cheltenham preview nights : who are the doughnuts....

I'm having a Cheltenham preview evening at my house, just me and a few mates. We will be trying to work out the winners of all the Cheltenham races. The aim is to try and win us all enough money to get us out of the mess we are in through gambling since last years Cheltenham. You're all welcome.

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

Ah, that's more like it Steamship.

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.

DV Spirit Leader did win her race at Cheltenham so what she done on the gallop obviously wasn't a huge concern to Jessie. Mares often don't show much at home. Pure guessing game with them.

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

i honestly don't get this 'i bumped in to so and so and he told me this would win so i had a few £ on it'...

where is the fun in that i ask...?

if you can't figure it out for yourself...then FORGET IT.

if people are so DESPARATE for a winner they feel the need to ask so-called EXPERTS...then i feel sorry for them tbh...

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.

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

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no it's not.

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.

Guess we all have thing we like and don't like HH.  Never been to a preview night myself but don't mind reading the reports.  Instead may mates and I will go to the pub and talk about our up coming trip, the form, our fancies and our lays.  Its all about the build up and these nights are just an extension of this.  I dont think many go to these, listen to Alex plonkett and invest heavily into her selections.

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...

Aye, the NH, non mention of Binocular on the Saturday night preview at Newbury before horse being withdrawn the day after, tells you all you need to know about getting any 'real' info.

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.

Allduckornodinner     02 Mar 12 23:48 
DV Spirit Leader did win her race at Cheltenham so what she done on the gallop obviously wasn't a huge concern to Jessie. Mares often don't show much at home. Pure guessing game with them.

You are talking about the previous year Allduck.

I am talking about 2004 and a few days after the preview she was announced as a non runner and did not in fact run again.

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...?

and you saw the very same piece of work and thought she worked poorly...?

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'd like to think this sort od thing opened a few peoples eyes regarding these events DV.

i doubt it will tho tbh...

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.

No chance Happy Hibby. I scoffed at the remark at the time and was told to shush by someone quite close to me who was busy writing down notes on the panel's mutterings. It was quite a panel that night with Thommo presenting and the Couch firing out his "Egg and Chips" comment about Beef or Salmon to widespread laughter from the audience.

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.

can only think Hibby wnet to a preview night and followed all of Matt Williams' tips one year

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?

good god DV...

i'd have lasted 2 minutes then walked out tbh...

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 can't stand that matt williams bloke duncan tbh...

his voice and his general c0ckiness is very annoying imv...

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

thanx for the warning tho.

Fenway / DV...

how did people enjoy cheltenham before these preview nights were introduced...?

all i hear is 'they are part of the cheltenham experience'...

what a load of old poppyc0ck tbh...

cheltenham would do perfectly well and people would enjoy it just as much without these horrid events imv...

i tell you what why don't we cancel the actual racing and just have 4 solid days of superstar celebs on a stage with jockeys and trainers telling us great stories and brilliant gags...????

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...

Never been to one myself , but i can see why like minded folk go there for a night out and a bit of banter, its not like Racing is as big as Football, where all the world has an opinion, id struggle in my local to find anyone who would be an enthusiast as myself.

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.

Im more of a flat fan, imo it has a programme that flows nicely through the year, jumps is more like spending the winter months as a monk living on bread and water then suddenly having 4 days out with a barrel of beer, a group of Brazilian Hookers and a bag of Columbia's finest

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.

ok i will watch it watchit...

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...

i have watched it watchit.

i can honestly say i struggled to understand a word that bloke said.

whatever he was saying tho he was saying it in a dismissive 'i know best and you lot know nowt' kind of way.

why people pay to listen to numpties like that is beyond me watchit.

i couldn't sleep at night knowing i'd paid money to listen to that garbage...

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

^ Duncan - do you not agree that the extra races have resulted in many horses having multiple engagements thus 'watering down' the quality of the races in general?  If you can't see this then I suggest the media hype has worked its oracle on you...

of course extra races have inevitably had a knock-on effect on other races, but to suggest we are left with the equivalent of average saturday cards is whatever the opposite of hype is imo!


