Thrifty punter defied Cheltenham booze price with sneaky trick - but it's banned

14 March 2024 , 13:15

1190     0

A punter at Cheltenham has previously been spotted drinking from her binoculars (Image: @racingblogger)

A video of a Cheltenham punter drinking from her binoculars has resurfaced as prices at the festival cop heavy criticism.

The four-day event is the centrepiece of the jumps season and continues to attract growing numbers. More than 200,000 pints of Guinness are consumed from Tuesday to Friday as the UK to battle with the Irish on the track. Off it, plenty of bars are looking to cash in.

A day at Cheltenham proves pricey if you want to enjoy a couple of drinks - and a female punter found a way round it. Binoculars are a popular piece of equipment, but a fan back in 2019 found that it could have a second function, using it to store drink.

Much like a hip flask, the video captured the racegoer holding her binoculars before taking a swig from them. No doubt her motive was to avoid paying huge amounts for a pint, a glass of wine or a mixer. Taking your own alcohol into the Festival is banned, however.

Visitors this year are expected to pay £7.50 for a pint of Draught Atlantic Pale ale at 4.5% but it's also the same price for Aspall Suffolk Cyder, Madri Lager and Guinness too. Whereas Spirits from whisky to vodka and gin are £7 for a 25ml measure, more premium spirits such as Jameson Irish Whiskey and Cognac VS will set you back £7.50.

Harry Cobden says winning Cheltenham ride on Il Ridoto did not deserve ban

Non alcoholic Guinness costs racegoers £6.75 and wine is even more expensive than spirits, with a house glass of red, rose or white costing punters £9.70. For soft drinks, a 330ml can costs £3 and a can of still mineral water is £2.40.

Last year a Jockey Club spokesperson said: "There are a lot more set-up costs with a major UK sporting event compared to a smaller and more locally resourced event. These costs are reflective of that. At the Jockey Club, any profits are reinvested into all aspects of British horseracing."

Drinks prices at Cheltenham have soared (@racingblogger)

After two days of the festival Willie Mullins has continued to build on his Cheltenham legacy. The Irish trainer landed his 100th winner of the event as his son Patrick won the Champion Bumper on Jasmin De Vaux in the final race on Wednesday.

"Whoever dreamt any trainer, never mind me, could do it," said Mullins, who has landed six victories oat the 2024 Festival. He claimed another Champion Hurdle on the opening day. State Man justified his odds-on favortism to take the feature race. Less than an hour later and Mullins landed himself another Grade 1 success as Lossiemouth won the Mares' Hurdle.

Mullins' immense dominate was illustrated by Ballyburn leading home a 1-2-3-4-5 for him in the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle in the opening race on Wednesday.

Samuel Meade