Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Image source, Getty Images

The smallest Cheltenham Festival crowd since 1993 was recorded on Wednesday, with 41,949 at the track.

It was a drop of nearly 5,000 from last year and mirrored a fall in Tuesday's crowd which was down to 55,498 from 60,181.

Attendance for Queen Mother Champion Chase day on Wednesday was nearly 65,000 in 2022. This year's figure was the lowest since 40,662 on the second day of the fixture 32 years ago.

Absent regulars have cited the cost of accommodation, tickets, travel and food and drink as reasons for missing the meeting, which was extended to four days from three in 2005.

Thousands have travelled to destinations in the Costa del Sol, including Benidorm and Tenerife, to watch the action on big screens and say a week in the sunshine is cheaper than attending the fixture.

Racecourse chief executive Guy Lavender, who took over at the course earlier this year, wrote an open letter before the meeting which acknowledged that attendances would be down.

"The decline is not catastrophic but nor are we seeing growing attendances," he said.

BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, PA Media

Part-owner of Caldwell Potter, Sir Alex Ferguson, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "I think the jumping won it. What can I say? Great horse, it was a bonus.

"Winning with her last year was fantastic and doing it again this year is fantastic. Thank you very much."

1 Caldwell Potter (H Cobden) 7-1

2 Anyway (D J O'Keeffe) 125-1

3 O'Moore Park (S F O'Keeffe) 66-1

19 ran

Dominant.

Caldwell Potter moved into the lead from the start and never let up. A superb run from the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned horse.

Wearing the same colours as Grand National winner Neptune Collenges, another grey in Caldwell Potter has triumphed here.

This has been a superb run by Caldwell Potter, it has led from the start - and extends that advantage over the last.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Caldwell Potter has jumped electric so far.

We have a faller, What's Up Darling has gone.

Es Perfecto and O'Moore Park are the closest to the leader as they go down the hill. Three to jump.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

They are well strung out. Firefox is down the inner.

Five fences to go. All 19 starters are still in the race.

Caldwell Potter still leads.

Firefox is around seventh, with other well fancied runners Asian Master and Springwell Bay around him.

This is a very quick race, Caldwell Potter is leading aggressively.

All very clean so far, good pace and good jumping.

12 to go, Caldwell Potter leads.

Caldwell Potter, the only grey in this race, is the early leader.

Favourite Firefox is in the midfield.

We are going straight to a standing start after one false start. Away we go.

17 fences to jump.

Another large field here, 20 horses in the running.

Can they get away cleanly here? No, yet another false start.

Boos from the grandstand.

Andrew Thornton
Former jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

In Ireland, the starts are very different from the ones in England. In Ireland, you can break into a canter. It's very hard to come back to a different system. The start is vital and the pressure you're under as a jockey, it's a natural reaction. I completely understand the predicament and there must be a way we can get a universal start.

This could be one of the most tightly fought races at the Festival this year.

Firefox is favourite but Springwell Bay and Caldwell Potter are also well fancied.

Asian Master, Nurburgring, Pic Roc and Moon D'Orange have also been heavily backed this morning.

Andrew Thornton
Former jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

You're talking ultra-competitive around here. He struggles taking on Willie Mullins. Teahupoo [in the Stayers' Hurdle at 16.00 GMT] is the one who sticks out. I don't think there's too much concern. Obviously, he'd love to get a winner before Teahupoo to take the pressure off.

Trainer Gordon Elliott, who has 40 Cheltenham victories, is yet to have a winner at the Festival this year.

The horses are being shown the fences ahead of today's second race.

Firefox, trained by Gordon Elliott, goes off as the favourite in what looks like a competitive race.

What a fantastic image! The Queen of Cheltenham, Rachael Blackmore, is saluted by the crowd - and bookmakers, who enjoyed that victory on 16-1 Air of Entitlement.

Image source, PA Media