...believe me, i'm 45 and i dont do hype (you wouldnt have had to follow my posts on here for very long down the years to realise that)

Aviboyd     03 Mar 12 10:21 
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...

Agree with your point but Gold Cup day is as bad if not worse than the rest.

After the big one we now get a hunter chase (which I enjoy) followed by a conditional jockeys handicap hurdle and a handicap chase.

Quevega apart the mares hurdle is ordinary as well, the Centenary is a no no for me, i like the handicaps but these are supposed to be the olympics of NH racing

And the Albert Bartlett and the Jewson havent added anything imo

Ive been to a few Cheltenham previews and find them a good night out, a few beers and a good chat abt Chetlers, the nearer to the event the better though.If you dont like em, dont go and ignore em...its not like they are televised live and you miss coro.

Duncan - fair comment, apologies - suspected you 'don't believe the hype'.  I am a bit of a traditionalist and happily admit to exaggerating occasionally.  Still reeling from the Rous Stakes being removed from the Ebor Meeting, so maybe some dross isn't the worst thing in the world - however the extra day and races at Cheltenham & York are there purely because of greed which it is impossible to condone, as is the dilution of the quality.

Despite the 'watering down' now we are 4 days we do need a 7th race for the Thursday.  (albeit we have had that charity event after racing last couple of years).

Options:-

Veterans Chase
Mares bumper
Another X-Country
Greys Only
?

^  First 2yo flat race of the year over a stiff 4f?  Now that I would like to see and it wouldn't detract (no sh1t Sherlock) from the other races...

a few beers and a good chat abt Chetlers,

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why not just go out with your pals and do that then...?

why does it have to include paying for the services of EXPERTS like matt williams and nick luck with mike cattermole thrown in for good measure...?

do you honestly think they give a hoot how you do punting wise at cheltenham...?

aviboyd, no worries.....think greed is a bit harsh, though....they wouldnt put these extra days on if the demand wasnt there.


swardean, i've advocated a veterans chase before...the 11yo+ have no chance against the less-exposed youngsters in the existing hcaps (Mister McGoldrick aside) and the Cheltenham crowd would love welcoming an old hero in

went to a preview in clondalkin last year gordon elliot was there and he never mentioned either one of his 2 winners, he could have at least said he fancied carlito in the coral cup, he did mention david pipes winner junior that was it

That would be my preferred option duncan as it does interfere with the other races in terms of targets/objectives. And agree true racing crowd would love to see some old favourites

"Why not just go out with your pals and do that then...?

why does it have to include paying for the services of EXPERTS like matt williams and nick luck with mike cattermole thrown in for good measure...?

do you honestly think they give a hoot how you do punting wise at cheltenham...?"

Well im not going to plug an event but the one we go to is a tenner with 2 pints amd grub with a decent enough panel so its a night out with your mates and a good laugh, pretty harmless.Its a charity do but im sure the panel get expenses at least but so what? Fair enough you dont like them,and they annoy you.Stay on here slatting em all day and night if you like,but most people enjoy them and they are probably here to stay.

The one I'm going to is free, other then how much I elect to drink. It's a good laugh with like minded people who, I'd say, have more than enough savvy to make up their own minds as to which horse will get their hard earned. The landlord pays the panel but I'm certain he recoups a fair amount back in alcohol sales. So what? As for me I study form on the day and make my own selections. Lot of generalised statements here re people who go to these events. If you don't like them fair enough but don't tar everyone with your own jaundiced view.

they are here to stay due to the fact that there are loads of MUGS out there happy to hand over their £ to listen to EXPERTS telling them their views.

and some people on here think i'm daft...?

unbelievable.

It's just another stop off point for the gravy train, HappyHibby - and as the media's attitude to those they are supposed to serve is now entirely exploitative, it's no surprise to see the usual suspects milking it for all it's worth...

can't argue with that tbh millhouse...

