Cheltenham Festival
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Cheltenham Attendees - where do you go and what do you do?
Cheltenham Attendees - where do you go and what do you do?
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For the last couple of years I have used the Paddy Power Flyer steam train from Toddington which arrives at the racecourse station at the top of the main car park after a really nice 25 minutes journey. Short of a helicopter (which isnt going to happen!) I can't think of an easier way in and out. One minor problem - this year it has been renamed the ATR Flyer and I get a bad feeling Tommo will be lurking on the platform. Dumbleton Hall provides quiet old-fashioned accommodation a mile or so from Toddington. It all forms part of a relaxing and enjoyable couple of days which is enough for me.
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A couple of thoughts.
As stated previously the Centaur is an acquired taste, noisy, smokey and a less than perfect big screen. Can't understand why anyone would spend time in there when the greatest racing on earth is taking place outside. If you are in Club and want to watch fom the lawn there are 3 rows of benches. Steer clear of the back 2 as some little git will inevitably stand on one in the front row and ignore all attempts to move him. It is surprisingly easy to bag a place on the rails at the front of either tatts or club, much better than trying to watch from the grandstand steps. The on-course market is as strong as you will find. Unless you bet BOG take your time and shop around the back rows. The boxes may be no-go areas but many of the bookmakers marquees in the tented village are possible. Obviously it helps to have an account, in which case a phone call beforehand might result in entry with free drinks & sandwiches. The Guinness tent itself is everything you have heard, noisy crowded but great fun for a while at least. Watch the weather forecasts and dress warmly. The wind can be surprisingly cold on the lawns. Grab the freebies, including Betfair scarves and Paddy Power hats. If you are driving tune in to Festival Radio once you get withing 5 miles of the course, by which time you will be stuck in traffic anyway. Arrive early, walk the course, drink in the atmosphere. There's still nothing to touch it. Good luck all. |
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Are you still allowed to walk the course?
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Unless my memory is worse than usual yes I think you still can. I can't see the logic of allowing people on course for the X Country but not allowing them to walk before racing.
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You need permission to walk the course - they used to allow anyone on there a few years ago at 7am but the increased popularity make this unmanagable.
Connections of course can at any time... |
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I stand corrected. A great shame.
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I remember a good many years ago (over 10 years), we were lucky enough to get rooms in a bungalow which was effectively 'on the course'. It was the home of the course foreman and his family. It was situated right by the car park, on the corner as the horses turn out into the country. We had breakfast and could see the horses galloping / exercising in the morning through the French windows overlooking the course. That was a perfect spot. Did that for a couple of years, but then sadly the course foreman died of a heart attack. I can remember having a £100 on Alderbrook to win the Champion Hurdle that year, which went down the plughole!
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How great to see restless harry just battle his way to victory at haydock
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Apologies for sounding thick but having only ever been in the Tatts area where the Guiness Village is how do you get to the other side of club for the rest of the tatts section??
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Do you mean by not walking through the club lawn? Along the main passage along the back of the stands to the top.
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Bluebird- The is a few food outlets up at the top of tatts knocking out fish&chips at £9 a pop..i was stuck in a long line last year for 15mins before the last race after getting the munchies, by the time i scoffed my tucker, the last race had started and it wasn't worth trotting back into club, so i watched from there, well i say watched, i watched the big screen from 15 rows back..it is worth going down that way in search of a bit of each way thieving though as the is a load of small independents down there...although the bookmaker who payed me out on the winner of the last race last year, looked like he was sucking a lemon, as he paid me out on my 10/1 winner.
So in short, sardines in a can and to get there pass club, pass the centaur and keep walking. |
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Cheers R Carver, up past the Parade ring then?
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I enjoy the Best Mate, bit of fun watching the tribute bands before racing, the non racing fans tend to stay in the marquee which admittedly can get messy as the day goes on.
But for £20 a day its great value, I'll be there tues-thurs. Been in tatts, it seems you have to get a bet on early just to get a view and it gets too crushed for me. |
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in the best mate enclosure avoid drunks dressed as batman or lepricorns
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....and everywhere on course, avoid tw@ts in 'Pint Of Guiness' hats
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I'm mortified; just realised my mock exams are the Tuesday of the Festival... I am going to have to speak to my work to see if I can miss them, I know they ain't going to be too happy but I have to get my priorties right!
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Who gives a sh!t about mocks? Just answer c,c,b,a,c,b,a,a,a,c. The answer to the bonus question is Colonel Mustard with a Revolver in the Ballroom - simples!
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Haha. In theory Wellchief your spot on. In practise their 3.25 hour technical exams which would actually take 4 hours to do in complete. So as it starts at 1pm I have no chance of seeing the bulk of the racing.
Also as I have tickets, it wouldn't be quite the same watching it from a bookies near Kings Cross! Lol... I think my manager knows me well enough to realise I wont be concentrating at all if he makes me go! |