I've decided I need a project to occupy my brain through the winter, a time of year I find throughly depressing in terms of cold weather and short days (but obviously marvellous in terms of racing). Nearly turned me into an alcoholic last year . So this year I've decided to start the Cheltenham thread early and build up, over the coming months, a comprehensive dossier of form, betting trends and fancies for the festival races. I'll create a separate thread for each race and update regularly as and when the NH season gets into full swing. Tuesday, March 11th 2014 - Champions Day 1.30 William Hill Supreme Novices Hurdle (2 miles 1/2 furlong) 2.05 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (2 miles) 2.40 The Festival Handicap Chase (3 miles 1/2 furlong) 3.20 Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (2 miles 1/2 furlong) 4.00 OLBG Mares' Hurdle (for the David Nicholson trophy) (2 miles 4 furlongs) 4.40 National Hunt Steeple Chase (4 miles) 5.15 Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase (2 miles 4 1/2 furlongs) Wednesday, March 12th 2014 - Ladies Day 1.30 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (2 miles 5 furlongs) 2.05 RSA Steeple Chase (3 miles 1/2 furlong) 2.40 Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) (2 miles 5 furlongs) 3.20 sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (2 miles) 4.00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase (3 miles 7 furlongs) 4.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2 miles 1/2 furlong) 5.15 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Open NH Flat Race) (2 miles 1/2 furlong) Thursday, March 13th 2014 - St. Patrick's Thursday 1.30 JLT Novices Chase (2 miles 5 furlongs) 2.05 Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) (3 miles) 2.40 Ryanair Chase (2 miles 5 furlongs) 3.20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle (3 miles) 4.00 Byrne Group Plate Handicap Steeple Chase (2 miles 5 furlongs) 4.40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (3 miles 1 1/2 furlongs) 5.15 St. Patrick's Derby (Charity Race) (1 mile 5 furlongs) Friday, March 14th 2014 - Cheltenham Gold Cup Day 1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (2 miles 1 furlong) 2.05 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (2 miles 1 furlong) 2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (3 miles) 3.20 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (3 miles 2 1/2 furlongs) 4.00 CGA Foxhunter Steeple Chase (3 miles 2 1/2 furlongs) 4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (2 miles 4 1/2 furlongs) 5.15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Steeple Chase (2 miles 1/2 furlong) The ATR Cheltenham Festival dedicated site The RP Cheltenham Festival dedicated site My Festival team: Willie Mullins Ante Post selections (price only, not amount wagered) can be posted HERE Cheltenham Racecourse Website HERE Cheltenham Festival Betting Directory Oddschecker for the Festival "Best Bets as of January 13th 2014" Thread The "I don't know which race but I'm definitely backing it at Cheltenham" Thread The I would swim the Channel if Katchit wins the Champion Hurdle Thread Preview Evenings Thread Exeter Preview Evening (Many thanks to Wuby) The Not 606 Preview Evening
I just wanted to say that I think this is the best thread posted on here since March - top stuff Oddy!!
To paraphrase a well known poster "early foooookin days, Oddy" But good on ya mate - I look forward to seeing what to avoid
Thats my job im the official time keeper of the Greatest festival on Turf I am creaming in my pants just lookign at past videos I cant bloody wait!!!
Members badge arrived on Friday. Lovely colour badge it is too. Blue and red, replacing the yellow and green. Soon be Chelts time!
The Cheltenham Festival is only about five and a half months away. That is just five and a half months of blatant race fixing before one week of horses actually racing on their merits to try and win. There must be some reason why I do not bet on this fixed sport...
Aidan O'Brien might have a bumper runner....I thought that might cheer you up. Hows the ground at Longchamp?.....tacky,holding,dreach,boring,drab,uninteresting,miserable,bullied as a child...do keep us posted.
The ground at Longchamp is probably quite soft unless they have had dry sunny weather since Saturday. Just like it will be soft or worse most of the winter as the NH plodders stumble their way around Cheltenham, Newbury, Wetherby, etc. Dettori getting done for snorting white powder is just a sign of the greater malaise of society and Al Zarooni giving stuff to Godolphin horses did not seem to be helping them win everything. If you want drugs cheats, you should follow cycling - the sport where the winner gets beaten by thirty other cyclists every day of the week and never crosses the line first.
Chaps I'm going to the festivel next year so decided to set camp in Bristol which is about an hour away by train.can anyone recommend where the best stand area/stand is,all I need is a good view and decent access to alcoholic beverages!
That's easy, just take a lead from your countrymen, there'll be a few of them there I'm sure... please log in to view this image Seriously, if it's possible look at the forum's threads before this year's Festival, there were a lot of good tips there on the various stands and bars, etc., from forum members who are familiar with this great meeting.
Oddy, you've too much time on your hands. You're either a millionaire or a council worker. Which is it?
