Punters will guzzle 260,000 PINTS of Guinness at Cheltenham Festival this week in big return after Covid closed doors

PUNTERS will guzzle 260,000 pints of Guinness when they race back to the Cheltenham Festival this week.

Many will be wanting to make up for lost time after last year’s event was held behind closed doors because of Covid.

Tickets have been the fast-selling ever and 275,000 fans are predicted across the week.

Ryanair is putting on an extra 30 flights on its Dublin to Birmingham route to cope with demand.

Caterers at the Gloucestershire course reckon the crowds will also down 8,000 gallons of tea and munch 45,000 bread rolls, five tons of smoked salmon, five tons of cheese and nine tons of spuds.

Bookies expect £500million in bets — and fear a battering with a string of odds-on favourites in the 28 races.

Rachael Kane, of Paddy Power, said: “We estimate that potentially £450million could be paid out by bookmakers industry wide.”

Simon Clare, of Coral, added: “Never has the Cheltenham Festival been more anticipated by, nor more important to, racing fans, bookies and the jump racing community.”