galopin des champs 4/7 con hill 4/6 jonbon 5/6 brighterdaysahead 10/11 sir gino 10/11 kopek des bordes 11/10 teahupoo 5/4 one im massively against and will be backing home by the lee ballyburn 2/1 fact to file 2/1 lulamba 2/1
I couldn’t believe he was still in betting this morning. I went on BET365 an cancelled 2 short price Accas that had Gino in them. An got full stake back.
Tuesday on train there and back same day. ( never done Tuesday so am looking forward to this element )
Weds train up to brum in afternoon dinner with Mrs and her family weds eve, Cheltenham on the Thursday for the day then back to brum for eve and then train into London early enough to head to the local for gold cup day.
It’s the greed now my cousin and his mates used to rent a house about 3 miles from Cheltenham and would take it for the full week would work out about £100 a night each but they had rented it for 20+ years, this year the owner agreed and then last week cancelled as can get a few more quid.
lot of speculation that this years numbers will be down but then saw on Insta yesterday that gaucho have opened a pop up restaurant there for the week, it’s turning more and more into nothing remotely to do with horse racing.
I'll be doing my usual up and down on the day with the lads Tuesday and in the pub on the Friday. I get some of the comments about it being expensive but let's be honest what isn't these days? If you're in to your racing enough to go you'll likely be throwing a good few quid at the week anyway having a bet. Since the renovations a few years ago it's definitely easier to get around, get a beer etc I agree the slog to and from Cheltenham Spa can be brutal. We get the steam train in to the course from Toddington. It's a bit more expensive but worth it for removing the agg of Cheltenham Spa and it's a novel way to arrive.
My first visit to Cheltenham was 2008 for Denman's Gold Cup (now that was busy!) and the festival still gets my blood pumping. I love racing
Speaking of which, The Champion Hurdle is shaping up to be a decent race for the first time in ages. Constitution Hill on the comeback trail, the yardstick in these Grade 1's State Man and the 2 good mares with those allowances Lossiemouth and, now she's been confirmed, Brighterdaysahead
was sitting on a couple of v nice ante posts which 1 of im sure is now a nr
supreme salvador mundi 12/1 mares jade de grugy 20/1 champion hurdle lossiemouth 12/1 looks to be nailed on to be routed to the mares.
looking forward to the day trip on the tuesday its a day ive never been and only 4 of us so should be a good one should be in cheltenham town by 10.30 so straight to the feathered fish or the club in the park that does a great breakfast and pints.
I love Cheltenham as a spectacle but haven't been since they added the fourth day. I don't have many bets but watch all the races and like to follow horses that have run well at previous festivals.
First race of the festival sees Willie Mullins with 9 of the 17 declared !!
Really wish there was a cap on the amount of horses a single trainer could have in any given race
I get where you are coming from but then the you would have multiple small field races which are rubbish from a betting and entertainment perspective, especially in the Grade 1's. The sport doesn't have the horse population to do this and there's certainly not enough good horses in the UK at the moment to take on the Irish battalions of Mullins, Elliott et al
First race of the festival sees Willie Mullins with 9 of the 17 declared !!
Really wish there was a cap on the amount of horses a single trainer could have in any given race
I get where you are coming from but then the you would have multiple small field races which are rubbish from a betting and entertainment perspective, especially in the Grade 1's. The sport doesn't have the horse population to do this and there's certainly not enough good horses in the UK at the moment to take on the Irish battalions of Mullins, Elliott et al
To be fair even if it did come in you would just get every flavour of Mullins with spread out yards haha
Had an idle afternoon to peruse the Ultima on day 1. My each way shillings will be carried by: The Short Go 16/1 (7 places) NAP (related to Walk In The Mill) Malina Girl 14/1 (5 places) Myretown 22/1 (5 places) (from a strong NH family, including Freewheelin Dylan) Zanahiyr 50/1 (6 places)
Very pleased to see Vanillier retain blinkers, which galvanised him last time over the Punchestown banks, when donning them for the first occasion. That day he matched his career-high RPR154, notched when close 2nd in the 2023 GN.
Stablemate Stumptown is very worthy favourite but Vanillier could spring a surprise (or at least push him hard) if the blinkers work their stuff again. Compared to previous years, the XC's now a handicap of course, so lower marks not disadvantaged.
Acts on decent ground and the conditions should also suit Galvin.
Comments
lots of faves this year which "sure things" lose?
galopin des champs 4/7
con hill 4/6
jonbon 5/6
brighterdaysahead 10/11
sir gino 10/11
kopek des bordes 11/10
teahupoo 5/4 one im massively against and will be backing home by the lee
ballyburn 2/1
fact to file 2/1
lulamba 2/1
Hated it the day I went for the gold cup in the cheap seats.
https://x.com/racingblogger/status/1894502356856848831
lot of speculation that this years numbers will be down but then saw on Insta yesterday that gaucho have opened a pop up restaurant there for the week, it’s turning more and more into nothing remotely to do with horse racing.
My first visit to Cheltenham was 2008 for Denman's Gold Cup (now that was busy!) and the festival still gets my blood pumping. I love racing
supreme salvador mundi 12/1
mares jade de grugy 20/1
champion hurdle lossiemouth 12/1 looks to be nailed on to be routed to the mares.
looking forward to the day trip on the tuesday its a day ive never been and only 4 of us so should be a good one should be in cheltenham town by 10.30 so straight to the feathered fish or the club in the park that does a great breakfast and pints.
Driving this year so Monday night and Tuesday on the lash back Wednesday morning
Pretty sure the bars in Stratford upon Avon will put Crawley v Charlton on the box
My each way shillings will be carried by:
The Short Go 16/1 (7 places) NAP (related to Walk In The Mill)
Malina Girl 14/1 (5 places)
Myretown 22/1 (5 places) (from a strong NH family, including Freewheelin Dylan)
Zanahiyr 50/1 (6 places)
Very pleased to see Vanillier retain blinkers, which galvanised him last time over the Punchestown banks, when donning them for the first occasion. That day he matched his career-high RPR154, notched when close 2nd in the 2023 GN.
Stablemate Stumptown is very worthy favourite but Vanillier could spring a surprise (or at least push him hard) if the blinkers work their stuff again. Compared to previous years, the XC's now a handicap of course, so lower marks not disadvantaged.
Acts on decent ground and the conditions should also suit Galvin.
My XC bets:
Galvin 9/2 win
Vanillier 8/1 e/w
Is Mullins finished??????
2.00 no bet
2.40 Crebilly & Happygolucky (both EW)
3.20 July Flower (EW)
4.00 no bet
4.40 Stencil (win) & Wendrock (EW)
5.20 Hasthing & Will Do (both EW)