Snow set to hit Cheltenham racecourse just days before Festival starts with punters braced for a dry but chilly week

CHELTENHAM Festival is braced for a double whammy of plunging temperatures and train chaos on the Friday - as punters gear up for the biggest week of the racing year.

Tickets are selling out rapidly but racegoers should wrap up warm with single-figure temperatures forecast for three of the four days.

And snow is even set to hit the track a week before the famous roar is heard again at 1.30pm on Tuesday, March 12.

According to Accu Weather, there is a strong chance of snow falling on the Prestbury Park turf on March 5.

And their long-range forecast predicts that only the Tuesday of Festival week will see temperatures reach 10C during the day.

At least it looks like being dry, with the sun set to shine brightly on Champion Chase day.

Punters can expect to bask in the spring glow as Willie Mullins' El Fabiolo fights it out with Nicky Henderson's Jonbon in the big race, with close to 70,000 punters roaring them on.

But the mercury will plunge to just 1C at night, raising the prospect of frozen ground in the early hours.

There is just under three weeks until the Festival kicks off so of course the forecast could change between now and then.

But the Met Office does warn of 'occasional night frosts' amid temperatures set to be generally 'near of above normal'.

Snow fell on Cheltenham racecourse just four days before the Festival began last year - and there were even fears the second day would have to be cancelled.

But the threatening weather had quickly moved on by the time racing began.

So there's every indication it won't impact the action this time round either.

However, racegoers could face a tough time getting home on the Friday - Gold Cup day - owing to a rugby match taking place in the evening.

Gloucester host Leicester in the Premiership Rugby Cup final at their 16,115-capacity ground less than ten miles from the track at 7.45pm on Friday.

Rugby fans coming in could be met with a wave of racegoers piling out of the track after the final race, the Martin Pipe, finishes just after 5.30pm.

Great Western Railway has said services will be extra busy and more carriages and buses could be put on.

A spokesperson told the Racing Post: "We'll provide additional train services, and add more carriages to existing services, to support travel to and from this year's Festival.

"We'll also be sourcing some contingency buses to support the train service.

"Those looking to travel for the Cheltenham Festival are advised to travel early, especially if returning home after the races, as the station and trains will be very busy and you are likely to have to queue to access the platform and board trains safely."

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