All eyes are on Galopin Des Champs, who is aiming for a third successive Gold Cup at the climax of the Cheltenham Festival. General admission for the Gold Cup has sold out, with nearly 70,000 spectators gathered at Prestbury Park.

New Cheltenham chief executive Guy Lavender has promised to reflect on "the quality of the experience" for everyone on course in the coming weeks and months, but in the interim our reporters discussed the festival with racegoers in attendance, from the competitiveness of the racing to the raceday experience and pricing.

The crowds at Cheltenham this year are down, but Friday at the Festival is always a sell-out, so expect a tremendous atmosphere. Let’s get straight into the final seven races of the week. * Want to win a GRAND on the Lucky Last each day at Cheltenham?