FEST PRICE HURDLE FOR IRISH PUNTERS
Many avoid Cheltenham races over ‘scandalous costs’
Delivering the news to the Basic Instinct star, Gates Jr said Douglas and Johansson shared ‘identical branches of DNA on four different chromosomes.’
Reacting to the news, Douglas, who was visibly shocked by the revelation, said: “Are you kidding?
Oh, that’s amazing. Alright, this is cool. This is so cool. That’s incredible.”
The 79-year-old told Gates Jr that he “looks forward to seeing” Johansson again.
The two actors both appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe - Douglas as Hank
Pym and Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow.
WORRIED Cheltenham Festival bosses are holding a stewards’ enquiry as to why Irish punters are giving the races a miss.
Thousands didn’t cross the Irish Sea this year in protest at the rip-off prices with many flying to the sunny climes of Lanzarote and the Costa del Sol to watch it on the telly instead.
Now the English Jockey Club has contacted the emails of thousands of Irish racegoers that they have on their records asking them to complete a survey covering every aspect of the four-day festival.
Punters are being asked their opinions on the much criticised ticket prices, the cost of hotel accommodation, the race track experience and the cost of food and drink which in many bars were £7 (€8.17) to £10 (€11.67) a pint.
And ticket prices have soared from £47 (€54) to £112 (€130) per day for Tuesday to Thursday, and £64 (€74) to £131 (€152) on Gold Cup Day.
Jockey Club sources suspect the Irish are staying at home due to the overall costs.
One said: “We believe the numbers from Ireland are down 20pc.”
Its Chief Executive Nevin Truesdale has admitted that the ticket prices and the cost of hotels is now a problem.
Racing travel agent Eimer Hannon (inset) of Hannon Travel has been sending punters to Cheltenham for over 20 years.
She said there was little or no interest in punters travelling this year and that it was “a damp squib”.
The owner of Globe Travel in Drogheda, Sandra Finnegan, used to send hundreds of punters to Cheltenham every year and she said the numbers were way down. She said: “Cheltenham has outpriced itself. It now costs a couple €2,500 to go without even paying for a ticket.”