article_snippet: The regulations, confirmed by a Cheltenham spokeswoman, state that horses in the line-up should all have been given an average BHA rating to ensure a competitive race.
article_snippet: The get-out clause buried in the fine print was that any horse without a rating could be handicapped by Cheltenham at their discretion.
article_snippet: ARC are owned by the Reuben brothers, the billionaire property developers who have caused serious upset by closing down popular racecourse Hereford and moving popular racecourse meetings to the over-raced Chepstow and Uttoxeter tracks.
article_snippet: Hereford is now empty most of the time as part of a long-term property play between the local council and the Reuben brothers, who are never seen at the races.
article_snippet: There will be only five more racing days after Saturday before Clare Balding turns Clare Balding back on presenting the sport following Royal Ascot.
article_snippet: The Cheltenham peak of 996,000 was down again on Wednesday, year on year, by 20,000.
article_snippet: And the last time Cheltenham enjoyed four consecutive days of 1m-plus ratings was pre-Balding in 2012, when Highflyer produced the coverage and John McCririck, John Francome and Derek Thompson