YOUR MOST MEMORABLE/PAINFUL CHELTENHAM RESULT?

My most painful memory at the Festival was in the 1986 Gold Cup.  I'd had a decent bet on Wayward Lad and thought he had the race in the bag halfway up the run-in.  Then the old horse's legs began to wobble and Jonjo switched Dawn Run to the outside and she came with a devastating late run to snatch the prize.  Wayward Lad gave his all as usual but it just wasn't enough.  Tragically the mare lost her life at Auteuil a few months later.  Great memories of a great Gold Cup.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC9dRA15F9s

this was very sore for me

http://youtu.be/oZvVvRr2l_U?t=5m48s

looking at a lot of the 80s races on youtube it is apparent that there are much more runners in each race that you get these days.

this is a better memory

http://youtu.be/KinNZFdpt5Y

Most painful Direct Route and Night Nurse in Gold Cup

Most memorable. Night Nurse and Harry Hastings

High : Winning the Conference National league 1998–99

Low : League One (Worst goal difference and win percentage (19.6%) in club history) 2008–09

Get Me out Of Here. Supreme Novices 2010.

Btn head - after being hampered. Would have got up and won on the usual long run in - but this year they had moved the final hurdle nearer the winning post !!Stood to win a fortune

Memorable - Being there to see Best Mate win his third Gold Cup and doing the Alderbrook/Master Oats double.

Worst - Cybrandian getting collared by The Thinker in the blizzard. We were all on at huge prices.

I remember having a lucky 15 on as an 18 yr old

1994

Christmas Gorse 28/1
Monsieur le cure 15/2
Mucklemeg 7/2
And jodami to win the gold cup at 6/4

Got a right few quid back but Would have been some amount for a fiver bet!!

Unsinkable Boxer / One Man / Beech Road  were all horses I couldn't see beaten ( Beech Rd 66/1 )

Worst

Too many to mention

Duncan Idaho.............Jodami getting beaten in the Hennessey was a real kick in the proverbials,still to this dsy do not know how he could have lost.My old mates nag winning,Sibton Abbey cost several nights loss of sleep.

memorable was being at chelts when Dawn Run and Desert Orchid
won their gold cups also watching chelts first time ever after
getting home early from school I remember a horse call Electric
winning that year

painful was the year forgive n forget fell in the Gold Cup

profitable was Idole First winning the coral cup at 33/1

most painful was Valiramix falling in the champion when cruising

Direct Route.
I screamed and punched the air with joy in the bookies as he crossed the line as I could tell that he'd won, ran excitedly back to work to finish my shift, went back later to collect my winnings.......
Still think he's won every time I see the race.

That was a bad time for most SG imo.Bitter sweet and to sum up the festival was a reasonable bet on Yahoo to win the GC and then cheering Dessie.Crazy but that was how it used to be.

Norton's Coin, was telling all & sundry the week leading up to the race that the course specialist had excellent ew chances, with only nine runners one being a 500/1 shot I could not see the horse being out of the frame & backed on the three days leading up to the race, wish I had waited till the day as Ladbrokes went 200/1 on the morning of the race
Even got my dad to back him & he was in Tenerife at the time, phoned him at the hotel  in the evening to play him a recording, to cap it all I had backed New Halen at 66/1 to win a hcp on the Tuesday, happy days.

Nice one Cyril.........pumph?

best that thing of Tom Cooper in the bumper..Total Enjoyment..worst..not being able to get out at work and back Pollardstown in the Triumph!

Since when has German Radio covered the Champion Hurdle

Memorable - Forpadytheplasterer in the Arkle
Painful - Bensalem falling in the William Hill 2010

PFLFF................since I think Radio 2 covered the festival and BFBS?

Or maybe you think the world ends at Folkestone?

A bun and a soldier.  GT, you are playing a stereotype.

poor weegie with no hope of a job joins the army.

you are one of the lucky ones.  You could be back in Easterhouse and dead before your 60th birthday.

Have heard Folkestone described as the end of the world a
few times alright

I doubt I will ever see Easterhouse aberdonia,never have....never will.......this weegie gained 2 Desmonds paid for by the MOD.

TIA

Love reading this thread brings the memories flooding back.  However, I seem to have more painful memories than memorable or profitable.

Direct Route (in my top fav horse) - gutted, thankfully losses recouped every year at Aintree
Highland Bud (Sheik Mohammed horse in the triumph, Antepost double with Desert Orchid) DO won and HB beaten into 2nd by 66/1 Ikdam
Moleboard 4th in 3 champion hurdles (was on e/w at 100/1 in both)
Get me out of here - coral cup (got a print of the phot finish... still dont believe it lost)

Most painful for me was a large bet on nick dundee and cab on target when cruising let me down for 2k , would have been all 4 up in a lucky 15.

