Channel 4 has said it is "thrilled" with the ratings for last week's Cheltenham Festival.

The broadcaster reported that average viewing figures were up by at least 200,000 across the four-day meeting, which saw the deaths of nine horses.

The coverage peaked on Friday (March 17) with 1.7 million viewers and a 20.4% audience share.

"These strong figures are excellent news," said Andrew Thompson, C4's head of sport. "They reflect the fantastic drama of top quality racing. Channel 4's commitment to building a strong and lasting relationship with the racing industry is further strengthened by such good results."

The news comes as Thompson thrashes out a new deal with the Tote for coverage of the sport beyond June.