Champions Day - soft ground again

I'd get a cab to Feltham or a bus and get the train direct to Ascot from there. Traffic was a nightmare last year (but the idiots did close a bridge nearby).

Ascot cabs are an absolute disgrace, it's worse than outside some New Delhi train stations for price extortion.

Off topic, Ardross whilst I have sympathy with some of your views, you are coming over as the forum grumpy old man who thinks everything was better in the old days :)

Sadly as far as flat racing is concerned - it was !
 
What both Ascot and Newmarket have in common are new stands on which huge amounts of money were spent and which have succeeded in pleasing very few and antagonising many more. Neither course has catered adequately for the ordinary paying customer, priority having been given to corporate interests.
 
Yes seriously I do. My recollection of the bars is not that good as I spent little time in them as racing is about horses not standing in a bar, but the pre parade ring was better laid out, there was access to all sides of it, it was a 5 yard walk to the paddock,(in the winter paddock was in front of stand which hey was right next to the rail so didn't have to walk anywhere to see the race) which again was better laid out, not surrounded by very unfriendly narrow steps, you could cross the horsewalk over all of it, and not have to walk up stairs, across a walkway which looks like a NCP carpark and then down steps to try and view the horses in the paddock without getting knocked sideways by anyone else, and then up steps and across NCP car park again to get out to course, where unless you are up in the gods you cannot see until they are well into last furlong and a half as the ground floor viewing is so badly laid out, and then from the paddock it was a 10 yard walk to the stands where you could pick your slot, and the winners enclosure was right next to said stand so you could stay in the stand if you wanted to and still see the horses come in. Since the 'refit' the prices of everything are ridiculous and prohibitive to regular race going.

I dont want to go on about this but the flat paddock was fcking miles away. It is infinitely better now and there is loads of space even at biggest meetings.

Im not one for bars myself either but it was a dump inside

The viewing for last furlong is not like that at all. Sorry but thats just wrong

As for the prices, inside isnt cheap but the entrance for tatts is about the cheapest of any grade one course. Its cheaper than Windsor too
 
I'd get a cab to Feltham or a bus and get the train direct to Ascot from there. Traffic was a nightmare last year (but the idiots did close a bridge nearby).

Ascot cabs are an absolute disgrace, it's worse than outside some New Delhi train stations for price extortion.

Off topic, Ardross whilst I have sympathy with some of your views, you are coming over as the forum grumpy old man who thinks everything was better in the old days :)

You could try a compay local to me, 711 cabs - Heathrow not out of their range at all and they are very reliable/reasonable, 01753 711 711, give them your flight number etc....
 
I dont want to go on about this but the flat paddock was fcking miles away. It is infinitely better now and there is loads of space even at biggest meetings.

Im not one for bars myself either but it was a dump inside

The viewing for last furlong is not like that at all. Sorry but thats just wrong

As for the prices, inside isnt cheap but the entrance for tatts is about the cheapest of any grade one course. Its cheaper than Windsor too

No it wasn't unless you consider 30 yards miles away - which I know for some is a marathon. There is loads of space on the far side of the paddock but that's 'cos it a pig to get to and so people cram into the standside of it.
Yes it is in premier, and I am not alone in thinking that either. Windsor's pretentious for no good reason, Ascot is £55 for Premier on Saturday with race cards probably at £4 each with no more in them than a 'normal' meeting is a total joke. Don't go in Tatts it's full of pissheads pretending they're watching the racing.
 
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What both Ascot and Newmarket have in common are new stands on which huge amounts of money were spent and which have succeeded in pleasing very few and antagonising many more. Neither course has catered adequately for the ordinary paying customer, priority having been given to corporate interests.

Absolutely spot on
 
You haven't been to the old ascot. That's all I conclude. The tunnel was 30 yards.? Is this a wind up?

I've been in both members and tatts at ascot and there is no difference in the make up of the crowds. Idea that members is full of racing fanatics is very fanciful

The far side paddoick is a pig to get to ? Why ? Its the most accesible paddock in racing

Ascot for a standard meeting is the chepaest tatts of any grade one course.
 
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You haven't been to the old ascot. That's all I conclude. The tunnel was 30 yards.? Is this a wind up?

I've been in both members and tatts at ascot and there is no difference in the make up of the crowds. Idea that members is full of racing fanatics is very fanciful

The far side paddoick is a pig to get to ? Why ? Its the most accesible paddock in racing

Ascot for a standard meeting is the chepaest tatts of any grade one course.

I have been going to Ascot since I was born, which I will bet is a considerably longer time than you have.
Tunnel? I said the paddock, I never mentioned the word tunnel, and neither had you until now, and you didn't have to walk through the tunnel to get to the paddock, or back to the stand, so I would suggest your vision of Ascot is mired by something which has nothing to do with how Ascot was at all.
I didn't say members is full of fanatics, I said Tatts was full of pissheads. Yet again you chose to read something that isn't actualy written.
No it isn't. Cheltenham is cheaper. Aintree is cheaper. I need not go on.
 
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Ascot and newmarket are the 2 racecourses I most travel from Spain to go racing.
Both fantastic ones.

I find both cheap for the service the provide.
 
Back to saturdays racing


I took 8/1 on harris tweed in the long distance race.

Cirrus is not much of a price but should win.
 
I have been going to Ascot since I was born, which I will bet is a considerably longer time than you have.
Tunnel? I said the paddock, I never mentioned the word tunnel, and neither had you until now, and you didn't have to walk through the tunnel to get to the paddock, or back to the stand,


This is rubbish frankly

Walking round the front to the grandstand from the old paddock and then up into the stands took.....ages. There isnt any argument about this. It just did. Its got something to do with yards involved and crowds.

look at a bloody map if in doubt
 
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No it isn't. Cheltenham is cheaper. Aintree is cheaper. I need not go on.

I think you had better not. Cheapest tatts at Cheltenham is £20. at Ascot around £13. Im not a penny pincher by any means but again....wrong
 
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It is odd that Moore is on Ruler of the World as it is not as if Hillstar is an unfancied outsider. I suspect that if he is not going to Ballydoyle next year ( and they clearly have second claim on him already) that he has renegotiated his deal with Stoute after Doyle has got the Abdulla job allowing him off Stoute horses for AOB if one has a better chance.
 
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My four live ones ( I hope)
Stayers: Eye Of The Storm. Ground should not be an issue after Listowel win. Improving.
Sprint: Maarek with Vitztoria for exacta.
Mile: Gordon Lord Byron. TH neighbour of McCutcheon and GLB would not beat Maarek in sprint.
Champion: Cirrus Des Aigles. A wonder horse on soft.
I hope these make me the price of weekend in Longchamp to roar Missunited home !
 
I think he and Maarek are raging certainties....The long season doesn't bother me. He could lap these....

I actually half fancy Slade Power but it looks a trappy event.

The hard season thing - Captain Jim has had two months to get him right again, can't see the issue.
 
Dawn Approach will be much better suited by today's softer ground and stiffer track and has all the hallmarks of a major punt.
Wouldn't be at all sure the straight course ground will be soft enough for Maarek, though.
 
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