Bookmakers confident Friday slot for new mares' chase can boost betting turnover

Cheltenham Festival: the biggest week of the year for bookmakersCredit: Edward Whitaker

Bookmakers are confident Gold Cup day punters will get behind the new mares' chase, which will replace one of the least popular betting races at the Cheltenham Festival in the novice handicap chase.

Of the 28 festival races, 21 made Coral's top 40 biggest betting races in 2019, but the novice handicap chase was not among them and on Wednesday it was axed from the 2021 festival to make way for a new Paddy Power-sponsored mares' chase.

Handicaps traditionally tend to attract more interest from punters, but the festival's two mares-only races – Tuesday's mares' hurdle and Thursday's mares' novice hurdle – both featured in the top 40 and it is hoped a Friday slot for the new race will generate betting interest.

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James StevensWest Country correspondent

Published on 7 October 2020inNews

Last updated 20:09, 7 October 2020

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