‘The town can’t wait’: Cheltenham raring to go as festival returns

Sisters Julie and Caroline Morrissey in the Shamrock, Caroline’s Irish pub in Cheltenham. ‘It was very strange not having the Irish here last year,’ Caroline said. Photograph: Sam Frost/The Guardian

On the sort of crisp, bright day that Cheltenham festival regulars love, artists Emily Johnson and Andy Owen-Smith were to be found in a gallery in the Montpellier area of the Regency town, putting the final touches to an exhibition celebrating the power of the horse and the hustle and bustle of race day.

“There’s real sense of excitement in Cheltenham,” said Johnson. “I’ve been dropping off flyers in the hotels and they are all packed.” Owen-Smith agreed: “I think there’s pent-up demand for the festival; the town can’t wait for it.”