A Very Good Article By Richie Forristal In Todays Racing Post..

Not just a Cheltenham problem. That has focused it.

Just tooo many low grade race meetings put on for bookmakers, full stop.

All weather, which few bother to attend, a perfect example.

The great irony is that they are putting races on to appease bookmakers whilst in turn bookmakers are closing punters accounts and restricting the amount you can bet.

The parasite is killing the animal.

Cheltenham, the least of the problems, but nothing is going to change in relation to what really matters.

If you continually push away those who might win with the dire fixture list, and restrictions/closed accounts etc. you are left with a bunch of losers who have no commitment to the sport at all.

I can't agree on losing the Turners and Ryanair. Throwing a bunch of non-stayers into the Gold Cup and Brown Advisory will not help anyone. If a horse gets the Gold Cup trip, it will run in the Gold Cup anyway as the more prestigious race, the trophy everybody wants on their mantelpiece. A non-staying novice in the BAC is more likely to be broken by the experience.

Incidentally, many of the Cheltenham reforms proposed by Forristal and several other pundits might be completely missing the point, and aimed at the wrong target.

Maybe the reason for the drop in attendance is not disgust at Willie's odds-on shots but because going to Cheltenham is very expensive, both in terms of going racing and finding a bed within 10 miles of the course. Racegoers are paying through the nose for a game of sardines in the cold, rain and mud. For the last two or three years the weather has been quite bad, even if there is not much the BHA can do about it.

As an aside is Cheltenham losing a lot of its lustre , I had reason to visit a few weeks before the festival and was more than surprised at the prices for both hotels and taxis , as a example I was charged £14 for a 4 minute journey , plus the hotel was very expensive and that was 2 weeks before the festival. Reason I ask is have we done the unthinkable and simply priced the whole package beyond the working man's pocket , least we forget the sport of Kings is usually funded by the working class...Sorry if I've moved away from the main topic...

Hello workrider there were many reasons I finally called it a day one that doesn’t seem to pop up much is the all round hassle.

May I add none of those reasons are the Mullins factor ,I would be much more disappointed if he kept them all at home and went to punchestown and fairyhouse

Agree with both of you.
If you're in an excecutive hospitality box . with transport to the course, you're fine.
Alternatively, you pay a heavy price for over-crowded bars, debatable food, and urinals that ruin your shoes.
That's on a sunny day......woe betide you if it's rained for week beforehand, and you're on the lawns,or in the " car park".
I reckon Television, wikth a cup of tea and a cake is best !

Just get yourself into the local boozer with a crookies right next to it. What could be more simple???

No fun in a simple life

You could always hire an " escort", and ask her if she minded having the telly on,,

I am going over to Wincanton on 8th April if your around Jimnast otherwise I'm sure I'll you and her good self again as usual in Punchestown...

Workrider.
Will be down for the April meeting  taxi to the apparent  less than what they charge for a pint  on course .3 knights  in the apparent  over looking  Montpellier  gardens 210.
Hope you are well.
Ronnie.

Not a place I go very often in fact you could get there quicker than me,and to be honest whilst I’ll go to aintree I’ve had enough of the English national hunt for this season,not sure about punchestown this year probably about 2/1 against,I do however plan to go to kilbeggan on 25th April to narrow the gap with you.

from the county hurdle been the last race to grand annual been last race,the boys race now been  last race rather sums current chelt up for me,seems to have gone from peak best mate,denman kauot,mastermind,competitve ch hurdles,full field novice races ,competitive ferdy murphy era to bordering on just another big weekend raceday and irish dominance,you rarely even hear of chelt nightlife,queens hotel,montpelier drinking holes these days

is the centaur bands on before and after racing still even a thing ,something else that hardly gets a mention thommo annoying everyone etc etc

You sound a little jaded to me Jimnast , maybe a refreshing holiday is called for ?.. If you can get the 3 Irish tracks done before May 18th FFos llas  which is when I complete my visitation you'll win otherwise I'll take the title...

Unless ffos las is abandoned as Wexford was back in October you will win .

Remind me again is it 2 or 3 you have left..

3

Wexford,kilbeggan and Sligo I have actually been on Sligo racecourse but it doesn’t count as there was no racing

I do think we will be the first to achieve both sides of the sea as a couple.

It was all fecked up the day they turned it into four days instead of three.
The Ryanair 2.5m chase championship chase is the only really good thing that came out of the extension (2m Champion Chase to 3m2f Gold Cup with nowt in between was always a stupid concept but now they are questioning it?
Will have Fondmort and Thisthatandtother turning in their graves!