Why racing's fortunes hang on the Friday of the Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Gold Cup, won last year by Al Boum Photo, is a huge magnet for racegoers and punters

The Cheltenham Gold Cup, won last year by Al Boum Photo, is a huge magnetCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Friday the 13th may spell ill fortune for bookmakers or punters this year but not for racing, which has growing reason to give thanks for Cheltenham Gold Cup day as the sport's key betting occasion and generator of levy for the industry.

Figures released by Ladbrokes Coral reveal seven of the top 19 most popular betting races of 2019 were on the Friday of the Cheltenham Festival, a development the firm attributes to a new breed of punter.

Simon Clare, Ladbrokes Coral PR director, said: "It's such a big step change from the rest of the week to Friday. In racing we see it as a four-day festival, the classic approach, but Gold Cup day and the race itself appeal to a new group of people who haven't engaged from Tuesday to Thursday.”

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Tom CollinsTipster

Published on 1 March 2020inCheltenham Festival

Last updated 19:55, 1 March 2020

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