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Cheltenham Festival punters set to blow £500 MILLION in bets over just four days

Brits are set to bet £500million over four days at Cheltenham racing festival , which opens this week. Hundreds of thousands of punters will flock to 2019’s biggest horse racing event, giving the local economy a £100million boost.

Irish punters alone could splash out £20million.

Coral’s David Stevens said: “Cheltenham captures the punters’ imagination like no other meeting, with 28 top class races.

“Returning champions like Buveur D’Air, Altior and Benie Des Dieux are sure to be popular selections, while a repeat victory for Native River in Friday’s Gold Cup, would ensure punters ended the week on a high.”

Every day 65,000 racegoers will arrive at the course.

Last year more than £1million prize money was on offer daily Read More UK weather: Cheltenham Festival 2019 forecast ahead of this week's racing spectacular Last year more than £1million prize money was on offer daily, a jump festival record.

Nicola McGeady, of Ladbrokes, said: “Every year the Festival just gets bigger and bigger.”

Ryanair will put on 30 extra flights from Dublin to Birmingham over the next four days.

Meanwhile, all 300 seats have been snapped up on a special train from London’s Paddington to the Gold Cup. Tickets are £525 each.

Punters will be served a champagne breakfast on the Northern Belle’s 1930s-style Pullman carriages.

Northern Belle’s managing director Jeanette Snape said: “It’s a racing cert they’ll have a great day out.”

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