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Extra time a positive opening for punters and bookmakers

Andrew Scutts welcomes 48-hour declarations at Cheltenham

CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 17:   A general view as runners turn into the straight in The Pertemps Network Final clear a hurdle in the country during Cheltenham Festival - St Patrick's Thursday at Cheltenham racecourse on March 17, 2016 in Cheltenham, Eng
The Cheltenham Festival will be boosted by 48-hour declarationsCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The move to 48-hour declarations for all Cheltenham Festival races is welcome news for punters and bookmakers – and therefore the sport as a whole.

The dominance of so few trainers in so many festival races has been a big ante-post turn-off, the situation worsening year on year, and while that is not going to change any time soon, an extra day to assess all races – not just the crown jewels – will reinvigorate turnover, which of course fuels the levy on which a decent chunk of the sport’s funding is based.

It would, indeed, be good to know as early as possible which races big trainers like Willie Mullins are targeting.

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