The Cheltenham Festival 2025

[viking]

Agree with everything you say. But I do believe this year the quality of the fap and in some case 2nd fav is high, and therefore it will only be an obstacle that prevents them from winning.

TBH I think the same can be said most years. My memory isn’t as good as it used to be but I think when I used to go to all 3 days of the festival in the 1990s it was a favourites graveyard and the safest bet in town was selling the favourites index. I think it was after the foot & mouth year that we started to see more favourites winning and 9 obliged last year (I checked that one ). I’d imagine that was a very good year for favourites and it’s a stretch for me to think it will be equalled or bettered this year

 

[Alex]

TBH I think the same can be said most years. My memory isn’t as good as it used to be but I think when I used to go to all 3 days of the festival in the 1990s it was a favourites graveyard and the safest bet in town was selling the favourites index. I think it was after the foot & mouth year that we started to see more favourites winning and 9 obliged last year (I checked that one ). I’d imagine that was a very good year for favourites and it’s a stretch for me to think it will be equalled or bettered this year

Hi, I know I keep saying this but I do think this year is a bit different, it might be the only year this ever happens. Maybe the Mullins/Irish dominance together with Henderson's bug last year has brought together a group of horses that will never be repeated again. I think the BHA/Bookies are already concerned hence why they have already started altering some of the races. I guess time will tell .

 

[simmo]

The favourites always look convincing on paper - then they hit the track and suddenly everything doesn't seem so cut and dried!

 

[pawras]

The favourites always look convincing on paper - then they hit the track and suddenly everything doesn't seem so cut and dried!

reminds me of a quote from Mike Tyson, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth"

 

[Alex]

I have just heard, that if you are thinking of going to the festival, for a limited time PP are offering 2 × £10 FB's if you purchase a ticket. You need to have a PP account.

 

[Tanlic]

Interesting race at Navan today that could see a shake up in the Ryanair Betting El fabiola currently 8/1 returns an a win could see him being a serious contender...he also has the champion Chase as an option

 

[Alex]

Thanks Tanlic, I have got him covered, but I was beginning to think he was going to miss the festival, he did and hopefully still has the engine. It will be interesting to see if they have managed to sort out his jumping errors.

 

[Ardross]

El Fabiolo disappointing there - looks a shadow of the horse he was on that form to not be able to go past Senecia.

 

[The Fortune Teller]

El Fabiolo disappointing there - looks a shadow of the horse he was on that form to not be able to go past Senecia.

I've actually backed Senecia previously. I couldn't understand why it wasn't being campaigned in handicap chases recently, and I just thought it was a classic case of a trainer and owner enjoying a few days out with the horse.

Funny old game in it.

 

[Alex]

Not seen El Fabiolo race, but I guess you could say it's progress that he completed. If Mullins takes him to Cheltenham, I think it would tell us, he thinks he can still be competitive whichever race El Fabiolo runs in.

 

[Beef or Salmon]

I've actually backed Senecia previously. I couldn't understand why it wasn't being campaigned in handicap chases recently, and I just thought it was a classic case of a trainer and owner enjoying a few days out with the horse.

Funny old game in it.

Still rather bizzarely holds an entry in the Champion Hurdle and the Champion Chase

 

[Alex]

I thought he also held an entry in the Ryanair ? That is El Fabiolo ?

 

[viking]

Not seen El Fabiolo race, but I guess you could say it's progress that he completed. If Mullins takes him to Cheltenham, I think it would tell us, he thinks he can still be competitive whichever race El Fabiolo runs in.

According to the RP Willie has ruled El Fabiolo out of Cheltenham but said her might go to Aintree

 

[Alex]

Thanks Viking, just watched the race, I do think he might be past his best, it's either that or he was nowhere near 100% fit.

 

[Frankel]

Did too much through the race did El Fab. Was hopeful coming to two out but he paid the price.

Probably needed it and with some better ground. He does go straight to Aintree.

 

[Beef or Salmon]

Just having a look through some of the alternative markets and cant help but think that Mark Walsh @7/1 is exceptional value considering the firepower he has for JP, anyone care to talk me out of it??

