Cheltenham Festival

ogm my next door neighbour on the other side had a lot of people round and I think they all went birding as well! She is very much into it. We are both members of the Bristol ornithological society. Was this the same event do you think?

Am I losing the plot?

To me, Cheltenham Festival is the jump season highlight of the year, no matter how I try I can't make a connection between it and bird watching.

Confused of North Devon

Phoenix I think Jeni is still hungover from last nights virtual party!

No it was me! Ogm has posted on another thread that she went birding! I posted on the wrong thread

Jeni, worry not, I shall reply on this thread and add to the confusion (I'm good at that!). No, we went as a group of four. There were other people around as it was the last 'Starling talk' of the season.
Back to Cheltenham, anyone going?

I wish I was[wistful] emoticon. I've never been horse racing! I went to the dogs though, once

Jeni, I have long since 'gone to the dogs'!

Ogm I thought the weather was good next week. Are you sure it's Cheltenham? It usually snows for it!

OGM; we always go on the Tuesday [the best day imo]. We met Mr Hales on Thursday and he thinks Al Ferof is going to run a mighty race against Sprinter Sacre. Oh, teas ready....will tell you more later...

We get there really early so we can watch the horses being unloaded. Then it's touch Arkle for luck, place our bets with the tote, hopefully see the old horses parade [were you there last year when Hardy Eustace et al were there?]. We spend most of our time going between the pre parade ring and the big screen by the paddock; then we watch the horses come back up the horsewalk. Very excited at seeing old Dream Alliance this year, even though he is a shadow of his former self. I've backed a couple of outsiders for the Champion Hurdle, Brampour and Overturn [who has been given a break this year and won't be there to set the pace for Peddlers; he's supposedly in very good order]. We never watch from the track. Don't know what I'll be wearing as not sure about the weather, but you could find us by Arkle at a certain time. Annoyingly I've got to go into work tomorrow morning, otherwise I'd be studying the form like crazy now. Rather fancy the French horse for the Supreme; people tend to ignore French raiders but imo they do rather well. Have backed the Gigginstown horse so far for that race even though I hate his owner.....

Ooooh, you lucky buggers it is the only sport that i get passionate about, but sadly won't even be able to watch it on TV! (Although, if my redundancy meeting goes the wrong way tomorrow, I might. I will be pushing for the chance to work my 6 weeks statutory notice, in order to have the chance to close a few more deals and get the commission, my boss might decide otherwise.)

Look on the bright side, phoenix; if you're out of work next year you can come with us on the Tuesday and then watch it on telly with us as well!

Double edged sword, there. (Probably not quite the right phrase, but hey ho.) Actually, just thought, If I am out of work this time next year, then heaven knows where I will be living, because I won't be where I am now.)

Those that are going, enjoy!

Crimson Thanks for the tips!
We usually get there in time to have a picnic before going in but might ring the changes this year. Number 2 son will be with us and he is by far the most knowledgeable of us so we generally follow him!
We went to the Cheltenham preview evening at Wincanton a couple of weeks ago and picked up a few tips. Nicholls flagged up Hinterland, but gave Zarkander as his bet of the day. I'm afraid I am swayed by other considerations and am not a serious punter!!!!
Tonight we are off to a Quiz (Horses and General Knowledge) at the Manor Inn (Ditcheat) tomorrow Cheltenham, as you know ( No.2 son picks it as the best day too) then Wednesday we watch on the big screen at the Manor Inn, followed by a delicious supper there!Thurs and Fri on our own telly.
I usually dash between the parade ring and the course, especially if I have a placed horse to cheer in. I like to watch them before the race too, I reckon I almost get as much exercise as the horses!
Will look out for you, will post again this evening.

We've got it down to a fine art over the years; screen then mad dash across the walkway to clap them in, then over to the pre parade. If there's a horse I really want to see I go to the pre parade early to get a position. Paddockside viewing is well nigh impossible, except for the year when I planted myself at the fence for hours to see Istabraq when he won his third champion then missed him because I was expecting a horse with huge presence but I found him rather lacking in charisma, unlike Hardy Eustace who I thought was one of the prettiest horses I've ever seen; like a little show pony. No one seemed to notice that because of his blue blinkers, although Simon Holt came to one of our previews and said he adored him also. I'd love to go really early and see the horses being exercised; I think you can get a special ticket for that. Also like to see the horses rolling in the sand that they've put by the unloading area. I found out preview rather lacking in tips last week, even down to the fact that a few tipped a horse that I'd heard rumours about. Sorry; am rabbiting on..having finished work I'm now getting into the swing of things!

