Cheltenham Festival tickets going faster than usual with a quarter already sold

More than 25 per cent of tickets for the 2022 Cheltenham Festival have already been sold, with the Jockey Club reporting a major uptake in interest for next year's major meetings compared with previous years.

Following Rachael Blackmore's history-making Grand National success, there has been also been a "major surge" of racegoers wanting to be at Aintree on April 9 next year.

The Cheltenham Festival and Grand National meeting were both staged behind closed doors this season and tickets for the Jockey Club's two showpiece jumps events next year went on sale earlier this month.

Both are being sold with the expectation of all Covid-19 restrictions being lifted by March 2022.

If restrictions on crowds are still in place, the Jockey Club will be using a first-come, first-served system, so those wishing to attend are being encouraged to book in advance.

It is estimated that 70,000 tickets have already been sold across the four days of the 2022 festival, staged between March 15 and 18.

Ian Renton, managing director of Jockey Club Racecourses West, said: "Following the incredible racing we had at the festival this year, tickets have been in extremely high demand.

"We've already sold a much higher number than we would expect for this time of year, and would highly recommend that racegoers purchase their tickets sooner rather than later.

"Over the four days we were treated to fantastic action and it really whet the appetite for next year. it's wonderful that people can't wait to be back on course for the biggest week in jump racing. We are certainly ready to hear the famous roar that was so missed in 2021."

In 2020, the total crowd figure across the four days of the festival was 266,813, and the paying public have been unable to attend any of Cheltenham's fixtures since. Racegoers were permitted for the two-day December meeting but the 2,000 tickets were allocated to members.

Aintree: the Grand Nationla was behind closed doors last weekendCredit: Edward Whitaker

Only one fixture at Aintree has been open to the public – the Becher Chase meeting on December 5 – but next year's National festival is on track to be a sell-out. Tickets were made available early this week with sales reportedly through the roof.

Renton added: “The historic result courtesy of Rachael Blackmore and Minella Times in Saturday’s Grand National has also meant that there has been a huge surge in sales for the Aintree three-day meeting since tickets went on sale earlier this week.

"Some of our enclosures are already very close to selling out. We strongly recommend buying early to avoid disappointment.

“We're very much looking forward to having our loyal racing fans back on course to celebrate these incredible moments with us and would like to thank everyone for their continued support while they have been enjoying the sport from home.”

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