My Cheltenham

[NassauBoard]

Hope Oddy and Ron don't mind that its copied straight from my blog -

Hi,

Firstly, it is such a privilege to be able to go to the Cheltenham Festival for all four days, it is a wonderful event at a superb racecourse which is well run and inviting to racegoers. This year it was very special as they played videos of old favourites from each days big races and we also got to see a parade of old stars who have been retrained by ROR (please visit http://www.ror.org.uk/ ) including the magnificient Kauto Star and the brilliant Denman.


This however is part of my problem with this seasons festival; I have been fortunate that in my formative years of NH supporting I have got to see magnificient horses like Kauto Star, Denman, Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre and Big Buck's to name just a few. Throw in Hurricane Fly, Quevega and Inglis Drever and you have a list of wonderful horses that as a racing fan I am delighted to have been able to see.


This year, only Quevega out of the list was a winner at the festival, and she was underwhelming somewhat in her victory, whilst we saw the defeats of Hurricane Fly and Big Buck's in their last visits to Cheltenham.We got to say goodbye to Big Buck's and that was great, with him getting a rapturous round of applause when given a lap of honour after the World Hurdle, but the sense of anticlimax throughout the week was stark.

On Day One we saw the brilliant performance of Vautour in the Supreme and perhaps he is one of the few horses from the festival that left a buzz. He jumped brilliantly and went clear of what looked a pretty good field of novice hurdlers. He will go chasing according to Willie Mullins and he already looks a much more likely Arkle horse than Champagne Fever did after his Supreme win for the same connections a year previous.

I then got a taste of anticlimax, one that seemed to run throughout the week, when The New One was impeded by the fall of Our Connor, in what was to become a tragic accident for Our Connor. This one incident lost the life of a brilliant Triumph Hurdle winner and gave The New One little chance of competing for the win in the Champion Hurdle. This left the race open for Hurricane Fly, My Tent Or Yours and the eventual winner Jetzki to tackle the hill together. The old warrior Hurricane Fly soon backed out of it, leaving My Tent Or Yours going well before once again failing to get to the winning post ahead of his rival. This time it was Jetzki, who had been well held by Hurricane Fly (and latter Our Connor) in their meetings in Ireland.

The New One stormed up the hill to finish a reasonably close third and for me I have no doubt that he was the best horse in the race and should really be a Champion Hurdle winner. He hopefully will get his chance next season to avenge this defeat.

Day Two we had the anticlimax of Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig not being fit to compete in the Champion Chase, leaving the door open for Sire De Grugy to claim the crown. Clearly Sire De Grugy is a very good horse and a deserved winner of the Champion Chase but when his main rival Captain Conan pulled up lame it turned into a one horse race. Somersby ran a fair race for second but it just didn't whet the appetite like previous Champion Chases.

Day Three was the dual up the hill and Big Buck's and Annie Power came into the race with differing form, the former having question marks after a long lay off whilst the latter stepped up in distance. My heart ruled my head and I backed Big Buck's and I regret that after the race. He wasn't able to cope with the younger horses and it was left to More Of That, Annie Power and At Fishers Cross to battle it out up the hill.

More Of That prevailed, downing the brave Annie Power in the process, and I hope that the winner continues to show that he is the new star of Staying Hurdling, and that he can continue his upward curve as a progressive young horse. It was a bit of an anticlimax though as Big Buck's was soon retired and Annie Power wasn't quite the superstar that many had suggested prior to the race. She is a really nice horse and I hope they go Novice Chasing with her, she could well be a future Gold Cup horse if she continues her career in the same manner as this run.

Then on Gold Cup day I hoped that we would get to proclaim Bob's Worth as a great, having won what I thought was a good renewal last season, becoming a dual winner would put him into an echelon above. It wasn't to be however, with him fading up the hill and then the finish being marred by interference by the winner who in my opinion stopped the runner up from getting past and probably should have been thrown out (in France he would of that I am certain).

A festival of unlucky runners, disappointing performances and retiring heroes. It was a wonderful week once again but it does have me asking a few questions.

