Thought it might be useful to have a thread for our festival index about who's going when, any tips on accomodation, parking etc (especially from those with "form") and maybe some of us might even meet up there in the Guiness Village I'll be going on the Tuesday - it's just my favourite day. All the anticipation that has built up over months seems to be released in that great guttaral roar as the tapes go up for the Supreme Novices Hurdle. I'll be flying into Birmingham Monday afternoon (Lufthansa Air Miles ) and then stopping with a friend (who has been to the festival every year since 1987 ) Monday evening. Tuesday morning we will be off early and looking to arrive in Cheltenham just after 10.00 AM. We will pay one of the locals for parking in their drive (surely the best way) and be hitting the track ASAP after the 10.30 doors opening. One thing I want to do this year is get down onto the track early doors to get an appreciation first hand of the size of the fences and hurdles.Then to the Guiness Village for a few soothing pints and an amble up to the saddling enclosure for a first look at the novices. Last year we stumped up 25 quid for seats in the temporary grandstand above the Guiness village (my mate has dodgy knees) and this is well worth it - you get a great view of the runners as they come down the hill and into the straight. After the first race it will be a blur of betting, chatting, studying, drinking and running around like a fecking lunatic but I will be loving every minute of it. I very much doubt it, but I hope they will leave the bars open after the last race this year. I found it all a bit sad when Divers was picking up his prize last year - the course was pretty much deserted. I'm sure it would be a great laugh to have a few pints after racing. We will head back North and stop for dinner at a lovely country pub just south of Birmingham and I will stop at my mates again Tuesday evening before heading back to Berlin Wednesday morning. I will miss the 4-miles but will be home for the Neptune Who else is going - and when, how and waht is a "must do" or "must avoid"????
Am just going to Gold Cup Day this year- will be driving up there from sunny old brighton! Is my turn to drive this year (works out well as will only recently have had a little one which is due next week) Like you oddy will park in some locals drive or last few years parked in some park for a fiver! Then stop off for something to eat on the way back and count my winnings or my receipts! lol (Anyone thats wanting to meet up for a beer are more than welcome!)
Drive down Monday morning, 18 holes at Burford Golf Club, get to hotel in Stow around 5pm. Cab to Royal Oak in Prestbury for the Lets Live Racing preview evening (Choc, Tom Scu, Paul Nolan amongst others). Drive to course early Tuesday, park in a farmers field in New Barn Lane, gentle 5 min stroll to the course. Hospitality in Guinness village Tue and Wed, Thursday seats in the Grandstand, won't be going to another Gold Cup day until they limit the attendance. Watch last race from Best Mate enclosure on big screen for quick exit to car. Gold Cup day in local pub followed by Romford dogs ! Must do's - visit pre parade ring, try getting permission to walk the course, watch at least one race from the centre of the course Dont's - drink in town after racing - probably just me getting old but it's not a pretty place at 10pm, don't go mad Monday night. Just a fabulous few days, there's nothing like it anywhere in sport, cannot wait !
Sounds like a fantastic week you got planned grizzly! How do you try and get permission to walk the course??
Contact the course, I phoned them year after year with no joy, then I sent them an e-mail congratulating them on organising the 10 and 9 race marathon when the winds forced the Wednesday abandonment, I got a response and with it came a contact in the racing office, if anyone wants it PM me.
Grizzly I don't know about walking the course but if you get there early I think you can get down to the 2nd last fence / last hurdle and have a look around yes?
Oddy, you need permission to walk the course, you are allowed into the centre of the course throughout the meeting and I think that gets you as far down as the 2nd last, you're entirely exposed out there with no protection from the weather. I always watch one race from the bank by the last hurdle on Thursday where the horses race literally a few yards in front of you
Pitch up on Tuesday morning with whatevers been saved up. If I end the day with enough for travel to a nearish town via train and last minute overnight stay (and we can find any) tickets and a bit to play with for the next day then stay for the Wednesday. If not return home as planned. Do enjoy the day get two beers in at the same time to avoid the queues back Long Run for the Gold Cup go to the preview if there on monday evening Don't bet more than you can afford to lose
I shall be at Cheltenham for the whole festival, a first for me, only managed a couple of Thursdays and Fridays before. Will be going to either Taunton or Stratford on Monday, after racing onto our digs in the Stonehouse area, only a couple of stops down the line from Cheltenham by train. Will be viewing the racing from the Best Mate enclosure as I treated myself to a season ticket, a decent view over the course, just a bit exposed if it rains. Hope to see every race but in other years have shuffled off after the gold cup due to mates giving me a lift back home. This as you will see is my first post on not 606, I was on old 606 but have been lurking and reading posts and thought I would join up, don't expect I will post much but do enjoy reading and gaining knowledge from all the regulars. Cheers.
I am planning on going down on the Monday afternoon, going to the Royal Oak Preview, then staying overnight in Cheltenham at a friends house. I'm going on the Tuesday, staying in a friends relation's B&B on the Tueday night, going racing on Wednesday. I might then have to come home for my dissertation presentation on Thursday morning but I don't yet know when it will be. Then back to Cheltenham to go racing on the Thursday afternoon, stay overnight in the B&B and then go racing on the Friday, and then back home afterwards. Best week of the year!
Don - keep an eye on the classifieds in the bible, plenty of decent hotel rooms if you don't mind staying out of town, in town it'll be mostly b&bs now. If it jumps - the old Monday at Stratford..... spent many a Monday of Cheltenham week there, great atmosphere, stopped doing that when it went 4 days and in them days we used to stay in Tewkesbury which was a bit more convenient for travel, enjoy !
It certainly is, Zen. I won't be going but I've booked the week off work so that I can enjoy every minute of it, on the TV. Welcome to the forum, ifitjumpsitwins
Am just watching old races from past years festivals just doing bit of research lol so excited about it tho!! lol
Wooly - this reminds me of the countdown clock on Oddschecker.com. It does increase the anticipation I have to say....