Crimson.... rabbit away, my typing is of the two-fingered variety so I take ages to type anything at all!
The OG has just gone to meet No.2 son at Bath station, I've just googled parts of a horse for tonight's quiz! Lunch is in the oven.... it's just like the return of the prodigal son!!!
I have favourites from years ago usually for silly reasons and get quite emotional about their 'bravery', giving it their all, and don't like to see the green screens go up.
Hello Bud is so game, I saw him at Wincanton and said so to his jockey who replied fondly 'Yes, he's a beast isn't he?' ( Sam Twiston-Davies)
I enjoy watching 'at the rails' as I love the sound they make and we usually go into the centre of the track for the Cross Country.
By the way, the OG does NOT know my username! I'll pm my real name!

The S.O. likes to leave before the last race, so we don't have time to go out on the track to the Cross Country[we have done at Punchestown]. Something they said at the weekend is that they can't water the Cross Country track the way they do the rest of the course, so the ground is going to be plenty hard for the horses [worryingly]. I so want to see Hunt Ball in the last race, but I'll probably have to leave [that's the problem with being a rubbish driver and depending on other people to get me places]. I'm doing my head in with facts and figures and stats at the moment. One of my favourite moments was seeing dear Grey Abbey when he ran in the Gold Cup. His owners were really disappointed with his run, but I saw them afterwards and told them that just seeing him in the flesh had made my day, and they were quite touched to hear that [I would have thought they knew how much people loved their horse, but I suppose when you're that involved you don't know these things]. As for seeing Dessie when he used to be there parading on Gold Cup day; I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Gold Cup day is far too busy these days, butwe were there for Best Mate [and went to his 'funeral' when Jim Lewis took his ashes to their final resting spot; we did the same for Dessie's funeral as well, at Kempton]. I wish they'd retire Hello Bud; he must be one of the best jumpers of a fence I've ever seen. Sorry, rabbiting again; putting of doing housework!

Oh how I love this thread! My racing, my passion.

Today's the Day!!!
Still foggy here, hope it clears!
Crimson.... I 'm worried about the CC too. I hate it when the big green screens go up and usually stop my 'little flutters' at that point.
I agree about Hello Bud!
I missed all your 'big moments' as I only got really interested in the last few years, I would like to visit all race courses (61 apparently!)
Must get ready....
Saw Hunt Ball win easily at Wincanton so will probably 'lump on'. The ownwer is a scream, I didn't see it but apparently he joined the jockey aboard the horse the previous time he won there, fined £100 for his pains!!!
Really must get ready....

Oh I missed Hunt Ball but chuffed to get home to find that he'd won. However, devastated to hear about Garde Champetre; knew about Scotsirish, but not Garde.I was so worried about the ground out there.The S.O. backed the winner, because he always follows the Hobbs horses. Bit of a Jonjo/JP plot in the 3 mile handicap methinks. Trifolium nearly slipped up on the bend in the Supreme, but he wouldn't have won anyway; Overturn ran his heart out, as did Fruity. So, a few placed horses but no winner for me. I'd forgotten how beautiful the horses are; Sprinter Sacre reminded me of Best Mate. Now to watch the replay and study for tomorrow. Can't believe another year is over, but we might go to Kelso in a couple of weeks time as haven't been there for ages.

Educated Evans (only 7 years old) also died. Love to see such beautiful horses but the toll is too great for me I'm afraid.

Nightowl, is it you? Do you have the same name on another forum?????

Crimson, altered my pattern and looked out for you. As a result of that put a small wager on Cinders and Ashes in the first as he looked so good in the pre-parade ring and then the parade ring. 2nd in the 2nd on Cue Card. Then nothing 'til Balthazar King ( following a tip from a friendly Irish man standing next to me!!!) Was afraid to chance my arm on Hunt Ball and was then cross with myself!
So sad about the lovely horses who won't race again. Glad I didn't know at the time.
We enjoyed the racing but arriving and leaving was a nightmare. Traffic control was non existant in the car parks and it took us two hours to just get onto the main road!
Sadly we forgot to record the event, and I'm too tired to wait up for the highlights as I was duty driver! ( They will be recorded for tomorrow!)

My neighbour recorded it for me, but it doesn't seem to be working [we're both technophobes] so I've watched it on The Sporting Life, but that means I've only seen the races not the chit chat in between. We always park on [I think] the north car park and leave immediately after the last but one race, which is why I missed Hunt Ball. I did get to see the interview with his connections which is a wonderful story of dreams and loyalty; pretty much what racing is all about. Pity the BBC [who are not showing racing at all after next year] don't concentrate on stories like that. nightowl; know what you mean. Sometimes I want to walk away from it, but it's been such a huge part of my life since I was a child I'd miss it so much, and I've never known such wonderful people. Before I met the S.O. I used to go racing on my own, and there are always people to talk to. I don't think there's another sport where the people involved are so friendly and approachable, compounded by the deep love and respect for the horses that we all feel.