I have been an avid racegoer for eight years and I think I need to take a step backwards from betting and reassess why I like the sport so much, and perhaps being involved with the new Foxtrot Racing Syndicate horse is the way forward. Foxtrot Knight is the horse and I have heard positive vibes about him, and I am looking forward to a visit to the yard next Saturday to see him and the facilities at Olly Stevens.


I will not be having a bet again this year, I am going to sit back and watch the racing this summer with a hope that we get to see some special horses that we can enjoy and hopefully get to see Foxtrot Knight run this season at some new racecourses for me to visit.

I won't be renewing my Cheltenham Membership either, partially due to the apathy I have for the current crop of horses but also with the building work at the course I am happy to let the next season tick past before going to the new Cheltenham the year after. I will attend the festival for one day, hopefully to cheer The New One on in the Champion Hurdle.

Racing wasn't about betting for me, but in recent years I have got away from that view, and it is time to get back. Cheltenham 2014 drove this home, and I thank the festival for that!!!

 

[NassauBoard]

Further to this -

It was great to catch up with Oddy, Stick and The Don at the festival this year. Last year it was Heis and Reebok that I managed to catch up with, and all of them are pleasant chaps with an interest in racing and most of them like a drink to boot!!! After what happened to Oddy last year it was nice to be able to welcome him to Cheltenham, the weather was definitely different this year!

The drinking was fun, as was catching up on how Stick and The Don's horses are doing, the way they view racing and Charlie L and the discussions of who you would want to train your horse if you wanted a festival winner and you didn't have the millions of Gigginstown, JP or the Ricci's. Who would have thought Stick wouldn't send it to Pipe, but rather go for the more honest Charlie L? Far from how I view it!!!

Thanks gents, see you at the racecourse again!!

 

[DreverSpur]

A very good read Nass.

I always tend to stay away from betting after Cheltenham, save a few darts in the National. I was lucky enough to attend all four days this year and have attended every Festival since 2005. I agree that we have been spoiled in the formative years as our interest in racing has grown and this year I did feel a sense of loss with it being HF and BB's last visit to my favourite place on Earth.

In regards to betting, it really is secondary when it comes to this sport, especially when we talk about Cheltenham. One of the reasons I stayed away from this site over the last few is because I found people on here talk a lot of rubbish and have to justify their existence by saying "I told you so!! I had £XXX on this horse!!" You only have to look at a few of the most recent threads on here in the aftermath of Cheltenham to see who they are. Anyway, back on point...

The great thing about National Hunt racing is that each year we have new heroes born on the hill who we can cheer and support in the coming years. For instance, I'm going to enjoy shouting my lungs out at Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle next year!!

The article you have written sums up the feelings I have about this year so I think your blog could be worthy of a look in future

Just one more great you failed to mention in our formative years... Ollie Magern - what a legend!!

 

[beeforsalmon]

There were negatives this year, like always. We all know about the unfortunate horse deaths and serious injuries suffered to jockeys. These to me were much more negative than unlucky losers, a phrase we all use but as implied above, it is pocket talk and therefore driven by financial desires, or in simple terms: greed! There were plenty but I think loss of equine talent which saw on 4 occassions are much more tragic. The unlucky losers Briar Hill, The New One etc all went home safe in their box, albeit I think BH did get injured, I hope it's not serious. One sickeningly, distressing sidenote to this was there was a cheer went up when Briar Hill came down. I think that's one of the saddest things I've heard. To cheer any horse fall.. well I hope no-one on here would do that.

These horses all live to fight another day and that's the perspective I use.

On a more optimistic note: the positives. For me it's all about seeing either top horses reigning supreme over a period of time, or young talent coming though to fill the void, of those we saw precious little of the former. To me the stars of the show were the novice hurdlers which completely were a world apart to their peers. Vautour and Faugheen were simply supreme and if these fellows stay fit and healthly we can be sure we'll have many more Cheltenhams cheering this pair on. My personal highlight was Faugheen, to crash through the 4th last, 3rd last and 2nd last and still get back on the bridle travelling with such strength up the hill was truly breathtaking. The undoubted star of the Festival in my opinion.

