Irish Winners At Cheltenham

Surely we can at least match the 7 from last year even if we don't win any of the three big races?

Hopefully a few more trainers will use 2011 as a chance to support the Irish racing industry and make sure that their stars appear at the premier spring festivals in Ireland, even if in some cases it means not make the trip to Gloucester.

It is vitally important that disposable income is spent in this country and the more people that support the Irish festivals, the better it is for the economy. Obviously self-explanatory, but it is a point that should be well noted and adhered to this year.

I have always loved Cheltenham but the manner in which the festival has been ruined with all these meaningless races and the extension to 4 days and possibly 5 in the near future, has started to sour it for me and it has become as much of a commercially driven operation now as the national hunt championships.

We are already borrowing huge sums from the UK, without taking huge amounts out of our pockets and the Irish economy and handing it over to the bookmakers, restaurants, bars etc come March time at the expense of supporting our local events in 2011.

temlett i agree wholeheartedly with most of your comments.but the facts are that the local industry isnt going with the times.its cheaper to go to cheltenham than punchestown?drink and food prices are way cheaper in england than ireland.i drank a pint of carlsberg last yr in chelt for 2.50...its a fiver in ireland?..as for the beef rolls!?!!?

Terrific idea Temlett,plenty races at home for all the Irish horses,keep the local economy going

Kavvie,

Obviously a bit of realism has to be embedded in the minds of our service industry over here. For example the tickets at Punchestown need to be reduced. The prices of pints etc have loads of scope to fall from the crazy levels they were at, so that regular and new attendees can get much more for their spend. A drive like this from HRI would be much more worthwhile than simply labelling days as Ladies day (they obviously have their place as well)and expecting the crowds to flock.

The City Deal offer for Leopardstown at Christmas is an example of how a real buzz could be created around a racing day. I expect the Christmas festival to be excellent and hopefully Leopardstown themselves will now play their part with some like reduced prices from 4-6 after racing to create a proper buzz in the bars.

i got an email from limerick track.great deal for the 4 day festival...26e for the 4 days...now thats value!!...good on them.if they get people in they will make money...look at the crowds that went racing in england when it was free entry.people go for that.they might  spend and lose a few hundred once they get in but they like the value admission etc..

thats a great deal kavvie , i must say i enjoyed my little trip down that way recently ., fair play limerick .

yea its a course that really trys hard.i like the place.good parking,easy to get in and out of.they do great music evenings after racing in the summer .very popular...

Interesting points lads, 26euro for 4 days is fantastic value, I don't go racing half as much as I would like to due to the expense. As a  20-50 euro punter, I hate the idea of being that much down on the day before I go in the gate. ON Limerick, I was there for a few days last Christmas and it was very good, although my mind was probably more exercised by events at Kempton, Chepstow and Leopardstown.

That is a tremendous deal from Limerick. In fairness, while they may not attract the quality of horse one is likely to see at Leopardstown, there are one or two high class races at the venue and the grade 3 novice chase is always well contested.

Well tempted to have a rant about Irish Racing. ugh, must resist.