No Nick Dundee regrets/tales recounted yet to my surprise unless I've missed them !

You couldnt make it up ! Simultaneous posting with larrence !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aaagh.

Multiple .............democrat?

Hopefully my most memorable will be in 2013, gl to all in the festival and may the betting gods be with us all.
Lets hope all horses and jockeys come back in one piece as well.......

Lettuce hope that the ether is devoid of the previous morons with festival info...........it will be on here mostly.nap

Chipowski..............common in Poland?

Ahhh New Halen mentioned on here

66/1 for a tenner but the last leg of a massive place pot ....cant remember what it paid but I remember it was a fortune to me

winnie the witch in the county hurdle sometime in the 80`s on at 33/1  and dizzy in the same race a year or two after (sadly died in the fighting fifth)

Gold cup day back in the eighties, did my usual 50p ew heinz and walked into William hills in truro to put it on.
It was upstairs and as I got to the top a stool almost decapitated me and this idiot was giving the manager a heavy time who called the police and closed the tills.
I went to the back of the shop and waited patiently until I had this bright idea that instead of doing my heinz I would do a £1 win yankee and a £5 ew each on the 4 tv races.
Had that fight never taken place and I had put my bet on it would have come to £28.000 instead of the £1100 I ended up with the only winner I did not have that thursday was The Thinker who won the gold cup.
Half Free won the last race for fred winter but missed out there also because racing was delayed that day and the race went off after the 6.30 closing time.
Worst day in my life and the amount would have certainly changed a lot for me.

1st day Cheltenham 1984.
Had 5 out of 6 ,Ev,Ev,11/2,6/1 & 20/1.The other one was jt jav but fell in Gaye Chance's race.

Nevermind had full cover multi with the 2 certainties in the Triumph & GC.
Broadsword 2/1 beaten by a 66/1 shot then form reversed at Aintree.
Wayward Lad 6/4 totally forgot how to jump on the day and wiped out most of the fences.

The Thinker would probably rate as the best.
The race was delayed for over an hour while the world and his wife had a bet on him.

EB............The Thinker was a huge result for some............Forgive N Forget was a disaster for me.I won a oner backing the winner of the two lads racing up the hill.

The dopey tw£ats who fell through the roof of the Nanny building got what they deserved.

One Man finally getting up that hill will live long in my memory

RIP

Baron Blakeney beat Broadsword that day,  Martin Pipe, his first big winner.

ell,

That cheltenham was the first time the big bookies gave guaranteed odds on all races.

That was something else I did wrong, the hunter chase that was run that day was won by an fred winter horse which was available at 25s in the morning, finished up 14s I think.
Mercy Rimal complained that old cup horses should not be allowed to run in hunter chases, I remember it won by half the track.

Half Free moondan?

No, Observe

FFS sorry...........it was observe ridden by our own CHARLIE BROOKS no less.

Good old Charlie

Well I would not put my life on it but my memory says it was Half Free and it won at 11/8  Two and a half mile chaser, race went off at 6.40 and left a silly 20 quid on it.

I'm sure it was Observe Dan, but wouldn't be the first time I was wrong

Wrong then moondan........sorry.

I just the watched the 1984 Triumph Hurdle on youtube.
It wasn't Broadsword that year, it was See You Then,still finished 2nd though.

Does anyone remember the missing 1st day winners in '84 ?.
Bobsline, Dawn Run, Brownes Gazette, Broomy Bank ......

Three Counties was second,Gallagher 3rd........2.50  19th March .

Moondan--feel the pain

FAB,

Going on memory which at my age is a dangerous thing to do fred Winter had a double that day. he won the hunters race which was the second race and also the last.
The county hurdle was won by a balding horse at 16s.

It could have been observe that won by half the track but wasn't that the second race in.

Must try and get the winners that day.

Most memorable probably Rock on Ruby last year, struggle to top it. Other nice winners See More Business, and Young Spartacus, Royal Predica, and Sudden Shock in 2003. Young Spartacus was a real favourite.

From a non betting outlook, Harry Hastings, Venture to Cognac, The Dickinson 5 in the Gold Cup, Desert Orchid, and The Thinker, all from when I was too young to bet.

Most painful was probably The Last Fling in the Gold Cup, got carried away with his run up, and bet too much, thought he was a cert for a place. I was very wrong
Also, 2005 to 2007 was a torrid time, loser after loser, followed by more losers.