 

[Tanlic]

7 days out and it's now a case of holding your breath and hoping your main selections don't make front page news...no doubt at least one trainer will be hoping that little niggle clears up and his charge makes it to post...all eyes will be on the markets for the next week

 

[Alex]

I don't know about everyone else, but it's the only thing on my mind (apart from the National (lol)).

I don't think I have ever been so excited by Cheltenham. Well maybe there was one year 1988, my sister's boyfriend Trevor took me. I will try and keep this story short, but I think it's worth telling. I was on the dole when Trevor paid for me to go, and we stopped off for a drink in Cheltenham before going to the course. We sat at a table with Irish race goers, the guy next to me was busy studying his RP. I asked him if he had any tips, he gave me a selection for each race.

Kribensis 6/1
Certain Light 9/1
Charter Party 10/1
Aquilifer 9/2

I could not remember his other two selections, so I don't know if he tipped these two.

Private Views 7/1
Cashew King 9/1

Nethertheless it goes without saying, I was able to pay Trevor back . If only I had done a 4 fold bet on those first 4 .

 

[Desert Orchid]

That would have been the Thursday, Gold Cup day?

I had a total blank over the first two days and confidence was ebbing like low tide at Morecambe bay. I was having a really bad final day but decided chase my losses and had a heavy (for me) bet on Cashew King.

Put me in front for the meeting, so it did

 

[Alex]

Yes, it does seems strange now to think Cheltenham once did not take place on a Friday.

Well done for sticking to your guns with Cashew King and not just doing the fap.

 

[Tanlic]

Wasn't Cheltenham Alex but your story about tips jogged my.memory of the craziest day ever for me.

TONY Charlton Andrew Stringer Mark Dwyer and Phil Tuck had ridden at Ayr's 2 day meeting and we're all riding there again on the Monday. So instead of travelling all the way back to Yorkshire they all came back with me to stay at my house in Strathaven
We spent the whole day and half the night playing poker before all piling back into Tony's car and heading back to Ayr. I was reading the racing paper and Phil Tuck asked me for a look so I passed it over to him and said ok but mark my card on which horses you think will win. He did so but what he did was marked all his own mounts...very funny the lads had a laugh...Phil won on his first mount that day and his second and his third and his fourth and by memory his fifth..
..I never had a penny on any of them thinking this can't continue...went home skint lol
.As for Cheltenham my best year was Dawn Run when I did a Jackpot 6 bet with William Hill and went though the card..mixed selection cost me 22 pounds..Half Free winning the last I won 13,500 pounds...I had Western Sunset also in the last who finished third...had he won the shop manager told me with bonuses my return would have been 85,000 pounds didn't know whether to laugh or cry

 

[Desert Orchid]

they all came back with me to stay at my house in Strathaven

I live in Strathaven.

Edit - for the sake of southerners, it's pronounced Straven (to rhyme with craven) and was 'made famous' recently when Paddy McGuinness's charity bike ride had an overnight stop there.

 

[Tanlic]

I live in Strathaven.

Edit - for the sake of southerners, it's pronounced Straven (to rhyme with craven) and was 'made famous' recently when Paddy McGuinness's charity bike ride had an overnight stop there.

fook me gently it's a small world...House I had was in one of the larger style ones in lochaber..would hate to think what its to think what it would cost now..I however made very little from it as I sold it years before with plans to move that fell through so I rented it from the new owner at an extortionate price until me and her indoors eventually split up and I moved to Malton near Tony's yard at Settrington until Tony was killed in a car accident and my old friend John Quinn had taken over the reins where he still trains to this day. I Then decided to move to Thailand to forget about Racing....as you can guess that only lasted about 2 seasons and apart from the fact I don't ride out or school anymore nothing much has changed..

..

 

[Outsider]

I live in Strathaven.

Edit - for the sake of southerners, it's pronounced Straven (to rhyme with craven) and was 'made famous' recently when Paddy McGuinness's charity bike ride had an overnight stop there.

I'm a southerner but I knew thar D.been through there a few times.
It's like over in Norwich as Yorick will tell you.
Wymondham is windham
And Costessey is Cossy.

 

[Tanlic]

Your full of surprises Dessie I thought you lived in north of Glasgow in a housing estate....
Anyway have a good Chelters...the fav are still all alive and kicking but finding the handicappers will be tough...do you think Johnnywho of Jondos has a chance?