Cheltenham Festival

Crinson... so true. We'll be watching on Big Screen T.V. today.

Sorry, Crimson not Crinson!

Crimson lovely post re. the people that go racing. I totally agree. Just wish I could go more often.

Those that are interested, have you had a look at Paul Nicholls website? You can register an interest for their special tours. Totally oversubscribed at the moment, but they will put you on the list.

We used to love going racing but suddenly about 10 years ago DH became very allergic to horses - we cannot go anywhere near the paddock or walk in or he gets a bad reaction - have to be satisfied with the TV now and I don't find it nearly such fun.

I like to read Kim Baileys daily blog [he did a blog way before anyone else did] beautiful photos of his horses, his young son his dog and his farm, and very funny. Kimbaileyracing.com I think it is. One of his horses ran a good race yesterday so I'm just going to see what he wrote. Nearly had a 40/1 winner today but, when I came to put the money on it was 16/1; I thought I was the only one who had spotted it as well. Other than that, it has been a bad day, and the controversy over the Queen Mother Champion Chase has made my blood boil, and I'm furious with the racecourse officials. A tip 'straight from the stable' for the bumper came nowhere, but I only lost £1 [which is a big bet for me; I've only just gone from 25 pence each way to 50 pence each way]. I know some people that were piling on it. Ouch....

The Nicholls' horses are running terribly, apart from Rock on Ruby who is at the satellite stable. I'm wondering if there's still a bug going round the stable?

crimson I think there is a bit of a problem in the PN yard, be interesting to see how NH does this week.

As for bets...... at the course I usually do either £1 or £2 each way, a lot of on-course bookies wont accept less!

(My personal best was a meeting at Exeter, first race, £2 e/w at 28/1, came in first, picked up over £60, covered everything for the rest of the meeting!

Last but one race, a first at 40/1 ! Daft thing is, unlike the first race when I had looked at a bit of the form (hadn't run in over a year, but was a reasonable prize money race, the only one that the trainer had sent to the meeting, amateur lady jockey claiming weight etc) this one I went for the name "Callerlily" purely because we have an excuse for a cat called Lily.

Crimson and Phoenix.... totally agree re the Queen Mother Champion chase, and listening to the officials trying to justify their actions, mind-blowing!
Had a couple of winners today using a similar system to yours Phoenix ... Champagne Fever in the bumper ( for obvious reasons, always said I should have married a Lord!)
Back to watching on T.V tomorrow.
Seems that Nicky Henderson has all the 'good' horses at the moment. Talking to No. 2 son, he thinks that all 'new' money is going Hendersons way and that his owners are buying whereas others are not.
Lots of yards have not done so well at Cheltenham this year, David Pipe comes to mind as does Nigel Twiston Davies and Alan King, even Willie Mullins was disappointing.
Ah well, tomorrow is another day!

phoenix No it's not me! I am not on another forum! Is there another one of me or has someone stolen my identity? Now I'm all confused....

I'm still furious about the race. Thought Henry de Bromhead was a saint to talk so diplomatically about it afterwards [is it just me, but I fancy him like crazy, especially with that Irish accent; bit like Francois Doumen years ago with his French accent...sigh..]. As I watched them go out I saw Richard Johnson beaming, and I thought to myself how lucky he had been with injuries over the years and, as I thought it I wanted to unthink it because I felt that I was tempting fate, so I was worried sick when Wishfull Thinking came down. Thank goodness he's ok. My favourite jockey recently has been Isabel Thompsett, and she will never be the same after her terrible fall last year. The other year we saw Harry Challoner go out to ride at the Festival and his sister was standing by us. She called to him and he turned his head and smiled, a young man on this huge horse going out to jump those fences and I've watched him ever since and thought of that smile. 'Tiny men in silk were brave beyond bearing..etc etc' I've just spent 2 hours studying the Byrne Group Plate and reached the conclusion that I haven't got the faintest idea who's going to win it . Still; it keeps me out of mischief. An old dear drinking Horlicks and studying the gee gee's.

Back to the telly for me today, and will probably not bet altho I do have winnings to collect and may be tempted.
Watched 'The Morning Line' and noted what was said about the debacle (?). Lots of wise words, hope they are heeded.
No.2 son is worried about Big Bucks as he has him tied in with other bets. I keep it simple but do find it difficult when I don't actually see the horses.
Lots of favourite Jockeys but less keen on Kieron Fallon on the flat and Paddy Brennan over jumps. Have a soft spot for Sam Twiston Davies. Saw Harry Derham being told 'just enjoy it' presumably by his Mum on Tues. He looks about 14 and far too slight to handle a thoroughbred!
Good luck today, Crimson.

Graham Lee is my favourite jockey, probably after seeing how concerned he was about his horse after a race at Kelso; hate it when he gets injured. Seems like a thoroughly decent fellow. I followed Isabel for a few seasons after seeing her on a horse called Sweet World at Bangor; followed her point to point exploits on Chesnut Annie and was devastated to hear of her terrible injury last year. Annoyingly today I backed Blazing Tempo because of her getting the mares allowance, and she pulled up part way through the race, buit ignored Voler la Vedette and her allowance. Didn't she give BB a race! And isn't Sir des Champs gorgeous! Just hope Kauto is ok tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to it....

