only going tuesday and wednesday next year

I'm not going at all.

If you'd have told me 7 years ago that I'd not attend the festival the only reason would have been my death.

But I'm just fed up with the 4 days....

Half the races are absolute dross.

3 days was perfect. You knew EVERY race was quality. You knew months in advance which horses were running in what races.

Personally I couldnt give a cr@p who wins that ****ing Jewson novice chase... it just devalues the RSA and Arkle.

Spot on re the dilution of quality since moving to 4 days and the AP markets have been ruined,still its Cheltenham first 3 days only again for me, too many idiots on the Friday and its nice to watch the last day sitting on my chair with the old laptop for company............must be getting old.

the extra races are a nightmare. look at peddlers cross this year,wouldnt have won any race mind you. Also the gamble on sir des champs for the rsa and the alarming drift on first leiutenant and shortening in the market for the jewson. boston bob,fingal bay,simonsig are just a few more who made ante post betting a nightmare.

Would like to see the back of the following

Mares race - any need for it really?
X-Country - save them for the winter months
Fred Winter - any need for a juvenile 2m handicap race?
Old Jewson - Novices can run in the Plate anyway and have won it before so need for it imo
New Jewson - Devalues the RSA + Arkle

Not sure about the Kim Muir + Pipe race but it's good to give the amateurs and conditionals a crack


Oh yeah and the Champion Hurdle can go because i'm gash at picking the winner

Most racing purists would want a return to 3 days but it isnt going to happen, the 4 days brings in so much money and yes eventually there will be a Saturday included in the festival. Im definitly going Tues and Wed next year, cant decide whether to stay for Thurs (terrible racing) and Friday yet

FFT, I'm not sure why people have it in the for the Mares race. Maybe it's because Quevega keeps winning, but she can't go on forever? I think it's a valuable addition to the Festival, principally because we want to encourage the development of NH mares for NH breeding. It's bound to take time for the race to become fully established because it's somethign we're weak at in Britain. That will change as there is a prestigious race for owners and trainers to aim their mares at. It's also clearly popular - there were 20-odd runners this year and it was a good race behind Quevega. IMO, the race should be judged in another 10 years or so. If it's not been a success by then, so be it, but now is too early.

Bluebird - I also disagree that Thursday is terrible. The shoulder races aren't great. However, this year the Ryanair was the race of the Festival and Big Buck's the emotional highlight. Plus we got to see a really classy horse in Sir des Champs winning a race that is only going to get better over time. I fully accept Thursday is not as good as Tue or Wed, but in the context of the season it's still a good card.