 

[woolcombe-folly007]

Great read Nass! I think sometimes it easy to focus away from the racing and concentrate in betting but after all we are all on here because we love Horse Racing itself not betting. The betting is something that comes with it (if you want it to be) but I completely agree with some feeling of an anti climax thoroughout the week. Not taking anythign away it was a special week but there was the same the flavour through out the the week, The Champion Hurdle- Our Conor RIP, New one being taken out hte race pretty much, The Fly backing off for the 1st time in his life, the CC- SDG very deserved winner but no SS and then as you say when Captain Conan pulled up it was a one horse race- The World Hurdle- wasnt the match we hoped up but may have seen a good horse in the winner and like wise the Gold Cup- Not the match up of SC & BW. All credit to the jockkey and horse and not taking anything away but was he really good enough to win!! But overall I did enjoy the week but it wasnt as good as previous yrs!

 

[NassauBoard]

Beefy - you beat me to it -

Second part of my blog today

Cheltenham of course is the pinnacle of National Hunt racing and many people want to go racing for this meeting and they don't go racing very often throughout the year, and that is great for racing, but it also brings out some of the worst aspects of society.

I might be old before my time, but I don't understand the need to cheer when a horse falls or shout things like (and I quote) "Thrash him you little prick" at the horse and jockey. Obviously the vast majority of racegoers are there to support the horses, see the stories unfold and to be sociable.

There are however some real prats out there, why I don't know, but why would you go racing if you had no interest in the wellbeing of the horses and knowledge about the dangers of the sport? When Briar Hill fell I was appalled by the cheers that came from the stands, the horse fractured itself under the eyesocket in the fall, and could easily have lost its life.

That sort of behavior is appalling, and it does seem rife in the crowds on Saturdays and on big days, be it at Cheltenham, Goodwood or Sandown (the most twattish of crowds in my opinion). I just wish these people would stay at home, in the bookmakers or in the pub.

I also want to state my thanks to all connections of horses that ran at the festival, without the horses, the dedication of the stable staff, the funding of the owners, the skill of trainer and jockey we wouldn't have a sport, let alone a spectacle as good as Cheltenham Festival. Unfortunately only a few go home as winners, and even more sombre, some lose their horses at the racecourse.

This was the case again yesterday when Raya Star was fatally injured in the 'lucky' last, the Grand Annual. Raya Star was a talented horse for Alan King having won seven races for his connections, and I am sure that connections are very saddened after the accident. To be associated with such a horse would be a pleasure for anyone, but conversely the sadness of losing a horse at Cheltenham must be heartbreaking for the groom and owners alike.

This week we have lost four horses at the racecourse, with Our Connor the horse who crashed out of the Champion Hurdle included in the number. He was a tremendous horse, winning a Triumph Hurdle by 15 lengths and looked to have such a bright future. We then lost Akdam and Stack The Deck on Wednesday, both are sad losses to connections.

The horses aren't the only ones who are paying for our pleasure, we have had high profile injuries to Ruby Walsh, Bryan Cooper, Daryl Jacob and even AP Mccoy this week. The first three named have broken bones whilst the latter looked so sore that he really shouldn't have been riding on the last few days of the festival. AP Mccoy has had family issues recently with his son being unwell, and I wish him all the best in his recovery and the recovery of his son.

The Jacob incident was really nasty, it is good to read that he is in good spirits and that his injuries are not as bad as they could have been. The trials and tribulations in the sport are epic in proportions, like nothing seen in other sports, and that is why so many people are so emotional about the sport. Horse racing fans care about the horses, they respect the jockeys bravery and most of all thank everyone connected to the horses for their desire to put money and effort into trying to win the biggest prizes in the sport.

 

[Ron]

Thanks Nass. Very good read.

 

[OddDog]

Your part 2 put me in mind of Graham Goode's "farewell commentary" Nass - here's a link to the 606 article I wrote at the time, and here the link to the video on ATR. Funny enough it was the racecourse debut of Monbeg Dude, who came 2nd (Tom Scudamore got the fractionals wrong again ).

The changing of the guard was always going to happen and, sad though it is to see great champions from the past retired, there are certain to be new champions crowned in the coming years. I just hope, after such a purple patch for jumps racing over the last 7 or 8 years, that we are not about to enter an average era. Surely not with the likes of Vautour, plus returning starts like Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig, to look forward to.

