Does anybody else feel under immense pressure ?

any advice on how to think normally during the  run up to  the festival would be much appreciated .
Thanks in advance .

Yes, it's torture. Wouldn't swap it for anything but will be relieved when it's all over.

currently reading weatherbys trends book. just treat it as revising for an exam.

Don't do your nuts on the first day and then open up the paper on day two and realise that something is a certainty...

This week is hard but next Sunday and Monday are worse, at least at work this week I can pretend to be busy.
But the worse feeling of all is the weekend after Cheltenham, physically tired and mentally drained and another 51 weeks till next year...

very nervous at present.

won't relax 'til the CH is over.

How can I cope at work next week when the racing is on? How can I do a Likely Lads and avoid learning a result? How will I cope with an impending inspection when I want to be watching Joe bolt home in the first? Please God let me retire soon......

All winter I have watched races waited until I'm sure, placed ante post bets, and in truth my portfolio looks good but I just feel a wreck. I could lose a lot of money but I have to keep faith in my judgement but at this stage you don't trust your judgement cos every horse is trying they are all live dangers.

Every year the same worries surface will this be the year when they all lose when the results go nuts.

Some great races in store just hope I have a winner or two in the bank.

Ask for holiday my friend, one of them perks of work getting paid to watch racing!

take the week off !! , already got next years booked.

Yes, I spend the first 15 minutes lying in bed worrying about it, and it is the first thing I thin of in the morning. My mind is on it all day. I also feel sad, like a kid on CHristmas eve, that it will all soon be over and (my idea of hell) it will all be about the winter derby and lincoln, the greenham and bleeding newmarket, before we can blink

I get plenty of holidays but never during the Festival! Everyone at work knows I am a racing nut... my cover would be blown in seconds.Thanks for your concern chaps!

Pressure? why would you feel pressure??

If you've been preparing for months the final week before feels much easier than the few before that. If you have finished applying your pre-planned strategy and it has gone to plan over the months leaving just a few tweaks for the week you can relax more than if it hasn't ... fortunately am very relaxed this Festival.

I'm glad it's not just me.

My mind is darting from horse to horse all day long. Hard to concentrate on work. Completely torn about whether to get bets on now but terrified that I might pick a NR or that the price will drift spectacularly. Fell asleep listening to the Timeform podcast last night and just dreamt about racing all night.

Don't know what to think at the moment - will just be glad when it all starts.

Sweating like a bull[smiley:crazy]...Can't wait

Not even worth thinking about it yet until the going is confirmed. Chill out, if your luck's in you'll win whatever you back!

No pressure Tuesday,no pressure Wednesday....BIG pressure Thursday night if I haven't backed a winner,but that's not going to happen.Is it ?

This isn't a joke....

my girlfriend of 3 years has actually bought a book from amazon called 'overcoming gambling' and says that she doesn't understand why I love Cheltenham and claims that she is worried about me.

The truth is I am addicted...and I fcking love it!

pressure goes after that first winner (1st 4 day festival went to the hunter chase before i got a winner) bring back 3 days

No pressure for me this year. The last few festivals ive gone into it thinkin, ive got it sorted, im going to win a fortune. Tuesday passes by and you havent had a winner. Wednesday passes by, the same again and alomost all of your ante posts wagers are in the book makers pockets. The whole euphoria of the festival gone in a flash. So by thursday im struggling to enjoy the racing. Then friday skint.

So this year new mindset for me...im goin to enjoy the festival for the great spectacle that is...going to watch every race closely instead of just watching the horse that ive backed and applaude every horse that wins..If i have a few winners and make a few quid...then BONUS. But more than anything this year im goin to make sure i enjoy every minute of it..win or lose. After all its the greatest show on turf and it only happens once a year.


Bring it on!!!!!!!!

Good idea!

I'm just living horses and cricket at the moment and loving every minute of it. Always loved Cheltenham still thinking about going on Tuesday but train is £150 dont want to drive. Not got many ante post at the moment but looking for a big priced one in the handicaps that everyone else has missed.

Pressure? Come on guys!

Unless you're going to starve or be turfed out on the streets if your punts don't come off - in which case you have big problems - where's the pressure?

It's going to be fun. Enjoy it. It's not a crime to sit back an watch a race without having a financial stake in it.

No pressure, just enjoyment and keen anticipation.

must say if you cant back a winner on the tuesday, i would give the rest of the card a miss.

I am in a lull before the storm frame of mind at the moment, with a slight sickness in the pit of my stomach.

Not much value to be had now in the markets and just waiting for Monday when we can all travel down to Cheltenham for our first night lash up.

First thing I do every day is log into RPost website to see who has pulled out!

Gotta feel for backers who were on at big odds on R-Theatre, Solwhit, esp D Harry and Starluck etc.

Everything else just stops in the build up including the brain. Can't wait until Tuesday and I am looking forward more to this Champion Hurdle than any one of the 40 odd I've seen.

Kinda scared to open up the Racing Post or Sporting Life websites incase there's some awful news that one of the main contenders won't run.

Gold Cup is a bit of a downer though with Kauto Star failing to perform in the King George. Last year it was all about him.

The racing being really awful at the moment doesn't help. Anything that's fit well and talented is heading to the festival which get's on my nerves.

Wouldn't say I feel any pressure though despite a few tasty AP bets. Just looking forward to the next months racing The Festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree, which is the best you're ever likely to see anywhere.

I've kept away from the ante-post markets, hardly dabbled NRNB. Intend to wait for Day Of Race Markets,will go for the value, just goal-hanging really. That being said, feeling pressure cos computers been iffy for months,takes a hour to warm up, sticks, crashes,loses connection. No fun at all.

Souldancer go to techspot and tell em what's wrong free and very helpful. Sounds like your memory has gone or is insufficient which is easy to replace or add to. That's your computers memory not yours which i am sure is fine LOL

I feel stupidly under pressure, checking my racing post app overy 2 mins for news, cant concentrate on anything else, im hooked :(

totally agree with Roger. If your feeling pressure then your doing something wrong imvho.

I've currently got nearly 40pts tied up in ante-post wagers but dont feel worried one way or the other. Betting is what it is.

I've tried to get as many antepost fancies backed as possible so that I don't bet much on the day.  Will do a bit of trading probably to take advantage of steamers/offers from bookies but I'm hoping I'll enjoy it much more without having to spend hours analysing as the hard work is done.  Got first 3 days off work this year so looking forward to it, especially if Spirit Son wins the first race