The China Mail - Cheltenham Festival retains its magic despite spectator decline

The deafening 'Cheltenham Roar' from spectators gets its first rendition on Tuesday and brings the curtain up on 28 races over four days -- climaxing with the blue riband of steeplechasing the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

With prizemoney of nigh on £5million ($6.5 million) it is an annual battle -- Cheltenham has been its permanent home since 1911 -- between the best the English hosts have in their yards against the formidable array of Irish talent.

This for Snowden, who is likely to have five runners this week, is what sets it apart from other festivals, like the three day Grand National meeting.

"I suppose it is the best taking on the best in a wonderful cauldron," Snowden told AFP by phone.

"It is the equivalent of the Colosseum without the blood."

Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead achieved the remarkable treble of sweeping the three most prestigious races, the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2021.

The 52-year-old has like Snowden been dazzled by the Festival since they were nippers.

"People tune in from all over the world, I know it is a cliche but it is our Olympics, the best competing against each other," he told AFP.

"It is when the spotlight is being shone on our great industry."

It is not just on the track where rich pickings lie for the winners, but the local area which welcomes tens of thousands of British and Irish racing fans.

The most recent estimate of the festival's economic impact on Cheltenham and the surrounding area was £270 million.

- 'A massive one' -

Nevertheless the rise in the cost of living has played a role in the fall in attendances over the first three days, Gold Cup day the exception in being sold out.

A day out at Cheltenham does not come cheap with entrance alone to the enclosure with the best view of the finish line costing £100 (£118 on Gold Cup day) and a pint of Ireland's most famous export Guinness is over £8.

Benidorm in Spain has bizarrely become a cheaper option for the week for increasing numbers of Cheltenham fans, who can drink considerably cheaper beer and bet at the same time.

They, though, will miss out on the unique atmosphere of the packed stands, the good natured banter between Irish and English spectators and the horses racing with The Cotswolds forming a gorgeous backdrop.

"The Festival is made by the spectators," said Snowden.

"I mean I go as a fan, not just as a trainer, as I want to watch the best of England and Ireland compete.

"The ambience in the racecourse Village with Irish and British spectators alongside each other is very special, it has a real buzz about it."

Both Snowden and de Bromhead caught the Festival bug early, the former's first visit for Desert Orchid's Gold Cup win in 1989 and the latter's a memorable day in 1993.

"It was a massive one as it was the year Fissure Seal won for my father," said de Bromhead.

De Bromhead, who will have 15-20 runners, said starting out and having runners on a rainy night at an unglamorous racecourse the Festival seems a long way away.

"You just want to have a winner, then progress from there and maybe once you achieve that get to those festivals, Cheltenham especially is the ultimate goal," he said.

Snowden, who has 60 horses and is enjoying a successful season with 45 winners, said winning at the Festival is "wonderful the more you have the more you want."

Thusfar he has had two more winners than he did as a talented amateur jockey.

"The closest I came to winning was when I fell at the last in the four mile Handicap Chase," he said.

"I ended up in the hospital instead of the winners enclosure!!"

On Tuesday the unbeaten Constitution Hill will bid to regain his Champion Hurdle crown after missing last year's race while on Friday Galopin des Champs will join a select club if he makes it three in a row in the Gold Cup.

D.Pan--ThChM