Nine out of 10 sports fans plan to bunk off work to watch Cheltenham Gold Cup

Britain is set to down tools en masse tomorrow (Friday) after a survey revealed nine of 10 sports fans will bunk off to watch the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The battle for the 'most iconic trophy in horse racing' will begin at 3.30pm. And it is set to trigger an `Early Finish Friday' for most of the nation.

A staggering 85% of Brits told researchers they plan to the watch the 100th anniversary of the race which boasts many of the most famous horses in history among its past winners including Arkle, Kauto Star and Desert Orchid. Rachael Blackmore's 2022 victory on A Plus Tard - the first ever by a female jockey - has been hailed a seismic moment for women's sport.

She will try to repeat her success on Jungle Boogie tomorrow - and will try to stop current champion Galopin Des Champs winning two in a row. Britain will grind to a standstill for the big race - with most bosses not expecting their staff back before the weekend.

Two out of three plan to watch the race at home while 9% reckon their boss will let them tune in at the office, according to a YouGOV Sport survey for bookmaker Betfair. Around 8% will head to the pub.

While 16% of those questioned hope to be at the course itself to watch the action live. Cheltenham chiefs said it is a sell-out, and they are not surprised by the public's reaction.

"The Gold Cup has ruled the highest echelons of jump racing since 1924,'' a spokesman said. "The most iconic trophy in horse racing, arguably, sport.

"This is the one they all long to win. For many it’s a lifetime obsession - to win The Cup, to claim the title, to be crowned champion chaser of the year. The Gold Cup is the one. The only one.''

Paul Binfield of Paddy Power said: "This is not the 1980s. People like to throw the odd sickie, and when it comes to the most important and historic horse race in the whole calendar, they just can't fire up their computers.''

Jockey Rachael, 34, who won Wednesday's top race, The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase, on Captain Guinness, said she used to secretly listen to Cheltenham commentaries during classes and would dash out of school to watch the Gold Cup.

"I remember listening to it in school while in class. I had an earpiece and I had my hair down so it was hidden and I would listen to the racing at Cheltenham all week,'' she said. "For the Gold Cup I remember going down to my aunt’s house which was only two minutes away from our secondary school.

"The Gold Cup is just such a special race. It's one as a jockey that you'd love to ride in someday and to be able to say you've won it is just incredibly special. There’s been 100 years of Gold Cup history, and I’d love to make some more.”

Her victory was voted the most iconic in the race's history by the 1,500 Brits polled. Paul Nicholls, 61, who trained Kauto Star and Denman to Gold Cup glory, said he fell in love with the sport watching the race with his grandad.

"He always used to say, 'you’ve got to make sure you watch the Gold Cup'. So I always used to watch it with him which really got me hooked on racing.

"It was so special to train both Kauto Star and Denman for the races when they took each other on. When Kauto won the first one in 2007. he was absolutely imperious that day. That was a very special day.''

Legendary jockey Ruby Walsh, 44, who rode Kauto Star to victory, said: "The Gold Cup was always on a pedestal in our house.''