There certainly are some that do Hibby and some very prominent Irish racing figures have waived any fee and asked for it to be donated to a worthwhile cause. This is not widespread though.

that's fine DV...i applaud those who give every penny to charity...but i simply cannot see EVERYONE doing that as you say yourself...

I would pay to see the `Couch` have his cake hole welded tight. The foul mouth **** is a ****.

sometimes it is worth going to see what to lay went one night to Towc the couch plus chapman annd Kieran somebody from timeform told everyone Noland absolute certainty for Arkle cant lose asked abt Tidal Bay told no chance cant jump watchthe race hilarious backed Tidal 13/2 laid noland wonderful.

last one i was at lots of drivel........

but at end of night .......was talkin to d duggan tried to pin him down to what hes havin his dosh on for chet......after 3 drinks he gives his nap......me payin for everything......it was an elliot horse in a handicap.....knowhere.......but next outing horse runs at perth 5 horse race and hoses in at 14/1 cathal ryan  horse so my synopsthis would be if event starts at 9.00 oclock arrive at 12.30 avoid cliche bullshit and stay in hotel as these guys do work in trade and any edge is worth is valuable

ps.... was at galway this year on way in meet duggan reminnded hin of nite and said whatll win today he gave me hannon horse won first at uk meeting at 7/2 so 20 i spent that nite ok.....but hard to listen all the cliched bullshit

As someone who has previously posted they "don't get" all this fuss about Cheltenham, you opinion is irrelevant HappyHibby.

The fun of Cheltenham, is the build up, the banter, the different opinions (whether you back them or not).  But you don't get this.

Feel sorry you don't enjoy the festival as much as many others on here.

Feel sorry you don't enjoy the festival as much as many others on here.

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no need to feel sorry for me swardean.

i'm comfortable with my thoughts.

talk about it amongst your mates over a beer..that's fine.

i don't have a problem with that at all.

but these organised events...

people on the telly being whisked over to the emerald isle to give people their 'expertise' out of the goodness of their heart.

bookies PR's giving the public info so they can take money off the very company they work for.

JOCKEYS and TRAINERS telling everyone how their horses have been going at home etc...

it's a concoction i would be very very wary of myself swardean...

if you want my honest view on this swardean it is that the public are making a fool of themselves lining people's pockets and thinking they are getting some sort of inside information nobody else is getting.

yes of course someone will say they fancy a 20-1 shot on one of these panels....someone on here will back it...and they'll come on here and tell me what a numpty i am...

that's fine...

but in general it is the PUBLIC who are being made a fool of imv...

i just don't understand why THEY can't see that.

and like i've said all along...who cares what nick luck / jim mcgrath / mike cattermole etc...think.

they might have connections with a few people in the game but that doesn't make their opinion any more valid than yours or mine.

so she said she was going well at home at the cheltenham preview and a few days later was announced as a non runner DV...?

It was a racecourse gallop ahead of Cheltenham and Macs Joy was galloping as well, ahead of a possible tilt at the county hurdle (he ended up going to Fairyhouse and Haydock).The mare worked very poorly yet got an upbeat report in the Submarine afterwards.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/damien-mcelroy-spirit-leader-out-of-champion-180186.html

I have never been to a preview night, nor would I. However I think for many people it is not because they believe the information they are given is special and privy only to them, it is a part of an annual ritual.

The Festival, although unimportant in the great scheme of life, has a special place in every year for many racing enthusiasts, and they follow the same pattern of behaviour every March. Having spent the winter scouring the form book, the Preview evening is part of the build up, part of the knowing that spring is nearly here and the Festical is but days away. They probably have the same ritual behaviour when they get to the track itself.  I go to Cheltenham every year, always park in the same drive in Prestbury and pop in for coffee with the bloke that owns the house, always walk round the side of the track to get to Tattersalls etc.

I can't see much wrong in it myself.

HH, agree, cheltenham too much hyperbole, previews did a couple myself years ago, didnt take a fee paid my own exes, but most "celeb Guests" are only interested in how much.

numerous previews, hundreds of EXPERT guests all ticking up different horses. sad.

They are now part of the showpiece Fenway and some raise quite a lot of money for charity. The Brady one in Monaghan next week will raise plenty for the Shabra Charity and I would hope that the panel would give their time for free.

They have only become an annual ritual in the past 10 years or so I think. I can remember a few taking place in Ireland before that time but certainly not the amount that are staged now. I rarely heard of an English preview taking place before that time?

thank you yoyo...

and to think some people think the celebs do it out of the goodness of their heart and they really want to help the general public win a few £ at cheltenham.

i find the whole thing very sad tbh...

i'll make sure i'm out that day watchit.

thanx for the warning tho.

People just go to get in the mood for Cheltenham, imo.

Obviously it's sometimes interesting to hear what a trainer or jockey has to say, but I would doubt very much that anyone really cares about the opinions of the freeloaders and attention seekers, most with no chance whatsoever of ever making a success of punting, who largely populate the panels.

Blindly laying the selections offered would prove to be a very profitable strategy, imho...

Everything has become more hyped through media though, hell id only see about three matches of football a year as a kid on the telly.


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more sport on the telly doesn't mean they have to HYPE it up as much as they do tho zilzal.

it's the HYPE that turns people off imv...

same with football.

i'm forver hearing about wonder goals or unbelievable saves.

when i see them they normally turn out to be very basic indeed.

the HYPE grinds people down eventually.

i just wished the media bosses realised that.

zilzal1
03 Mar 12 10:14

Everything has become more hyped through media though.

Yes Zil, bar the Superbowl I can't think of a sporting event that is so unjustifiably hyped.  Bar Gold Cup day the other three days have become so diluted they are no better than an average Saturday TV card imo...

the other three days have become so diluted they are no better than an average Saturday TV card imo...



what utter bollox....you've got to be fishing