Alan King sees the 'sense' of having a five-day Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Alan King has come out in favour of extending the meeting to five days, arguing that the idea "makes a lot of sense" in his latest column in the Racing Post Weekender, which is published on Wednesday.

Many people have spoken out against the notion of an extra day since course chairman Martin St Quinton set tongues wagging by refusing to rule it out in a New Year's Day interview on ITV.

Prominent figures warn Cheltenham against adding an extra day to festival

Each of the five racing professionals asked about the subject for the Monday Jury in the Racing Post were opposed to lengthening the meeting, with trainer Evan Williams calling it "a stupid idea".

But King, who has won 15 races at the festival, including the Champion Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase, said: "I can see it happening. I understand where they're coming from and I have to say that I'd be in favour.

"I wasn't sure about it at first but I had a long chat with Martin St Quinton, the new course chairman, a couple of months ago and it makes a lot of sense. He argues that the Saturday would attract the younger generation, many of whom can't get time off work during the week.

"You'd attract a different crowd, rather as they do on the Saturday at Royal Ascot, and you could get a huge turnout – remember, they only have a full house on the Friday."

Opponents of an extension to the festival have argued it would dilute the quality of the festival, which features seven races on each of four days.

However, King explained: "I'm sure Cheltenham would revert to six races a day so that they'd only need to find two extra ones and the quality of the programme should be maintained.

"The Gold Cup would definitely stay on the Friday, so that it would have fresh ground, and either the Ryanair Chase or the Stayers' Hurdle, which have to share top billing on the Thursday, would switch to become a new stand alone flagship event on the Saturday."

But King stressed that the daily line-up would have to change if the festival were to be lengthened.

"You couldn't extend the meeting and have seven races a day," he said.

"That would dilute the standard too much and after a wet spring, like the one we had last year, the ground could be desperate by the 35th race of the week."

Read Alan King's full column, plus all the news and views you need for the week's big racing, in the Racing Post Weekender