'Sometimes tradition is more important' - prospect of Cheltenham Festival Saturday switch gets mixed responses from regulars

Racegoers at Cheltenham's opening meeting of the season gave a mixed reception to the prospect of moving the festival  to a Wednesday to Saturday format.

Chief executive Guy Lavender revealed to the Racing Post on Monday was considering the switch after attendances for jump racing's biggest meeting fell for a third straight season.

• Cheltenham Festival could be held from Wednesday to Saturday as course begins to consider radical move 
• 'Very risky' - bookmakers warn Saturday switch at Cheltenham could hit festival betting turnover 
• 'We can't be traditional forever' - Nicky Henderson and former Cheltenham boss Edward Gillespie open to festival switch to Saturday 

A Saturday at Cheltenham would likely draw a bigger crowd but it could lose ITV1 coverage, due to a clash with the final day of the Six Nations. Bookmakers have warned it could be "very risky" and lead to a reduction in betting turnover while hospitality sales could also be hit.

Local racegoer Daniel Keen, who attends almost all days at the course, said the switch would damage the tradition of the Cheltenham Festival.

"I think it's nonsense," Keen said. "The only logic to it is trying to get more people to watch it, but you could increase eyes on it by getting ITV to show all the races, rather than six. I don't think it's a good move for anyone, sometimes tradition is more important."

Steve Tilley, a lifelong racing fan and member of the Horseracing Bettors Forum, said he understood the advantages of a Saturday but was personally against the proposal.

"It's riled everyone up, me included," Tilley said. "I'm not speaking on behalf of the HBF but I hate it. They're a commercial business but we're not fully sure why they're doing it. I don't really see many benefits for it.

"If they made the Saturday meeting all handicaps and put the Graded races on ITV1, then it gets the coverage and the Saturday you get competitive fields. That's the only way I think it would work, but I wouldn't be in favour."

Cheltenham: the vista is beautiful but the view of racegoers on a Saturday festival switch is anything butCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Ryan Clarke, from Gloucester, said the proposal made sense given the Saturday of the Paddy Power meeting in November is the track's most popular day away from March.

He said: "I can definitely see the appeal. They want more people through the gates, and by having a Saturday you'd be pretty sure they'll get that. It's clear they want to bring in a bit more money, so it certainly makes sense from that perspective. I've seen the comments about the TV coverage and that's going to make an impact, but I go every day in March, so it wouldn't change much for me."

Cheltenham racegoers have experienced some of the changes introduced to improve customer experience. They include upgraded bar facilities, a new PA system and, for drinkers, cheaper pint prices and an easing of restrictions on where drinks could be taken.

A new price of £7.50, which is 30p cheaper than last year, made little difference to Paul Jones who attended with wife Cathy.

"It's still pretty expensive," he said. "It makes sense you can walk around with a pint though, it always seemed a bit stupid before.

"I only do one or two days of the Cheltenham Festival and I suppose if it was on a Saturday there's a few more people who could go that can't during the week."

Read more:

'Make Cheltenham great again' - our experts have their say on the proposed change to the festival 

'It doesn't feel right' - readers have their say on a potential Wednesday-to-Saturday Cheltenham Festival 

A Cheltenham Festival day relegated to ITV4 - that's the price the course now has to consider paying 

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