Cheltenham will have a new look for the 2004 Festival with the announcement yesterday that new stands in both the Tattersalls and Courage enclosures will be ready for the March 16 start to the meeting.
The Tattersalls Arena is on course to be finished in January, with a state-of-the-art new building that will more than double the indoor space for Tatts visitors.
The Arena will include a big screen, 40 Tote betting windows, the Istabraq bar, other drink and fast-food outlets and a Coral betting shop.
Entertainment before and after racing will also feature in the Tattersalls Arena.
The stands being built in the Courage enclosure will provide viewing for 3,000 people and include two upper-level bars, a Tote betting shop and a Harry Ramsden's restaurant.
Cheltenham managing director Edward Gillespie said: ''The new Tattersalls Arena will be a valuable addition to Cheltenham racecourse, while viewing in the Courage enclosure will be improved enormously.''
* Mick Channon will be out to underscore his stable's excellent record in the Maurice Lacroix Rennen at Baden Baden today when he sends out Mokabra for the Group Two contest.
Channon has won the six-furlong dash four times already and Mokabra is coming off a win in the competitive Ripon Hornblower Stakes.
That victory should set up Ted Durcan's mount nicely for a crack at six local rivals, the best of being Slawomira.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article