Cheltenham Festival

yup the annual head scratching and studying of form lines is now underway!!!!

It could provide a big clue for the JLT or RSA tomorrow with Defi De Seuil (DDS), Black Op (BO) and On The Blind Side (OtBS) running in the Dipper Chase at Cheltenham; DDS is giving 3lbs all round.

See how definitive connections of OtBS are? Not competitive a the highest level straight into a novice chase from hurdles; surprise but glad.

No eye opener in The Relkeel though; Laurina has "chickened" again, intended race (now) is The Tolworth at Sandown on saturday, according to her ever procrastinating trainer Mr Mullins.

black OP was disappointing last time and listening to his trainer earlier in the season he expected big things of him. One i have an eye on for Cheltenham for sure

bedrock friendless!

Bedrock did not run over the weekend because his trainer voluntarily had him tested by the BHA for a drug administered for his leg issue which caused his scratching from the Fighting 5th; it was positive thus had to be withdrawn. As the horse had a new owner after winning the Morgiana, and this weekend's debacle he'd have run his last race for his present trainer.

Black Op jumped like a blancmange.

After that effort, but still being in touch coming to the last, I'd go back to hurdles with the Stayers a definite option.

Im going to Cheltenham for something like the 20th year running.
as I get older I have learnt not to go Gold Cup day
as I get older I have learnt not to go in the Best Mate Enclosure
as I get older I have learnt not to eat the pulled pork rolls in the equus centre

anyone else learnt any lessons there ?
(apart from gambling !)

Have a massive breakfast to avoid paying through the roof for awful food at the racecourse.

If the weather is good, walk to the course. There's nothing quite like walking through Pittville Park with the daffodils and Crocus' on show.

Don't bother betting with the on course bookies, do your bets on your phone so you can enjoy the racing without the pain of queuing to put bets on.

There's no rule that says you have to bet in every race. If you really fancy a horse, why not put more on and leave the 26 runner Fred Winter minefield well alone?

spot on mr eboue

What's the experience in the Club enclosure like?

toilet queus uin the best mate are dire Dont dtink too much if you have a weak bladder

Queues for p.I.s.s-water "beer" in plastic containers at exorbitant prices are a tad annoying. Why not bring a hip flask and Irish or French up your coffee, works for me and you can bring your drink outside.

Me and my son-in-law tried bringing in hip flasks last year - and we're forced to empty them at the enterance!

Should've made like that girl with the 'altered' binoculars, in the racing Post yesterday - genius!

Were they 2 litre flasks? How did they cop them? If all else fail one can put Vodka in a water bottle and Russian up your coffee.

Is that pittville park the old railway line
?


Done that and its quite a sound bit of advice

"Joined: 14 Sep 18 | Topic/replies: 141 | Blogger: Hanx's blog
Me and my son-in-law tried bringing in hip flasks last year - and we're forced to empty them at the enterance!"

Buy a jacket with nice inside pockets - don't take bags - don't look shifty when entering the race course - enter when its slightly busier (I typically get there 30 mins before racing) so the bouncers are busy with the women....

However the bars are a health and safety nightmare in between races and really they should be doing something about it....

Impossible

Little else after the King George

If last year is anything to go by the Dublin festival won’t to to bad

Sorry, the Dublin Festival is not on my agenda with Cheltenham so close; it's proximity could only be a hindrance, in my opinion.

yes i see what you mean about the hindrance last year the two day fixture only produced 8 out of the 28 winners at the festival plus the 2nd and 3rd in the champion hurdle,the close proximity of newbury a week later has not done to bad either down the years.i think your right not to have the dublin fixture on your agenda regarding the cheltenham festival.

Oh no.i can see the arguments we had last year re the Dublin Festival re surfacing!!
All that.... why don't the brits come over stdff ?
God, really don't want all that again.

The Dublin Festival I enjoyed watching and it obviously suited some Irish horses preperations for Cheltenham,judging by results.Maybe some were hindered by it as well,really don't know to be honest.

Was also a lot of races won by british horses(and maybe an irish or two??) who did not use Dublin as part of their prep.
Lets just respect trainers campaigning their Cheltenham horses the way they feel is best for their horses.

Budd

I don’t have a problem with trainers campaigning there horses for Cheltenham the way they choose and if they see fit not to go to leopardstown then fine,although I do think certain trainers should stop complaining about prize money as there is plenty of money up for grabs.what does surprise me is a punter as shrewd as impossible doesn’t have the fixture on his agenda .

Well each to their own,but I think we need as much help as possible when it comes to punting at the festival.
The Dublin festival was informative,and the more info the better.
As for prizemoney,yes they do gripe about it,but I do feel that most of the top trainers in Britain are simply thinking the Cheltenham trials day and various meetings between Jan and March,are the way to go to produce their horses at their best for Cheltenham.
Also, I think it fair that they do support places like Sandown,Ascot,Newbury etc.

Absolutely vital they support our own tracks I would not wish the Newbury fixture in particular to suffer even so there will be horses that Newbury in February won’t cater for.

I'm finalising my selections for the Festival with just a tweak here and there needed. For instance, at Naas tomorrow Battleoverdoyen for The Neptune; no handle on the Albert Bartlett yet. The Dublin Festival is no betting proposition as I believe some of the horses will not run on merit; the Savills Chase was run at a farcical pace - the jockey won the race.

Also, I believe the big races like the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup will go to the local trainers.

Yes I thought a local trainer might win the champion chase

Well Mrs Hanx - a treasure beyond all understanding - got me flights, hotel and entry to both days at The Dublin Festival, for my Christmas present, so I'm right up for it and can't wait to see what it's all about

Lucky man!!

