As its now only 8 weeks until the old starter will climb his rostrum, shout at the jockeys for 30 seconds (well every job has to have its perks) and then dispatch the runners in the old ‘Supreme Novices Hurdle’ lets deliberate on a few Cheltenham questions. Answer as many, or as few, as you jolly well like. 1. Who is the most likely winner at the Festival? 2. Who currently represents the best value at the meeting? 3. Who currently represents the worst value at the meeting? 4. Which race, at the moment, most excites you? 5. Which race at the meeting, if any, would you most like axed from the programme? 6. Which race, if any, would you most like added to the programme? 7. Who would you most like to see honoured with a race named after them at the Festival (equine or human)? My responses would be: 1. Sprinter Sacre 2. Dodging Bullets (14/1) in the Supreme Novices Hurdle 3. Dynaste at around the 9/4 mark in the RSA 4. The Champion Chase 5. The 20 furlong novice handicap chase 6. A 3 mile veterans chase (for animals aged 10YO+) 7. Mr Henderson
1. Who is the most likely winner at the Festival? Sprinter Sacre 2. Who currently represents the best value at the meeting? Not found any value, as not looking at the markets. Old Tidal Bay could if I could predict the weather. 3. Who currently represents the worst value at the meeting? The horses who hold multiple entries and no confirmed target 4. Which race, at the moment, most excites you? Gold Cup - really intriguing race. 5. Which race at the meeting, if any, would you most like axed from the programme? The bumper. Does nothing for me, closely followed by the Foxhunters and NH chase 6. Which race, if any, would you most like added to the programme? None 7. Who would you most like to see honoured with a race named after them at the Festival (equine or human)? Kauto Star - by renaming the Arkle
1. Who is the most likely winner at the Festival? - Sprinter Sacre 2. Who currently represents the best value at the meeting? - Sprinter Sacre - he should be 1/5 but 8/15 is available. He is a racing certainty. 3. Who currently represents the worst value at the meeting? - Bobs Worth. Has an outstanding chance but he is far too short for me. 4. Which race, at the moment, most excites you? Cheltenham Gold Cup 5. Which race at the meeting, if any, would you most like axed from the programme? Cross Country 6. Which race, if any, would you most like added to the programme? The "Ryanair Hurdle" - 2m4f Grade 1 7. Who would you most like to see honoured with a race named after them at the Festival (equine or human)? Big Buck's
1. Quevega - (assuming she goes for the DNMH)since no new viable contenders have emerged in her division and SS could always tip up. 2. I really don't see anything that smacks of value in the AP market. 3. Hurricane Fly and Dynaste - probobly worthy favourites but much too short. 4. CGC. 5. The Conditionals H'cap (utter crud) closely followed by the X Country (rubbish event), the Jewson (why the need?) and the Fred Winter which has cannabalised the Triumph and fast become the Festival fiddling race! 6. None - already too many events diluting the occasion. 7. Kate Middleton - she's ******* everywhere else at the minute.
Personally, re the axing and adding of races at the Festival I’d like to see plenty axed and it reduced, once again, to 3 days with 6 races each day – with only the very highest quality races remaining. Unfortunately, not going to happen though and the Festival will be 5 days (Tues – Sat) in the very near future, I fear. They only need 3 ‘new’ races to achieve this in fact (already have 27 and the new card will be 6 races a day for 5 days). Robert Waley-Cohen, the Daddy of the forum’s favourite Corinthian and racecourse Chairman, has already said he’d like a 28 furlong handicap chase and a mares bumper added, whilst Mr Henderson has joined the debate and said that top of the new contest list should be a 20 furlong Grade 1 hurdling heat – Mr Henderson is an altruistic chap though so please no-one think he has said this because he trains the best 20 furlong hurdler in the land. The benefit of the breed and the racing public are I’m sure his number one concern.
The first Festival I remember was in 1980 and lined up like this; Tuesday. 2.00 Supreme Novices. 2.35 Arkle 3.15 Champion Hurdle 4.00 Stayers Hurdle 4.40 Kim Muir 5.15 Grand Annual Wednesday. 2.00 RSA Hurdle 2.35 Champion Chase 3.15 Coral Hurdle Final 4.00 RSA 'Chase 4.40 NH 'Chase 5.15 Grand Annual Thursday. 2.00 Triumph Hurdle 2.35 Foxhunters 3.15 CGC 4.00 NH H'Cap 'Chase 4.40 County Hurdle 5.15 Cathcart Perfect!