Regarding cheering fallen horses, this is yet another indication of the self-obsessed society we find ourselves in. "Horse A fell, that gives my horse a better chance - hooray. Beacuase I am all that ****ing matters". We see it everywhere, in every walk of life. Even on internet-based chat forums about horse racing. "I backed this; I laid that; look how ****ing great I am. Blah blah blah"

It was superb to meet 2 genuinely nice people in yourself and stick on Wednesday and I can honestly say that the best moment of my festival this year was walking into the Guiness Village after the Champion Chase and getting a great big hug and kiss from stick (and before anyone asks, no, there were no tongues involved).

I'm taking a break from the game as well - I might have a look at Aintree, see how I feel. But the last few Saturdays I've done other things, rather than watching the racing all afternoon and frittering money away betting on rubbish racing, and it has made me realise there is so much more to life.

 

[rainbowview]

Tank top tit get studying Wolverhampton for tonight man you soft cock

nahh man good read Nass all the best fella

 

[Reebok]

5 stars Nass

 

[Chaninbar]

A good read that Nass thanks for posting. I had an interesting Cheltenham experience going on Wednesday and Thursday. On the Wednesday I was in the David Pipe tent through a mate's connection and a reasonable contribution to ol man Pipes special fridge. I thought it would be decent value as it was so cold last year the chance of a warm place to retreat to occasionally would be of benefit. Mother nature made that unnecessary for the first time ever in my Cheltenham ventures. Anyway we were sat around a table with some owners I vaguely know chewing the fat when a couple asked if they could join us. It would be fair to say the ol boy's best years were well and truly behind him, very frail indeed. However nothing could be further from the truth with regards to his spirit as for the next hour he was wonderfully entertaining with stories of previous festivals and general piss taking of all of us. He asked us each for our nap for the day and then said his was Sire De Grugy in the Champion Chase - lay. He said he'd laid it fairly heavily but if it won he'd be delighted for the Moore family as they were proper racing people and that the festival was about so much more than just gambling anyway. A top chap and I suspect one who would manage to cope with his financial loss better than most following Sire De Grugy's easy victory.

As a horse racing enthusiast and hobby punter I learnt or re-learnt a few lessons last week which I'll hopefully remember for next year:
- Avoid horses aged over 9 in championship races like the plague. If champion horses like Big Bucks and the Fly can't manage it than there are very few that can.
- When it comes to festival handicaps whatever your minimum stake is half it. A complete lottery, bollox to the thrill of solving the puzzle. Some puzzles have pieces missing!
- Preview shows: listen, enjoy but ignore. Partcularly the young Mullins chap. This year Briar Hill would win whatever race it run in, in 2012 Sprinter Sacre was his lay of the meeting. Enough said.

Finally the cheering when Briar Hill fell...I suspect that was mostly bookmakers.

 

[Reebok]

Don't wish to hijack your thread Nass, but as it seems to be about Cheltenham retrospectively, then I will!

Telly bound all 4 days, see more business and definitely get your bob's worth, but no atmosphere! Went for the first time last year and loved it, but was unable to attend this year.

Was sickened by the death of Our Conor, irrationally so, considering that fatalities are part and parcel of the sport, yet as supporters of racing, we not only invest our cash, but also our hopes and dreams. All of which is secondary of course to the loss of the horse itself, but does leave you questioning your part in it all.

Financially - well, I avoided disaster by having a mediocre last day! Four winners out of 24 races, some of which carried 2 selections, is poor fare, so I'm grateful to the following:

Faugheen 5-2
Dynaste 7-2
Tammys Hill 7-1
Ballynagour 14-1

I managed to get some placed as well, so reduced my overall loss to less than £200 - was looking a LOT worse at one stage!

So that's it for another year. I will vow not to place any AP bets again. And probably cave in again!

On the subject of AP betting - I had taken up quite a few of BetVictors NRFB options, and the money was placed into something they call "Bonus Balance". I looked this morning and it had disappeared. It seems that you have to gamble this free bet pot the same day as the original selection was due to run, or they take it back again. I didn't know this, so my NR's were deemed losers. I queried it and they hide behind the T&C's. The twats!