HAVING attended many Cheltenham Festivals, it was wonderful to attend this year’s evend see extraordinary achievements, both human and equine.

Well done to Willie, Paul, Henry, Rachael, Gavin, Danny and all our great ambassadors for National Hunt racing. It was also really good to see some rising British racing stars, i.e., Constitution Hill and Edwardstone.

Leaving aside the incredible racing on view, it was a real shame to see this great showcase overshadowed by what happened at this great venue this week.

I fully understand and acknowledge that the Jockey Club needed to recoup some of the losses of 2021 due to Covid lockdown, but what happened this week is totally unacceptable.

Taking Gold Cup Day (Friday 18th) as an example, there was 73,875 in attendance, despite public capacity of Cheltenham being 67,500. Selling 10% tickets more than capacity led to overcrowding in all areas, long queues for all facilities and many toilets overflowing.

Is this what a genuine NH supporter expects, having paid £110 for a Club Enclosure ticket? It would seem that the Jockey Club, in their efforts to maximise income post Covid peak, had complete disregard for health and safety, public comfort and customer experience.

When you add £10 burgers, £7 chips, and £6 pints, the 2022 Cheltenham experience will not be remembered for the on-course racing achievements only.

If the March festival is going to be an overcrowded party venue in the years ahead, I do feel many genuine NH racing supporters will not travel, and instead they will see the return of the many champions from the comfort of their TV rooms.

It is sad that greed has taken over in this fabulous Cotswold theatre.

Yours in sport.

MICHAEL DOLLARD, Kilmacow,

Co Kilkenny