BBC SPORT | CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL | Festival ready to resume

Cheltenham Racecourse Managing Director Edward Gillespie tells BBC Sport Online's Charlie Henderson of his hopes ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.

The Cheltenham Festival is set to be a celebration of the best of horse racing - pure and simple.

Tickets for Gold Cup day sold out prior to New Year, the champagne is stocked and Gloucestershire is ready to host up to 150,000 visitors.

There will be a greyhound race on Gold Cup day - an innovation, but strictly no gimmicks or special events.

The racing itself is treat enough for those starved of the Festival festivities because of last year's cancellation due to the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

There's no such thing as a small race at the Festival

Edward Gillespie

"There is a special feel about it this year," Cheltenham Racecourse managing director Edward Gillespie explains.

The three-day meeting is brimming with competitive races.

Horses such as Florida Pearl in the Gold Cup and Istabraq in the Champion Hurdle will undoubtedly catch the eye of punters.

But Gillespie warns that there may be a few surprises in store.

"Fundamentally, after the tremendous disappointment of last year, this season has been full of optimism - no more so than in people's appetite for the Festival," he explains.

"The Festival is always an occasion for not only celebrating the athleticism of the horses, but also life in general.

Charlie Swan celebrates a third Champion Hurdle with Istabraq in 2000
Charlie Swan and Istabraq are going for a fourth win

"That will be a strong element this year, but the sheer quality of the racing will also be at the forefront.

"Not only do we have this season's new horses coming through, but many of last season's have not been tested at championship level so you have got that added element.

"The races are extremely open, and that includes the Gold Cup where you can make a really good case for up to 10 horses."

However, the horses are not the only stars on show at this year's Cheltenham Festival.

Gillespie believes that the sport is going through a "golden age" of jockeys.

"Their exploits, as well as those of the trainers and the horses, mean that the Festival is not an event that needs too many stories being built up around it.

"All the elements are there and we can sit back and wait for the drama to unfold on the track."

Such sentiments are a far cry from this time last year.

Edward Gillespie
Gillespie ponders last year's troubles

The first case of foot-and-mouth was reported in the UK on the 20 February - three weeks before the start of the Festival.

"We were remarkably close before we had any inkling of a problem," Gillespie reflects.

The losses were not only felt at the course and in the town of Cheltenham, but also throughout Gloucestershire.

Last year's cancellation has been measured at a cost of about �40m.

However, Gillespie received encouraging news in his efforts to recoup last year's losses early in the New Year.

"I heard that people from Ireland were coming in their normal numbers and that they were bringing last year's money with them as well as this year's.

"What's more is that they were also asking us to supply plenty of champagne!"

The Irish at the Festival

More than 50 horses that are trained in Ireland

Another 150 horses that originated from Ireland

90% of the jockeys

5,000 travel from Ireland

They are joined by another 5,000 English-based Irish

The Irish descend on the small corner of Gloucestershire in amazing numbers, and Gillespie estimates that there will be 10,000 on the course at any one time.

"The Irish element adds a dimension that, although not unique, does give it an edge," he explains.

"They know how to behave, they know how to enjoy their sport, they know how to celebrate and how to commiserate.

"It's a fairly simple formula - as it is for everyone.

"Pay your money, see the races, have a drink, have a decent bet, celebrate, commiserate and get back to a hotel and let the fun continue."

The only missing element of the equation is that �40m.

"If we can stage an event that is worth that amount I'll be very proud," Gillespie concludes.


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