My best Master Oats who I convinced myself would win the GC weeks before and backed accordingly.My worst goes back a long way when I was very skinto. I had a life changing ( would win enough to eat and pay the rent for a month or two) double on Sea pigeon who sluiced up in the CH and Border Incident who was  travelling sweet as a nut with John F on board when he came down at the third last.Of course it was too far out to call him an unlucky loser but the frustration of not being able to see him run his  race caused me,in a rage,to boot a coffee mug that was on the floor which promptly flew in a graceful arc straight through the living room window. It was shut at the time of course.

Venture to Cognac won for FW in 84 (one of my memorable moments), but I'm almost certain, Rimmel complained when Observe won, and Neblin of Baldings won the county that day. God, I hope that's right.

Fab
Thanks for that, its 26 years ago and while I often think of the small holding I would have bought, the most vivid memory was the fact that The Thinker was unbeaten on about 6 runs that season but I could not convince mysef he was up to the class needed to win a Gold cup.

Think it was 1979....had a £10ew acca on the way to the course.....fair wager in those days. May have been the first day.
Toss of a coin in the Hunters Chase....decided to go with Correyvracken (probably wrong spelling) instead of Spartan Missile as they thought the Irish horse was unbeatable.
You guessed it SM won and so did all the rest including Pollardstown at 12/1....would have been a big payout...still have not worked it out to the pound as it's still painful to this day.

Best memory was Joes Edge in 2007, felt it was handicapped to win the race despite the Grand National being the aim and Davy Russell got him up from an impossible position in the last stride.  Won enough that day to set myself up with a fair kitty to start betting for a living so I'll always owe horse and rider for a long time to come.

Worst memory, as a youngster watching Le Coudray, woulda been 1.01 in the run on here, being run down late by Anzum in the stayers.  I knew  little about the game then but having followed a tip from a fella who apparently did I'd backed LC Ante Post at 12/1 for what money I did have at the time, it wasn't the money lost it was just the feeling of euphoria to utter dissapointment, first time I'd ever felt it in gambling!
Ante Post double to win serious money on Imperial Commander 10's and Khyber Kim 14's being stuffed by Binocular (who was 1000/1 on here 3 weeks before the race) was a sickener.  Will never forgive Chemical Nicky for that stunt.

Tuesday at the 2010 festival could have been brilliant, had GMOOH would have won if the hurdle hadn't been moved/hampered, Bensalem fell when looked like winning, before the Champion Hurdle so would have been up a lot and had more on Binocular, which I had already backed. Still ended up up but could have been so much better.

Not had too many close 2nd's the horse is usually well beaten if I have a decent bet on it, VPU in the Ryanair was one of my biggest bets and it was beaten as soon as it hit that fence at the top of the hill.

Most profitable day was Thursday last year, was in the pub in Sydney, had SDC, Cape Tribulation, Riverside Theatre F/C in the World Hurdle and Sunnyhillboy, then I put half of my profit on Long Run in the Gold cup the next day.

Most memorable race was 2004 Supreme, got me hooked on racing as it was only a minor interest before.

Jamie Osborne pulling up Large Action in 1997.

at the course when brownes gazzette whipped round at the start

Half Free winning the last at 16-1,surviving never ending photo and then even longer Stewards.Worst, when Harchibald failed to get up despite cantering going into last. In desperation shouted the see you next Tuesday at TV repeatedly,oblivious that mother in law was in adjacent room,surprise visiting.

Pendil what a super but unlucky horse

In the stands & watching them in the 1999 GC over at the far side thinking "don't fall" as See More Business, Go Ballistic & Florida Pearl finished in that order - Trifecta landed

Being the only one in the pub on American Trilogy in the 2009 Vincent O'Brien at 20-1. The silence was deafening but it was deep joy time in my little corner. As a rule however, my anticipation and sheer delight at the racing is not mirrored in joyful collecting.

Harchibald......say no more apart from I've only just been able to watch a repeat recently......would still back him again...

Painful is most deffo the way to describe my gut as i had steamed into Best Mate for the supreme in a big way only for Sausalito Bay to come by and do him.Was stood near the guinness village at the time and when jim Culloty went by i thought i'd copped a right few quid .Had some good wins over the years from a point of view of finance at the time but one of many memorable days was only recently when i took my girlfriend.I kept going back to cue card in the bumper and thought sod it,as i was in front and had £30 e/w at 40s.Having stood in the stand shouting it in (in virtual silence to everyone else) all the way up the hill my other half, bless her, turned and said to me after i'd jumped up and down for a bit "is that one yours"?! I couldn't stop pi**in myself after that.The same lady is now my fiancee which is why this year.........im going on my own!