I do love it when a mare does well. Heart in mouth time watching Big Bucks but I needn't have worried, imagine if the mare had beaten him! I really don't want K.S. to run tomorrow given what happened to 2 other stalwarts on Tuesday. I only had a couple of bets today, neither successful ( but they were what I call 'coincidence' bets).
I shall probably just watch tomorrow altho I may leave the room for the BIG race and watch the replay if K.S. gets through.
I haven't watched 'pointers', No.2 son reckons I couldn't cope with the spills as I generally stop betting if the big green screens go up and hate it when horses or jockeys are injured.
You sound as if you have visited lots of Racetracks, any favourites?

I hardly ever see a horse jump a fence; usually close my eyes. When my old favouroites, Dessie and See More Business ran I used to pace up and down the living room with my hands over my eyes. When One Man died I cried for a week. Want Burton Port to win this afternoon, after seeing the interview with Trevor Hemmings yesterday. I never realised his horses were all home breds, and he bred endangered horses. Thankfully I've got my grandson here till 1; stops me worrying too much about this afternoon. the times I've been paddockside and I hear people around me murmering to themselves 'come back safe'. Like warriors going into battle, and all for our pleasure. Total respect for their courage and the courage of the men who ride them [also want Midnight Chase to run a bit race; the sort of horse who epitomises what is wonderful about steeplechasers; Lady Clark's husband Stan used to run Utoxeter racecourse [my local track].

End of an era. Took me a long time to warm to Kauto, but feel a bit weepy now. Expect there'll be an announcement tomorrow?

Crimson, I saw the Trevor Hemmings interview, what a lovely man!
I had no bets today but marked Synchronized as a possible e/w! Too lazy to go into town, and I don't like betting 'on-line'!

No.2 son is busy thinking of what might have been as he had Long Run in an accumulator set up months ago (£4,500) The pundits at the preview evening were all wary about him tho (the horse not my son).

I was sad about Kauto Star but secretly relieved to see him pull up. There must have been more to the fall while schooling than was realised, either that or the Yard has problems. Nicholls seemed to have young horses with promise last year (Zarkander for instance) who have not 'come-on'.

I have a friend who says some yards are better early season whilst others 'peak' after Christmas.

There was a quick interview with Clive Smith but I didn't hear it, I'll wait to see what is said tomorrow. I wonder whether he'll buy any more horses as MasterMinded won't run again either. (No.2 son says that Nicholls owners are not buying as much as Hendersons at the moment)

My 'local' track is Wincanton, great on a crisp sunny winters day as it is west-facing.

Well, we have seen some wonderful 'chasers and some superb hurdlers!

Very knowledgeable crowd you'd have at Wincanton as well; over the last few years Uttoxeter has become a boozefest place, and I very rarely go there now. When Sir Stan ran it it was wonderful; quality of the racing improved; we used to have parades of stallions sometimes; one year John Oaksey was there and they had just about every top jumping stallion of that era..Karinga Bay slobbered all over my wax and I said I'd never clean it again..Terimon was there, pure white with the prettiest head you'd ever see. Then Arena Leisure bought it and it went downhill, although the entrance fee remained the same. Sir Stan used to parade Lord Gyllene before the Midlands National. I've grown to love flat racing over the past few years; fell in love with Sea the Stars before he won the 1000gns, and was a wreck every time he ran. Sean, who wrote the book about him when he retired kindly sent me a copy of it. I spoke to him one night about the horse, and he said 'you really love the horse, don't you, I'll send you a copy of the book' [I was going to buy it anyway!], but I never dreamed that he would..it was inscribed 'as promised'. Again, racing folk and their kindness. We started going to The Ebor at York, and I found that I could follow the flat handicappers the way I follow the jumpers, year after year, and could watch the race without the fear of them not coming back. I won't bet online, I don't like using my card online and, to be honest, I wouldn't trust myself not to get carried away. And I like going into betting shops. There's a lady at William Hills who I've promised a cup of tea to, if and when I get back into winning ways, and I am quite famous for backing a Champion Hurdle winner ante post at 80/1 one year. My ambition is to back a 100/1 winner. I backed Mon Mome at 33/1 the year he won the National at 100/1, so that doesn't count! I love the mares; a good race mare is very special. I saw a programme many years ago about 'The Dove' family, bred by farmers, so I followed Flakey Dove throughout her career. Dubacilla, who died a few months ago,was another favourite. We will have a National Preview evening soon; one year we had every retired surviving winning jockey; some of them hadn't seen each other for years so they said they'd do it every year. Alas, Josh Gifford came last year, to replace Bob Champion who was still not over his heart scare, and Michael Scudamore was a special guest one year; Peter and Lucinda travelled all the way down from Scotland to be there for him. Oh dear, I'm putting off work again. Will shut up! I know racing is full of sadness as well as joy, but I'm so glad that it's such a big part of my life! If Kauto parades next year I think I'll go on Gold Cup day just to see him [have heard that Denman is going to be going team chasing when he's had his 'time out with a leg'. What a sight that would be!]