Agree they are not to everyones taste,some like em, others dont...some are better than others...just like donuts.

personally i like ring doughnuts....you can see straight through them..

stick to your own form / study / selections and you will be better off most people in involed in racing are biased

Just a couple of quick points, I've been to the London Racing Club preview for the last 6 years or so, sadly I couldn't make it this year. Personally its not about backing what they tell you to back, its about having an enjoyable evening listening to Cheltenham talk, personally I enjoy it as a ritual to the lead up to the festival, Cheltenham is like christmas to many, but if its not for you hey ho, each to their own.

Talking of Christmas, nowadays that is darts time for me, I enjoy reading your previews, doesn't mean I'm going to back your selections, but still I enjoy reading another persons perspective, don't see a huge difference in that and Cheltenham previews personally.

One last note, London Racing Club charge around £5 each, probably 100-150 people in the room, 5 or 6 guests, how much do you think they are getting payed? After the room itself is payed for etc its going to be peanuts, I'm sure some authors etc who are on the panel use them as a way to sell their books, I have no problem with that.

Talking of Christmas, nowadays that is darts time for me, I enjoy reading your previews,

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never done a darts preview in my life tbh...

apologies, your namesake spelt differently!

does anyone out there know how many preview nights there will have been in 2012...?

i'm guessing 3 figures at least...

as someone said earlier it has turned in to an industry on it's own...

on average i'd say about 4.75 watchit...

maybe it's time someone started a business around it and went on dragons den to see if any of the dragons will invest...?

the GREED within the racing industry has become a complete and utter farce watchit.

GREED is something i absolutely hate and anyone who goes down the GREED road should really be looking in the mirror imv...

i remember hearing J A MCGRATH moaning because he'd been dropped from a few cushy numbers commentating a couple of years back.

the bloke is a dreadful commentator and is lucky to be getting ANY work whatsoever.

make no mistake he will have made a nice few £ over the years yet he still feels he's entitled to more.

pure GREED filth.

it's disgraceful and the people who are encouraging the GREED culture by going to these preview nights need to start asking themselves a few Q's tbh...

postmen get around £300 per week watchit...

lugging huge bags of mail around in the wind and rain.

hard job and it takes it's toll physically.

yet if you work in the racing media it seems you just keep coining in the £ and it's still not enough.

what next ?

aintree preview nights...

guineas preview nights...

derby preview nights

breeders cup preview nights...

melbourne cup preview nights...



the GREED in racing just keeps rolling and rolling and rolling....




best go watchit...

this whole preview night thing really is annoying me now.

the sooner cheltenham is over the better imv.

it's a money making exercise for the GREEDY...

As someone who organised a preview night a few years back and sold 300 tickets at £60 a pop I rather like them

and how much did you pay the panel TRD...?

HH...next week dailyearner.co.uk will be releasing a pragmatic, no frills, 'heath robinson' CHELTENHAM preview concentrating on winners in ALL championship races and 'they' intend being 'live' during this fabulous meeting; PUNTERS be ready!

HH just over 3.5k. A.P was on the panel and I have to say he is held in very high esteem by the racing public judging by the attention he got. One of very few preview nights he has ever done

3.5k in total TRD...?

how much did each panelist get if i may ask...?

HH 3.5k in total yes,just over. Can't really say on here how it was divided.

What's totally bizarre about the whole thing, is that many of the people on these panels have no ability whatsoever to achieve the task in hand.

Unless they are proven profitable punters, listening to a panel of 'experts' giving advice on finding winners at the Cheltenham Festival is a bit like asking Julian Clary for his thoughts on successful cage fighting...

A fine thread, albeit the revelation that duncan idaho is 45 is rather alarming.

watchit the £300 per week comparison is not ideal. Those same people go to watch footballers kick a ball about who are earning 100k a week. They go to watch a comedian who is getting 20k plus for telling a few jokes

what was the minimum to one person TRD...?

who was on your panel btw...?

are you doing one this year...?

Will McCoy be doing any previews this year, or is has he signed a deal with Billies to do previews on their site?

if these panelists are so good then presumably they will be taking the bookies and exchange players to the cleaners in a couple of weeks time...

strange that it seems it's the same panelists year upon year...

i thought they'd be sitting on a beach in barbados tbh...

its market forces watchit, whilst its not or me i dont think there should be any laws against it if people want to spend their money like that

i read somewhere one of the big bookies had signed up a couple of jockeys to do work for them at cheltenham...

i'm sorry but that's just plain wrong imv...

