham's four-day format has been deemed a big success

Racecourse officials are to consider extending the Cheltenham Festival further - by adding an extra race to Gold Cup day in 2007.

Managing director Edward Gillespie told BBC Sport the new four-day Festival, which climaxed with Kicking King's fairytale Gold Cup triumph on Friday, had been a success.

Crowds were down for the first three days, compared with 2004, but he said the total attendance of 231,000 was partial vindication of the decision to expand.

"Our business plan was to be a third up on last year, and we have achieved that," said Gillespie.

Some punters felt the meeting lacked some of its usual buzz on the opening days because of the lower crowds.

But with 10,000 less people each day than the normal 65,000, it meant movement around the packed course was much easier.

"At 55,000 people, everything works so much better, and we are looking to say for probably the first three days that is the right sort of crowd," said Gillespie.

CHELTENHAM CROWDS Last year's figures in brackets Tuesday: 55,184 (64,573) Wednesday: 54,850 (66,792) Thursday: 54,817 (65,746) Friday: 66,767 Total: 232,618 (197,111)

"It was lovely to have a bit of space, people could get themselves parked and have a good view of the racing."

Four new races were added to the 2005 schedule, bringing the total number of contests to 24.

Critics fear the additional races have diluted the Festival's hallmark of quality action.

However, the thrilling finish to one of those races - the Daily Telegraph Trophy Chase - was right up there with the best, Thisthatandtother just seeing off Fondmort and Rathgar Beau.

Not only that, each new addition produced its own tale:

Millionaire owner JP McManus had the first of two 2005 Festival wins by landing the Cross Country race.

Nina Carberry, sister of the highly-rated rider Paul, showed why she is considered the best woman jockey around when winning the handicap hurdle for four-year-old horses.

Jockey Mattie Bachelor lost his reins but kept his nerve with a remarkable ride to claim the new novices' handicap chase on Thursday.

"There hasn't been a weak link," said Gillespie. "By increasing the number of races by four, it was absolutely essential there shouldn't be any lightweights in it.

"I would challenge some people here to pick the new ones from the old ones."

Now the Cheltenham board of directors will review the week, and consider their options.

NEW RACE WINNERS Tuesday: Spothedifference (Cross Country Steeplechase) Dabiroun (Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle) Thursday: King Harald (Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase) Thisthatandtother (Daily Telegraph Chase)

Gillespie said one possibility is an extra race on Friday, taking the total number of races to seven on Gold Cup day.

If approved, it would most likely be introduced in 2007.

"It's very likely it would be a mares' race, maybe a two-and-a-half mile handicap or a Bumper race," he said.

Gillespie believes the impressive Friday crowd would appreciate another contest to enjoy. It would also stagger the big volumes of traffic leaving the course.

One thing looks an odds-on certainty: the four-day Festival is here to stay.

The betting industry estimated turnover of more than £300m, about 25% up on last year.

But bookies are already running scared of another Irish clean sweep of the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup.

Irish firm Cashmans initially offered a price of 50-1 on another treble, but that was soon down to 20s.

With the final day next year set to fall on St Patrick's Day, many Cheltenham rooms have already been booked up, one year in advance.