Anyone else much prefer Aintree to the Cheltenham festival these days?

My point about 3 months ago, was Racing for change were sitting on their thumbs not selling this meeting as much as they should to the rest of the world.

1. The weights should be televised.

2. If you attend 5 or 6 satalite meetings,  you get a free entry for the day of your choice for tats.

3. Thursday/Friday/Saturday the centre should now be  open for picnics and a fun fair, security nowa days should not be a problem.

Plus loads of other initiatives.

Yes its a serious meeting but the fun element is what sells it.

I've been to both a couple of times and the Aintree festival is more fun but for betting there's nothing like the Cheltenham Festival. You can't possibly say you look forward to the Aintree festival more than Cheltenham?

"More fun" as in plenty more totty to look at and get in amongst

I have always preferred Aintree to Cheltenham

Some poor fields though at times - eg Totesport Bowl this year

Anyone else much prefer Aintree to the Cheltenham festival these days?

No

Must be great to own a quality 20 , 24 furlong chaser who likes good ground. Ignore Cheltenham & come here for good prize money & very few rivals to beat.

Good 3 days, but its no Cheltenham

I look forward to both meetings equally - think they complement each other. They are not rivals. Some small fields at Aintree but no drop in quality.

Think Aintree has made a wise decision to stay at three days and I feel that Cheltenham made a bad decision to go to four days , consequently watering down the programme.

totesport bowl is an embarrassment of a race this year apart from denman

Nah, not even close. I haven't really taken to the Aintree festival yet.

No - Give me Cheltenham any day

no not me. im cheltenham till i die, im cheltenham till i die, i no i am, im sure i am, im cheltenham till i die

no where near the same sort of buzz thats felt on the days leading up to cheltenham,aintree festival just feels like another ordinardy days racing compared to cheltenham,apart from the national itself

Aintree seems poorly promoted to me. They know they have the national day in the bag as it promotes itself. There's some cracking horses running tomorrow, and i never really knew they were certain to line up.

Cheltenham = Champions League Final
Punchestown = FA Cup Final
Aintree = League Cup Final

No not for me, cheltenham will always be No 1

Graeme83
06 Apr 11 16:47 Joined: 21 Sep 07 | Topic/replies: 6,556 | Blogger: Graeme83's blog
Aintree seems poorly promoted to me. They know they have the national day in the bag as it promotes itself. There's some cracking horses running tomorrow, and i never really knew they were certain to line up.

Not sure what your getting at. You can never be certain a horse will run until it runs. One thing is guaranteed is that most of the best horses from Cheltenham head for Aintree and that often includes the Gold Cup/Champion Hurdle winners or runners up.

^ and they are often beaten too, primed for march not april, the national meeting is usually an afterthought ^

They need to space Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown better really. You have a whole 5 months where the best NH horses swerve each other and then three potential block busters within the space of 4-5 weeks when most of the horses are over the top after the main festival at cheltenham. Racing never learns.

I wouldn't put the National in my top 5 races of the year tbh.  Normally (in order) they are;

1. Champion Hurdle
2. Arkle
3. Supreme Novices Hurdle
4. King George
5. Usually a flat race (Arc, Coronation Cup or Queen Anne)

The Gold Cup, National and Derby are just off the list

Aintree is a good meeting but it's not the dogs' that Cheltenham is.

Cheltenham is the business for the G'1's however the under cards at Chelt coult be on any saturday of the year at Newb/Asc etc,

So dont tell me your happy with the fillers for the four days, they are mediocre at best.

Chelt need to be careful, and Punch have very mediocre fillers, at least with aintree you know what u r getting, and dont tell me every time u see a race over the national fences it does not get the hairs up,,

Fully agree Jesus***** - Cheltenham is great but going to four days was a backward step. Lots of people on here were saying they wont be going again especially on gold cup day.

I don't think the two meetings should be compared - we need both of them. Your right about watching races over the National fences - brilliant to watch - enhanced by close up TV pictures.Great memories and fantastic history.

I like both meetings. The grand national is the best race in the world and every trainer , jockey, owner and
punter wants to be on the winner. Aintree is a good way for the jump season to close (except for scot nat, and the whitbread) just before the guineas trails start.

The Cheltenham meeting, is the pinnacle of the whole year, Aintree although a good meeting, holds nothing on the big meeting in March

Yes. I do.

I find winners a lot easier at Aintree but love the buzz of Cheltenham.
Chelts for excitement then Aintree to get back the money i lost at Chelt

N0

The Thursday at Aintree has always been top notch.  Friday has a couple of good races as has Saturday.  Is is a good desert after the main course. [;)]

The Thursday at Aintree has always been top notch.  Friday has a couple of good races as has Saturday.  Is is a good desert after the main course. [;)]

The gap has closed but Cheltenham still edges it for me. If they go to 5 days though that will really test patience.

Only if Don't Push It wins again