Gambling Insider's B2B Cheltenham preview - part two: Press Box PR
>
Jack Mansell, Director, Press Box PR talks Gambling Insider through a huge week for the industry, with the Cheltenham Festival about to kick, neigh, gallop off.
We're nearly there... the most eagerly anticipated four days in jump racing are almost upon us. It feels this year's Cheltenham has taken on the greatest significance that I can remember for a long time. Tickets sold out in next to no time, the preview circuit has come alive and the demand we have seen from our clients to muscle in on the annual Cheltenham buzz has been extraordinary.
As a racing fan, it's great to see the Festival back as the flagbearer for British and Irish jump racing. The return of crowds, and the iconic Cheltenham roar, are what we've all missed so much these past two years. It'll be interesting to see if the British trainers can fight back this year and try to level the playing field, but it wouldn't be a surprise if we see continued Irish dominance in the Prestbury Cup.
For Press Box PR, the Festival is without doubt the busiest few days of the year for our range of racing clients that span operators, sponsors and rights holders. We'll be managing a press room operation throughout the week, creating bespoke content and features for publishers on both sides of the Irish Sea. It's a great week but also incredibly busy, so come Gold Cup day I think we'll all be ready for a celebratory Guinness to cap a big team effort these past few weeks.
In the meantime, there's the small matter of picking winners. One that stands out for me as an each way shout is Night And Day in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle on Thursday. I heard Ruby Walsh talking up her chances and she looks decent value for a Willie Mullins runner.
Finally, for sentimental reasons, I'd love to see Honeysuckle triumph in the Champion Hurdle. Both the horse and her jockey, Rachael Blackmore, deserve to come back to the cheers of a packed winners' enclosure after what they have achieved for the sport of racing.