1. Who is the most likely winner at the Festival? SPRINTER SACRE 2. Who currently represents the best value at the meeting? I START LOOKING AT THE MARKETS AFTER CHELTENHAM TRIALS DAY 3. Who currently represents the worst value at the meeting? ANY HORSE THAT TAKES ON SPRINTER SACRE 4. Which race, at the moment, most excites you? CHAMPION CHASE TO SEE SPRINTER SACRE WIN BUT PROBABLY A BETTER RACE WILL BE THE GOLD CUP 5. Which race at the meeting, if any, would you most like axed from the programme? ONE OF THE HANDICAPS ON THE THURSDAY 6. Which race, if any, would you most like added to the programme? NOT SURE BUT THERE MUST THE FESTIVAL SHOULD NEVER RUN FOR MORE THAN 4 DAYS AND HOPEFULLY WILL NEVER BE ON A SATURDAY 7. Who would you most like to see honoured with a race named after them at the Festival (equine or human)? BIG BUCKS IF HE COMES BACK AND WINS NEXT YEAR
1. Who is the most likely winner at the Festival? sprinter sacre 2. Who currently represents the best value at the meeting? dodging bullets(supreme) 3. Who currently represents the worst value at the meeting? jezki 4. Which race, at the moment, most excites you? gold cup 5. Which race at the meeting, if any, would you most like axed from the programme? mares hurdle 6. Which race, if any, would you most like added to the programme? less is more 7. Who would you most like to see honored with a race named after them at the Festival (equine or human)? rose ravine
1. Sprinter Sacre 2. Not a fan of ante post and dont really see any value 3. Hurricane Fly - think he'll get beat 4. Got to be the Gold Cup 5. Foxhunters - boring race 6. I would prefer them take out a few 7. Kauto Star of course - the first horse ever to regain the Gold Cup.
1. Who is the most likely winner at the Festival? Have to go with the majority of the forum on this one, and say Sprinter Sacre, even though I think Sizing Europe could give him something to think about for the majority of the race. 2. Who currently represents the best value at the meeting? Countrywide Flame 20/1 or Rocky Creek 14/1 3. Who currently represents the worst value at the meeting? Jezki, and Dynaste 4. Which race, at the moment, most excites you? Really looking forward to the Champion Hurdle, and I think the Gold Cup will be a good race, as well as the Ryanair surprisingly 5. Which race at the meeting, if any, would you most like axed from the programme? I've never seen the point of the Pertemps Final, crap race 6. Which race, if any, would you most like added to the programme? Like others have mentioned the most obvious would be a 2m4f hurdle race 7. Who would you most like to see honoured with a race named after them at the Festival (equine or human)? Kauto Star
1. Who is the most likely winner at the Festival? Sprinter Sacre - I would like to see Flemenstar declared for that race though and then I may switch to Quevega! 2. Who currently represents the best value at the meeting? Reve De Sivola in the world hurdle! 3. Who currently represents the worst value at the meeting? Jezki (unless the ground isn't good) 4. Which race, at the moment, most excites you? As it stands the Ryanair... with Cue Card, Flemenstar, Finians Rainbow, Champion Court, First Lieutenant, Sizing Europe, Menorah, Grands Crus, Riverside Theatre 5. Which race at the meeting, if any, would you most like axed from the programme? The one of Thursday that isn't a proper race anyway! Might as well have the mascot sprint. 6. Which race, if any, would you most like added to the programme? Make the Ryanair worth winning.... 7. Who would you most like to see honoured with a race named after them at the Festival (equine or human)? The Big Bucks World Hurdle
1. Sprinter Sacre......however.....IF... Flemenstar heads down the champion chase route and......IF......there's in no good in the going description, then be prepared for an upset. The black aeroplane may just see the bookies jetting off to the Caribbean en mass during late March. 2. Nothing yet 3. Kid Cassidy 14/1 Grand Annual. This horse is nuts 4. Champion Chase if Flemenstar lines up. If not Champ Hurdle. Could be epic if all the main protagonists turn up. 5. X Country if pushed. Not that arsed tbh. 6. 20F grade 1 hurdle 7. Kauto
1. Who is the most likely winner at the Festival? Quevega, she is simply a class above every other mare, she is nailed on again. 2. Who currently represents the best value at the meeting? SALSIFY in the Foxhunters, 9-1, thank you very much! 3. Who currently represents the worst value at the meeting? Simonsig, very poor value. 4. Which race, at the moment, most excites you? The Neptune of course, two youngsters I really rate going head to head and some Irish quality in the field too, mouthwatering race. 5. Which race at the meeting, if any, would you most like axed from the programme? I love them all, handicaps included. 6. Which race, if any, would you most like added to the programme? A mares bumper of course LOL but obviously the race most missing from the Festival is a Grade One 2m 4f hurdle. 7. Who would you most like to see honoured with a race named after them at the Festival (equine or human)? So many candidates with none being outstanding, Kauto Star, Inglis Drever, Big Bucks maybe in time Quevega! Cant think of any humans!
1. Quevega @8/11 for Mares' Hurdle. 2. Regal Encore @18/1 for Champion Bumper. 3. Sprinter Sacre @1/2 for Champion Chase. Flemenstar will frighten him to death if he goes that route. 4. The Gold Cup. 5. Champion Bumper. 6. Grade One 2m 4f race 7. Injured jockeys' fund.
Tam, you cant tip a horse for the bumper and then suggest that we scrap the race..............I'm not having that! Get shot of the Amateur marathon joke before the bumper surely!
Isn't the 4-miler now named in honour of Oaksey? There's your IJF link The only major consideration I had, namely to go on either Tuesday or Wednesday, has been resolved. Ticket accquired for Wednesday - black aeroplane day
Stick..why not? I think Regal Encore has a great chance, but I'm just not keen on the race. I don't see that the two questions are conflicting.
