There are few bigger sporting events on the calendar than the Cheltenham Festival. It is one of the most popular events on the schedule in the United Kingdom, with the Festival also being one of the most commercially successful for the local area with thousands of Irish visitors attending the four-day meeting every year.
As one of the most significant horse racing events of the year, travelling to Cheltenham to witness at least one day of action is extremely popular. However, there are some key details that all first-time visitors should be aware of before making their journey to a day at the races in the Cotswolds.
Plan Accommodation In Advance
For the vast majority of visitors, accommodation will be required if they are attending one or more days at Cheltenham for the Festival. However, hotels in the town can often be extremely expensive during the four-day event.
Therefore, if you’re looking to save money on your accommodation for the event, then many Racegoers look at local spots that offer easy routes to Cheltenham as a more affordable option. Birmingham is an extremely popular spot, with the Second City boasting no shortage of hotels and direct trains to Cheltenham. Bristol is also a popular spot with affordable hotels.
However, Worcester could be one of the hidden gems for visitors. Hotels are slightly more expensive in the city, but it is a beautiful spot to unwind after a day at the racing. Trains also take just half an hour to get to Cheltenham, and taxis are more affordable from the city for big groups.
Buy Tickets Early
Tickets for the Cheltenham Festival can often be in high demand, especially when it comes to attending Gold Cup Day. The cheapest tickets are on sale directly after the previous year’s Festival, with two different stages when prices rocket up in price. At the very worst, those looking to purchase tickets should do so in early January before the prices increase for the final time.
Club Enclosure tickets are most popular, but the £112 price could be enough to put off first-time visitors. Therefore, the Best Mate Enclosure is often extremely popular, with tickets in this section being available at £57.
There are excellent views of the Cheltenham straight, while spectators can watch the action from the finishing line. Meanwhile, it is also an excellent area for fans looking to enjoy the day to the fullest, with live music taking place in the tents throughout the day.
Work Out A Route From The Train Station
For many, the most popular way to get to Cheltenham for Festival week is by train. However, that can often create its own issues for Racegoers, as Cheltenham Spa is a 50-minute walk away from the racecourse. Visitors that get in early will typically walk 20 minutes into the town centre and hit a few bars before making the final journey to the track.
Taxis are readily available at Cheltenham Spa, with the journey taking eight minutes, and will cost around £15. Alternatively, there are shuttle busses located immediately outside Cheltenham Spa, which is the most popular method to get to the track. A return journey costs £10, and there is the option to get off in town before jumping back on to get to the course.
Queues after the racing can often be extreme, meaning that many visitors opt to stick around and enjoy the live music available after racing before making their journey back to the train station. For visitors looking to drive to the course, there is an excellent selection of parking options available. However, all parking at the course must be paid for in advance, as visitors will not be able to pay to park at the course on the day. Parking at the course is £20, while coach parking is available at £30.
Follow The Racing
Unlike flat racing, jumps is one of the most important to follow when it comes to action throughout the season. Bettors that experience the most success at the Festival are those that have followed the action in both the United Kingdom and Ireland throughout the winter months.
That includes assessing runners that are competing over hurdles for the first season, with the Supreme promising to be one of the most intriguing betting races at the Festival in 2024. You can explore different wager types here: twinspires.com/wagertypes/
First-season chasers also make for a competitive sphere, with many following the action at the Dublin Racing Festival, which could pinpoint a potential Arkle or Turners horse that could grab the crown at Cheltenham.
Following the racing throughout the season will enable bettors to become familiar with the runners that will be lining up at the Festival with the ante-post markets being particularly popular in terms of Cheltenham betting in comparison to other events on the horse racing schedule.