Watchit I have done many promotions in my time,not just racing ones and it is just a fact of life that people in the public eye,celebrities,entertainers what ever you want to call them get well paid.

I have been quoted amazing amounts of money for comedians,bands etc etc that I have either chosen to pay or not

nobody says it's against the law rider...but surely MORALS play a part in life also....?

well they do for me anyway...

George I have no idea if AP is doing any this year. When I booked him his agent said he does very few of them

no i'm with you on that watchit, i have little respect for most of the racing media, the fact they can make so much and know so little is a sign of the times, alot of people are brainwashed by celebrity and would rather a tip from a tv presenter who bets regularly with all the bookmakers, than a punter who bets for a living

HH what have morals got to do with anything. It is about being paid by someone to do a job. I can't see anything wrong with that.

I know a well known comedian,actor who gets paid a lot of money for his TV work,it didn't stop him from quoting me a 100k for an hours work

nice to know someone has morals and proud of it HH and from what i've seen of you on here i believe you do, i do not want to see unnecessary regulation, the people who pay to go are not forced to and probably go back year after year because they enjoy it, is it exploitation? not for me

GREED is morally wrong imv TRD...

and imv these cheltenham preview nights are all about GREED.

do you honestly think people do them to be nice guys and help the public out...?

the people who do them surely make enough money from the game not to feel the need to make more £...?

and like i say...if they are that good whay are they not sitting on a beach in barbados...?

http://news.williamhill.com/a/horse-racing/a-p-mccoy-preview-saturday-3-march/

"Tony McCoy - Billies Racing Ambassador"

Seemingly not the just those on the gravy train who'll do anything for a few quid (I presume McCoy is being paid for this?) - and for a bookie who runs offshore to avoid paying their full due in levy.

i'm sorry GEORGE.B but jockeys doing work for bookies just doesn't seem right to me.

why is nobody in the media writing about this...?

HH getting paid a few hundred quid to do a preview night is not imo greed. Getting paid 200k a week to kick a football about is another story. Do you think these footballers play for the shirt and the adoring supporters who turn up week in week out,of course they don't. I have had dealings with top footballers in my time and most of them have been winkers

^^ watchit 100% on the money, imho...

i don't mind people making a living watchit...that's fine.

it's the pure GREED i hate....

anyway got to go lads.

i've made my point and i'd like to thank all contributors...

i just hope one day justice is done and some of these people maybe think twice about being GREEDY.

i doubt it tho.

commentating

telly

MCing

columns in newspapers

online radio stations

online tv stations

preview nights (several of them)...

and probably a few more things i can't think of.

sounds like GREED to me TRD...

oh i forgot tipping lines...

Has McCoy ever complained about poor prize money?

Presuming he's being paid to do these previews, he's working for a bookie whose online business, is apparently Britain's largest non-Levy paying bookmaker.

GREED GREED GREED...surprised you can't see that tbh TRD...

HH if you were earning 200k a year from punting,would you halve your bets the next year for fear of being greedy.

TRD if i win 1k a month i'm jumping through hoops so the 200k Q is a bit far-fetched for me...

like i say..i'm not GREEDY...never have been...never will be...

maybe if i won 200k per year i'd give half to worthwhile causes and not keep it all to myself tbh...

and the football thing is another JOKE.

i have stated many times my feeling on over-paid / over-hyped footballers.

spot on watchit....absolutely banged the nail on the head there...

Another point to make is, if the 'experts' who appear on these panels really are going to make a profit from their Cheltenham selections, why on earth would they be wanting to broadcast them before the meeting takes place...?

Telling the world and his wife certainly isn't going to help your price, is it...

Some of them, where it's free after racing, or a few quid, you can say 'fair enough'

Haydock had one last week where the cheapest ticket was 60 quid. I hope they weren't justifying the price on the basis of the food, because Haydock catering is awful.