Backing voy por ustedes for the arkle @14s downwards won 4k

Backing Sprinter sacre to win 5k in the supreme

Memorable and painful: Silver Jaro, County hurdle '08.

Had backed Ashkazar earlier in the week, was in the Pipe marquee when Crack away Jack swooped... I have never experienced such an anti climax.
Still licking my wounds a few days later, entered Silver Jaro in a local tipping comp, organised by a regular punter at the bookies I worked at. Had asked him to monitor the betting, funds on here were low and the only bookmaker account I had left was a pp a/c... they were offering Silver Jaro at just 16/1. The customer told me around 2pm that SJ was 120+ on here and updated right up to the off, I decided not to place a wager. It won bagging me the tipping comp (£200) but left me feeling a little dejected after being put off by its price (a lesson I have learnt from since!). The £200 was used to erase all negativity that evening.

democrat • February 25, 2013 10:02 PM GMT


No Nick Dundee regrets/tales recounted yet to my surprise unless I've missed them !

Couldn't remember name - this and Teeton Mill in the same year were costly for me
Mulligan from 1997 still one of the biggest losers i've ever had (stake wise)

Best day
Having Baracouda , Best Mate and Le Landiere (I think)

That was 2003 Bigu2fan. I was there that day. My first visit to a racecourse.

Best mate won his second gold cup. Baracouda beat iris's gift and Limestone lad and La landiere won the cathcart.

And my favourite ever horse - spirit leader won the county hurdle.

I backed them all and thought it was an easy game.

i dont think I've had 4 winners in the ten years since!

Best day
Having Baracouda , Best Mate and Le Landiere (I think)

Three singles and a trixie that day paid for my wedding.
Need similar this year to pay for my divorce.

Most memorable: backing New Mill @ 100s ante post after the RFO put it up... happy days...

Least memorable: back Wot A Friend large for a place GC two years ago... would of dug me out a hole... when they crossed the line I thought WAF had done Kauto... happy days... not... never seen the print... sure I woz done...

Hairy Molly in the bumper 33/1,shame it never went onto better things.............

I had a £1 lucky 15 on world hurdle day in 2008.I was 17 at the time but always looked older so would put mine and my mates bets on.
Our Vic won at 4/1
Albertas Run won at 4/1
Inglis Drever won at 11/8
Miko De Beauchene 2nd at 7/1

The story behind it is that Miko De Beauchene was not meant to be on the slip, i had gone with every intention of the fourth horse been Mister Mcgoldrick. i wont claim to have based my selections on any skill as i was still a novice to the game. I Picked all of my favourites that had won for me before. On arrival at the betfred i saw the price on mister mcgoldrick was 100/1 and because of the price it put me off putting him in my lucky 15. Over the years i have learnt that as long as the horse is longer than the price you expect it to be you should bet it. I will never forget feeling as flat as i did when Mister Mcgoldrick won and was returned 66/1. i then watched the next race to see my selection i chose over him after looking at his price finish second.

Valiramix never get over that

elation....hypolita winning county in 79 (6 duck eggs and backed on tote, getting my wheel barrow under starters orders ).....despair.....objection, my bookie mate offered me 50% if monte ceco got the race and i to reciprocate......turned him down and fought through crowd to watch a replay only to see the idiot jockey whipping the other jockey more than once. attempted to get back to my mate to change my mind.....didn't make it , bloody overcrowding !

Simply watching that rubbish is painful.

I see the Aussie still hasnt recovered from Black Fish Eggs scraping home at Ascot and hasnt realised this is about horse racing.

Btw Moondan I can add Gee A ridden by Gee A at 33s,owned by Geoff H as a small but exciting memory of the 87 Festival.

Btw moondan...........The Thinkers for figures were 11-5411 before the GC.

*form*

Moondan,the last race was the Cathcart Challenge Cup (listed) 5.15 pm start.

Half Free won so we were not too far out.......Peter Scudamore in the plate,fake sheikh owned.

GT-MOLE,

Thanks for that, I was pretty certain it was half free and from memory it won at 11/8 and that was also sickening because it was available at 7/4 guaranteed price in the morning.
Going on memory it was not a big field 7-8 runners.
I cannot find the results for that day, probably because brains, computers, and me, are not good companions.
Along with the other winners I backed that day the first race was the hurdle and am I right in thinking it was a Henderson runner ridden by sherwood or am I well down the road of being senile.
Great thread wish there was more like it.

First race that day was also won by a Sheikh,Amin Dalwali,Nicky trained,Steve Smith Eccles rode.

Alone Success.I had a monkey ew on Aldino.

