Festival memories

If ever you want to give an example of a jockey carrying a horse through a race who was hating every second of it, then this is it!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diObg3KScDo

I'd forgotten just how easily Rooster Booster won. Probably the easiest winner of the race in living memory! Shocking fall for AP as well.

This will always be my favourite QMCC Duffy... One of my first Festivals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqopqcEhjdc

Another fond memory for me...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDWXSMyPLig

If I could have been there for one race, I reckon this would have been it. Gives me goosebumps every time I watch it and the noise from the crowd is unbelievable!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcCuIVn6egM

2003 was my first festival.

Everything I bet on won. You had Rooster Booster annihilating a good field in the Champion, a young Azertyuiop coming home in the Ankle, Moscow Flyer winning the Queen Mother, Best Mate and Baracouda starring on the 3rd and final day.


I think I picked about 5 winners at decent prices in the handicaps, including my favourite ever horse - Spirit leader in the county hurdle, then the last race of the week.

I was in absolute heaven. I soon realised there's more to Cheltenham than just lumping on the favourites! Think I went about 3 festivals without a decent winner!


If I was told my life was ending in a week and I could re-live 7 days from my life I'm pretty sure the 2003 festival would be included.

Some great memories there, embarrassed to say this but that's the 1st time I've seen the 89 gold cup finish, I see what you mean ccm..! Still can't find kautos 1st gold cup, strange why it's not there!

I remember 3 days of racing heaven , ........ 4 days of watered down tripe now

If some people get there way in 5 years it could be 5 days..!!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GTdgacOn0Js

In terms of pure atmosphere Like-a-butterfly's Supreme has to be up there. Quality noise from the last to the line and the roar as he chins Westender could probably be heard in town. JP always says this was up there as one of his favourite festival winners.

The Supreme is often an absolute graveyard for value and never usually the best race of the meeting classwise but always up there as one of my favourites, the feeling about the place is special and if one of the facouriers go in it's always electric whilst most punters dreams are still in tact after the first.

*favourites

Remember the roar when Ameretto Rose came down the hill on the bridle?

Satrus.......Not surprised JP was happy,adamant approach came down at the last looking poised to beat the jolly,I was there that day and indeed it was loud.

Later read an article on the legendary bookmaker Freddie Williams,he stood JP bet that day,a reported £500,000 to £250,000.

When asked about it,FW reply was " it happens,my opinion was correct,on this occasion we lost on the race!"

What was more remarkable,and I still remember it to this day,was his next remark

"By the thursday we were up on the meeting"

Scary thought that.

Great memories for me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXaG0RSplKQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US-JHoWgV24

What might have been

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbO2moaOLLc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45EOiLrYh94

Being late for work isn't always a bad thing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rJJpkZK9S0

Don't let the price put you off
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVguTT0Xz9A

Had actually forgotten just how electric Montelado was in his Supreme!

Certainly do, Mr Eboue - that was my first Festival and I'd backed her at around 11s after she won the Rossington Main. That sheer electricity and excitement as she came there absolutely swinging is, I'm quite sure, what has kept me returning each year and will keep me returning until I'm in a hole in the ground.

Duffy i loved that horse....the only horse to win 2 consecutive races at the festival also.

My Dad always reckons this was one of the best moments in his 45 years plus going to the Festival.

Although Ive no idea what Jonjo is doing at the second last... looks more like a rodeo rider than a jockey!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC9dRA15F9s

My favourite memory is Unsinkable Boxer winning what was the Gold Card Hurdle final in 1998. I was at university then and dipped into the dying embers of the student loan to have £50 on an early morning 5/1. Never had a moment's worry through the race.

I've trawled and trawled but never been able to find a full replay of the race. The one replay i've seen, a highlights package, does not do justice as it picks up the action before McCoy brought the horse from the back of the field with a sweeping run round the outside. It was jaw-dropping stuff.

Can't Catch Me
Joined: 02 Apr 03
Replies: 22006
    23 Feb 16 10:51

My Dad always reckons this was one of the best moments in his 45 years plus going to the Festival.

Although Ive no idea what Jonjo is doing at the second last... looks more like a rodeo rider than a jockey!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC9dRA15F9s


Bloody hell CCM, I've watched that race loads of time and never noticed Jonjo at the second last!

....and they say Brod Munro-Wilson on The Drunken Duck was unsightly!

Baracouda the Unsinkable race I think it was 4 out he jumped a hurdle and literally passed about 5 horses in the air. Unreal stuff that day probably the best handicapped horse ever at a festival

Interviewed post race Pipe was asked at what point did you know he was going to win, Pipe responded..."about 3 months ago"

I remember listening to the commentary on it and thinking the commentator must have been using poetic licence by the way he was talking up the way the horse cruised into it and romped home. When I saw a replay I realised not!

Feb 22, 2016 -- 7:11PM, Can't Catch Me wrote:

If I could have been there for one race, I reckon this would have been it. Gives me goosebumps every time I watch it and the noise from the crowd is unbelievable!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcCuIVn6egM

lol, I have just posted my memories of being there on this day on the weather watch thread, as that was the other memorable moment about this day, it was horrible weather wise. and yep it still gives me goosebumps as well.
I think if sprinter is upsides UDS over the last this year it might match it.

So many great moments on an off the course, From the United services club at the bottom of the hill, to the Queens at 2am what a week it is.
you would think as we get older we get more sensible but only 2 years ago I lost my mate about 3am in the 24hr Tesco in Brockworth,
He was found sitting behind the hot food counter, complete with hat for hygiene,  and had turned the chicken oven on and put a pie in !
Good luck to everyone, both on an off the course

Haha. Sounds like proper day out El Chine.

Too many to choose from but the one always gets a mention is when Junior won the Kim muir! Had a fair amount on, 12-13 pints down before the race, 2 pints in hand when it jumped the last 20 clear streaked up the hill the rest is literally a blur! Must have had a good night as I was still too pissed the next day to get remotely interested in proceedings! Nothing will ever beat Cheltenham, I go to goodwood, ascot, Epsom but nothing beats the feeling of Cheltenham. The big bucks race with voler la veddette was another memorable one.

The plane crash , the roof coming off the Guinness stand , and the very Reverend who did a luge run down the steps (no sled ) , not sure of year .