March 10th, 2009 by Warren Moore

Despite an expected attendance of over 200,000 people, organisers of the Cheltenham festival have reported slower than normal ticket sales. Corporate package sales have fallen while the number of Irish racegoers traveling over is also expected to be slump due to the economic downturn.

It is expected however that over £300m will be gamble over the  week’s 26 races. While on the race course itself, jockeys, trainers and owners will be competing for a record prize fund of £3.56m.

The four-day event which begins on today (March 10), is the highlight of the National Hunt calendar.

Tuesday’s card features the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, which has been won by Irish horses seven times in the last 10 years. Binocular, owned by JP McManus and trained by Nicky Henderson, the Festival’s most successful trainer, goes into the race as favourite.

On Wednesday, Master Minded will be hoping to make it back-to-back wins in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase after his dominant victory last year.

Thursday’s feature race is the Ladbrokes World Hurdle with the Francois Doumen-trained Kasbah Bliss aiming to go one better than last year when he finished second to three-time winner Inglis Drever.

But much of the festival interest surrounds Friday’s Gold Cup, the highlight of the Jumps season. The Queen could be enjoying her first Cheltenham success with Barbers Shop, who has had a couple of good runs at the track. Denman triumphed over his stablemates Kauto Star last year but since then has had treatment for heart problems and has looked unconvincing this season. Meanwhile Kauto Star, the 2007 winner, has bounced back in style this season and on his last appearance in the King George VI Chase in December was a comfortable winner.

Tickets for this weeks Cheltenham Festival are still available from £33.