Cheltenham Racecourse has announced today that tickets for all enclosures - Club, Tattersalls and Best Mate - have sold out for Gold Cup Day on Friday 17th March.

This has occurred two weeks earlier than last year.

Ticket sales for all four days are reported to be very strong and Ian Renton, Regional Director for the South West region of The Jockey Club, said: "All three enclosures on Gold Cup are sold out and this is significantly earlier than in 2016."

"We have seen strong demand for badges and tickets across all four days of The Festival, not just Gold Cup Day, and look forward to welcoming racegoers in March."

Over 14,000 Irish are likely to travel over to Cheltenham next month and according to a recent survey produced by Gloucestershire University they can be expected to spend in excess of €22 million.