If the preview nights have given you a hankering for the Cheltenham racing festival, there are still some ways to get on course, writes Mark Rodden
IN LESS THAN two weeks, thousands of Irish horse racing lovers will descend on the English county of Gloucestershire for the annual Cheltenham Festival.
Upwards of 230,000 people are expected to attend the prestigious four-day meeting, where an estimated £500 million (€670 million) will be wagered on 25 races.
Many Irish punters are regulars at the festival and will have booked in advance, but for those thinking of going at this late stage, the good news is that it is still feasible.
Flights will be expensive but there is still availability on some tours.
On the course, the eagerly-awaited meeting of Denman and Kauto Star in the Gold Cup on Friday is a sell-out. But tickets will be sold on the other race days between Tuesday and Thursday, and Cheltenham Racecourse say they will do their best to accommodate anyone who is leaving it late to book.
The feature race on the opening day is the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, a race that has regularly produced an Irish winner in the last decade. The Ballymore Novice Hurdle will be one of Wednesday's most anticipated races and the Ryanair Chase and the World Hurdle are among the highlights of Ladies' Day on Thursday.
How to get there
The change from a three to a four-day festival in 2005 means there are more opportunities for people who are leaving it late to book.
Tully's Travel, which has offices in Dublin, Carlow, Newbridge and Athy, has some two-day packages remaining. Subject to availability, they cost €459 and include flights, transfers, taxes and accommodation in Cheltenham.
Newbridge Travel has limited places left on a five-day package costing €1,149 per person based on two people sharing. This includes four nights accommodation at the new Express Hotel in the centre of Cheltenham, return Aer Lingus flights from Dublin to Birmingham, as well as taxes and transfers to and from the airport and the course. Accommodation is on a bed and continental breakfast basis. Flights leave on Monday and return on Friday, but the package does not include race tickets.
Leopardstown Tours also has some availability, notably their Gold Cup day trip which costs €459 and includes coach transfer from the airport in Birmingham.
The price includes flights, coaches, taxes and entrance to the impressive Club Enclosure as well as a tour guide for those who haven't been to Cheltenham before. There may also be limited availability on their four-day packages costing €689.
Where to stay
There is plenty of accommodation in the town itself, but at this stage the vast majority of it will be booked out for the duration of the festival. Gloucester is conveniently located only eight miles outside Cheltenham, but it is more likely that last-minute travellers will have to go further afield.
Bristol, Birmingham and Bath are all options for those willing to put up with a longer commute.
Stratford-upon-Avon, which is around 30 miles from Cheltenham, is also a popular choice for race goers. The birthplace of Shakespeare, it offers a wide range of accommodation.
For people who want to spend a day away from the racing, there are a variety of Shakespeare-themed attractions, not least the Royal Shakespeare Company, who are staging shows on the Sunday before the festival and on Thursday evening.
One of the best accommodation options is to opt for a self-catering apartment or homestay B&B. Cheltenham Racing Accommodation and So Cheltenham are two agencies that offer a range of such properties in and around the Cheltenham area and both have reported that they still have plenty of good quality accommodation available to cater for a range of prices. Cheltenham Racing Accommodation also has limited availability in a four-star hotel two miles from the town centre.
What to do
Aside from the racing, the festival will feature a tented village and trade stands. On Ladies' Day awards will be presented for the outstanding contribution made by a lady to jump racing and, of course, there will be the award for best dressed lady.
Tickets for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday's racing start at £20 (€27) for the Best Mate enclosure, but this is discounted to £18 (€24) per ticket for those booking in groups of 15 or more.
Access to the Tattersalls enclosure costs £35 (€47) per person and £30 (€40) for those booking in groups of 15 or more. Tickets for the exclusive Club enclosure are priced at £65 (€86). One day hospitality packages range from £245 (€326) to £295 (€392), plus VAT. This includes your ticket, lunch, coffee, parking and race card.
Apart from the racing there will be plenty going on. Cheltenham has a population of over 110,000 and an extra 50,000 people are expected to spend time in the town on each day of the festival. It boasts three theatres and there are over 100 cafes and restaurants. The Bootleg Beatles and the Buddy Holly 50th Anniversary Tour will be among bands playing at the Town Hall during festival week. The lively atmosphere is sure to add to the experience, one that you will enjoy all the more if you do manage to pick out a winner.
Sites and numbers
Cheltenham Racecourse www.cheltenham.co.uk
For tickets and information phone 0044 1242 226 226
Accommodation and tourist information
For details on late accommodation deals within a 50-mile radius of Cheltenham: www.visitcheltenham.com
Call the accommodation booking line on 0044 1242 522 878.
For information on the town and details of last minute accommodation availability:
www.gloucester.gov.co.uk 0044 1452 396572
[ www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk ]
For self-catering accommodation and B&Bs see www.cheltenhamracing accommodation.com.
For more, phone: 0044 1242 234729 or 0044 7890 600365.
Also check: www.socheltenham.co.uk or phone 0044 1242 515 434
Travel Agents
www.leopardstowntours.com 01 295 8901
www.tullys.ie 059 91 36100
www.newbridgetravel.ie 045 449522