Great thread this.  Half Free won the Cathcart at 11-8 in 1986 moondan when ridden by Simon Sherwood.  He was 5-4 when winning again in 1987.

Had a decent bet on Half Free that day puali,an ew for buttons on Western Sunset,Tim Forsters nag....no forecast bet.

GT=MOLE,

Again thanks, I think it was about 12s . Aldino did me a few favours but I was more a tenner ew
In fact I was just a mug punter really, thought nothing of doing a £1 ew heinz each day at the big meetings, greed being my downfall

Betfair and old age has made me see the light and long may it continue.

Half Free was one of those horses that I never seemed to back when it won.  I was on the The Mighty Mac in 1986.

Pauli, knew Sherwood was involved somewhere, thanks.

GT, You should do one on Royal ascot,

I have a shocking  story from the middle 60s

Canio dotting up at 20/1 yonks ago, ridden by Francome and trained by Ron Hodges.

OMERTA was a Non runner on the day of the GC which was enlightening should I say?



Trained.......J.H Scott,Ireland

Red,Black,Chevrons on body and sleeves,WHITE cap.

Strangely the cap was in CAPS as WHITE?

I can tell you plenty of "funny things" about this meeting.

Apologies,I got that wrong.............no 14 Wayward Lad was white cap in CAPS.

Mrs.J McMorrow owned OMERTA at the time when he was a 7 yo gelding.

Did bookmakers really offer guaranteed morning prices in the mid-late 80's?

I thought that concession only came in recent years, possibly since 2000?

INTHEKNOW

Without doubt guaranteed odds were available from opening time the year
The Thinker won the gold cup. The only doubt is whether that was the first or second year they were introduced.
The fred winter horse that won the second race was available at 25s all morning and Half free was available at 7/4.
I am so certain because I missed 2 points on Alone success hendersons horse in the first and watched in horror as Freds horse collapsed down to 14s or 16s in the second, a huge difference.
I am certain this concession was offered by all of the big three.
I was working in Truro, Cornwall for the best part of a year and I think it was William Hills that was based upstairs above other shops, it was the only shop in the tiny city.
There is no doubt what I have told you is true and would gladly bet, not only my life on this but also my kids. Absolutely no doubt.
That day is burned into my memory because its the day I made 2 huge mistakes, firstly to change my bet and stakes but also not to take the guaranteed odds, both were costly in a way I will never forget.

Intheknow.

I will just Add that it could have been the first time it was trialed by the big 3 for Cheltenham.
Whether it was costly and dropped I have no memory, certainly it was not a regular saturday or daily offer as it became later.

One thing that should be borne in mind regarding the BOG issue in 1987, is that it was pre-exchange/major internet use days and the markets were not as transparent to one and all, the way they are now, most people used to be of the mind that the price could go either way so BOG would not have been as attractive then as it is to people now.

2003 Champion Bumper and I still insist Pizzaro carried Rhinestone Cowboy that far across the track the Stewards should have given the race to the Cowboy

I didn't know that any of the big 3 had ever offered BOG throughout their LBO's, with the exception of maybe the odd race or two that they may have sponsored. I know it's online & often over the phones, but I didn't think that was even available so long ago.

Long time ago now, but I'm sure I backed Mole Board in a Sun Alliance Hurdle.  Had more on it than I should've had, but thought it was an absolute certainty......................................................as it turned out, it absolutely wasn't!! 
More pleasant experience was backing Azertyuiop at 14's for the Arkle..

1974 Pendil crashing out terrible day and then tried to buy myself out of trouble in last with £200 (lot of money for me in those days) on L'Escargot in last race at 4/1, he finished 2nd to Soothsayer.
Best result Night Nurse winning 77 Champion Hurdle despite drifting like a barge and got incredible 15/2. Wife forgive me for choosing Cheltenham as honeymoon venue .

Aladdin, that was the 1988 Sun Alliance Hurdle in which Mole Board was a well backed 7/4 fav, finished 8th behind Rebel Song trained by Oliver and ridden by Simon Sherwood. At that time Mole Board was an inmate of the Owen O'Neill stable and was that day ridden by Simon Cowley.The placed horses weren't bad that day either, Slalom, Rustle, Nick the Brief and Toby Tobias was 5th.

That proved to be quite a good Sun Alliance Hurdle in 1988 CL.  At the 1989 Festival Slalom was surprisingly aimed at the Gold Cup where he unseated, Rustle won the Stayers Hurdle and Nick The Brief finished 2nd in the Sun Alliance Chase.

Thanks Cork and Pauli - appreciate the info, but you've just opened up the old wound!!!