Lucky man indeed. Hope it's enjoyable and rewarding.

You guys going to Cheltenham then?

after racing hanx its ireland and england in the six nations a great way to end day one.

has mrs hanx got you seats ?

Jan 6, 2019 -- 7:58AM, foxy wrote:

after racing hanx its ireland and england in the six nations a great way to end day one.has mrs hanx got you seats ?

Nah - don't do sitting at racing generally.

Do you think it's necessary?

Really looking forward to the racing and to Dublin

its not a must but racing in ireland is much cheaper than over here and the extra for the seats i think is worth it ,its a very good viewing track from up in the seats,perhaps just upgrade for one of the days,dublin is very very busy at weekends and with the england rugby fans in town it will be crazy ,we plan to go in friday night but not a chance on saturday will probably stay on the racecourse till 9 ish (plenty going on } then back to the hotel.

I’m off to Cheltenham trials day for the first time on 26th Jan and wonder how influential it will be. Last year was quite informative with many winners of the races that day either winning or running well in their respective races.

Anyone else planning on going plus any tips of places to drink and eat in Cheltenham. At the festival we get in where we can after racing so hope this time we will find the better establishments.

Thanks Hibore

If you're at Leopardstown for the Dublin festival go into Shelbourne Park on the Saturday night, easy to get too, can get shuttle bus to Blackrock dart station and then train a few stops to Grand Canal Dock and short walk to track (or a taxi be no more than 20 quid). Can book the restaurant for dinner if you so wish, 2 or 3 courses will be under 50 quid pp with admission and racecard and on the night it's the Gold Cup semi finals so be some right good dogs on show.

How is greyhound racing in Ireland premier over here it’s in a right mess my local track belle vue looks like closing

You'd hardly say it's in rude health but Shelbourne on a Saturday night is the pinnacle of the game so always a good night and near always well attended. The rest of the country would not be going that well.

Jan 6, 2019 -- 10:50AM, Hibore wrote:

I’m off to Cheltenham trials day for the first time on 26th Jan and wonder how influential it will be. Last year was quite informative with many winners of the races that day either winning or running well in their respective races.Anyone else planning on going plus any tips of places to drink and eat in Cheltenham. At the festival we get in where we can after racing so hope this time we will find the better establishments.Thanks Hibore

Yeah I'm going to trials day too!

That was my mum's Christmas present to me - got 'em all well trained!

shame premier it’s a great sport

Foxy what news of blow by blow
Not in europe mate on hols

Good morning irishone no news on blow by blow it just made me laugh when you put the horse in the same group as monalee,delta work,Percy and road to riches. Sorry for any confusion,enjoy your holiday.

When do we see the top class horses running? So far quality has been lacklustre. Ground a major concern this year. Trainers threading very carefully.

does anyone know any intended targets for Cheltenham for N.Meads Tout est Permis.

lockup

i would think the horse would probably run in the thyestes at gowran on january 24th the horse has clearly improved since leaving mouse morris,gowran would give them an idea of how much regarding cheltenham targets,the 2015 winner went on to run 2nd in the gold cup.

Lockup

Thurles a week on Sunday is his next run the Kinloch Brae past winners include sizing John don cossack and newmill in there championship years.

Jan 2, 2019 -- 1:27PM, irishone wrote:

Im going to Cheltenham for something like the 20th year running.as I get older I have learnt not to go Gold Cup dayas I get older I have learnt not to go in the Best Mate Enclosureas I get older I have learnt not to eat the pulled pork rolls in the equus centre anyone else learnt any lessons there ? (apart from gambling !)

- Learnt to stop being lazy. The walk back into town from the course is actually quite pleasant. Well, a bit less lazier, i've still no intention of ever walking to the course!
- None of the queues are as bad as they appear at first glance, somehow everything seems to run quite well. Not something that can be said for many venues.
- As hard as i've tried to convince myself otherwise, 'The roar!' is one of the most overrated things ever.
- Gold Cup day is unfortunately best avoided. The make up of the crowd is completely different to the other 3, particularly the first 2 and IMO best days. Lots of LadBible types suddenly appear from nowhere.
- I've learnt to start saving up for the following year almost as soon as the current one has finished!
- Learnt to stop moaning about drink prices, i'm going to be drinking plenty of it so I might as well make peace with what it'll all cost.
- Never, ever choose it as the day to debut a new pair of shoes unless you want to spend most of the time in agony.
- No matter how much Irish folk music i'm exposed to, i'll always hate it.
- No matter how much I promise myself I wont be drawn to the Centaur to watch so many races this year, i'll still end up doing it.
- Finally learnt not to stay in Birmingham, life's too short to spend any amount of time there.
- Eat the biggest breakfast you can get your hands on, you're going to need it
- Jagerbombs alongside breakfast are funny at the time, but...
- Learnt that if I ever do all 4 days again, either make peace with the absolute state of a human you'll be on Gold Cup day, or stop staying out all night after racing telling yourself it'll be fine and you only live once.

I find Gold Cup Day, after the race itself, is pretty tolerable, with most of the part-timers pushing off at that point.

My mates and I always go over to the centre of the course to watch the Foxhunters (I recommend you watch at least one race there, assuming you are not in Best Mate and have access. A different and interesting perspective). By the time we get back to Club, it's definitely thinned out for the last 2 races.

Tell me, is tatts for 1st 2 days and club for last 2 days a decent enough plan???

Going Club then Final flight bar on Tues and Weds. Is the Final Flight any good ?

Settee, Champagne, pub, repeat all days. lovely