Cheltenham 2009

del boy

del boy

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Cheltenham Racecourse have announced some significant changes to The Festival in 2009. among them an earlier starting time on each day of the meeting.
Racing will start each day at 1.30pm, 30 minutes earlier than in recent years. Commenting on this change, Managing Director Edward Gillespie, explained: 'One of the lessons we learned from the unusual circumstances of The Festival in 2008, was that a significant number of our customers enjoyed the earlier start that we had on Thursday and Friday.
'With the gates opening at 10.30am, it can seem a long time until the first race, so we are going to commence racing at 1.30pm.'

There will be a new race at the meeting in 2009, with the introduction of a race for Conditional Jockeys at The Festival for the first time, making a total of 26 races, with seven race cards on Wednesday and Friday.
The Conditionals' Hurdle will be a handicap over an extended two and a half miles on totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Day. Cheltenham's Director of Racing, Simon Claisse, said: 'We have long held the view that a race for the potential champion jockeys of the future would be a great addition to The Festival and a handicap for Conditional Jockeys was one of the races that was under close consideration when we first extended the meeting to four days.
'This will also be an opportunity for some of the large number of horses which are eliminated from the Coral Cup each year to have a run at The Festival.'
The third significant change is that on each day of The Festival, the feature race will be the fourth race of the day, giving more of a sense of building to a climax.
Edward Gillespie said: 'It was again apparent from the experience of 2008 that the greater period of build-up to the biggest races was almost universally popular. On that basis, the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ladbrokes World Hurdle and totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup will be the fourth race on the card each day at 3.20pm.
 
So the holy trinity of Supreme Novices, Arkle and CHampion Hurdle is broken up. Gobshites.
 
Can't really see what the problem is with having to wait an extra 35 minutes for the Champion Hurdle. Presumably TV demands will make the current 4th race on the Tuesday into the 3rd.
 
TV demands....my arse. Self important tinkering. "one of the lessons they learned". More races at the cheltenham festival is the feedback they are receiving. Sure.

How could they learn this from last year? As if people were wishing to have the NH Chase between the Arkle and the Champion Hurdle on the tuesday. Or the greater build up of the 9 and 10 racecards on the Thursday and Friday. Utter bullspit. Treating every racing fan like a fool. Maybe deservedly so.
 
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I rather enjoyed the 9/10 race cards. Which is not to say that I would 4 cards of 9 races. Just simply that I enjoyed them.

And you haven't addressed the point that I fail to see why some should be so upset at splitting the "holy trinity". I can't say that I was actively petitioning Cheltenham racecourse to do it, or even thinking about it, but now that they've suggested it I can't fathom what the major difficulty is.
 
simmo said:
And you haven't addressed the point that I fail to see why some should be so upset at splitting the "holy trinity". I can't say that I was actively petitioning Cheltenham racecourse to do it, or even thinking about it, but now that they've suggested it I can't fathom what the major difficulty is.
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Those three races have huge build-ups that last months and it`s kind of special anticipating all the questions being answered boom boom boom one after the other. Royal Ascot has a similar vibe on it`s first day with the Queen Anne, King`s Stand and St James Palace but those contests don`t have that same aura of almost orgasmic anticipation.
 
People on their lunch break can catch more races if there is an earlier start. Maybe that is the real feedback they received.
 
Euronymous said:
aura of almost orgasmic anticipation.
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I know we all get excited by Cheltenham but you're sounding like Mick Fitzgerald now!!

I must say the 9/10 race card worked well last year as a novelty. At least after one big race you only had two more races to wait until the next big one came along as opposed to having to wait till the next day.

You will always get traditionalists who like the way things are. Nothing wrong with that and sometimes if it ain't broken........ but can't really see the harm of adding another race before the big ones. Those three races on the Tuesday are very tight together if you want to see them in the parade ring, get a bet on, up to the stands, back to see the winner return etc etc. At least now I'll be able to see the winner come in from the Arkle without worrying that my posse in the stand for the Champion will be taken.
 
Breaking up those 3 races is utterly appalling; you get the feeling some people are trying to justify their salaries or something else ludicrous. Very annoying.
 
Am I alone in smelling a rodent here?

Last year we had a 'new race' (fillies and mares) this year we have another new race. :rolleyes:

Me thinkz Edward Cashlespie is closing in more quickly on a fifth day than I realised. (I thought it would take 10 years about 4 years ago)
 
The addition of the Conditionals race on the Tuesday, would leave that card seriously weakened at the back-end, if it was simply slotted into place at the bottom of the racecard.

It would mean four handicaps of decreasing class, and whilst there's no danger that 'interest' would wane, betting turnover might well do.

This way, punters are getting a chance to play earlyon in a (probably unfathomable) handicap hurdle, without weakening the second-half of the card. Turnover on the race will likely be much higher in the planned slot, as people play-up winning or chase losses from the Supreme Novices and Arkle i.e. when the adrenalin is still pumping strong.

The placement of the race between the Arkle and Champion Hurdle makes sense on a number of levels, and - if it has to be run on the Tuesday (the merit of the event is questionable, imo) - then it's probably in the slot on the card that does least damage.
 
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Warbler said:
Me thinkz Edward Cashlespie is closing in more quickly on a fifth day than I realised. (I thought it would take 10 years about 4 years ago)
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A fifth day would need sponsors and with Anglo pulling the plug on the Supreme and Ballymore surely thinking of doing the same, finding a fifth day of sponsors is not going to be easy given the current economic environment.
 
In 2005 he added the Cross Country race, the Festival (Ryanair) Trophy, the Spa (Brit) Novice Hurdle, the Novice Handicap Chase (Jewson) and the 2 mile juvenile handicap hurdle. In 2008 we got the fillies and mares hurdle and in 2009 we'll have the Conditional jockeys race. That'll be 7 new races in 4 years. At this rate he needs to invent another 4 which he's on schedule to complete in 2012 and then he can go to a 6 race card, 5 days festival with the Gold Cup on a Saturday.

I'm trying to think what he'll try next? A seller? Dare he try for a championship 2.5 mile hurdle race? To some extent he's prepared the ground for it by getting the Festival Trophy upgraded to Class 1 and this would probably be used to feature the card of a fifth day. A second bumper's been variously mooted. I can't think they've got too many options left though, unless he starts being extremely creative. Given the current culture there must be grounds for a 'celebrities' race:D

I think if I had the chance to make one change, I'd be inclined to try and find a way of getting the Grand Annual televised as now that the Chandler is no longer a handicap, the GA is probably the best 2 mile H'cap chase in the calender, and as we all know, 2 mile chasers are the best sight in racing. Appearing where it does in the programme it gets pretty well lost. I'd certainly consider switching it with the Jewson, (provided Jewson were prepared ok to switch their sponsorship)
 
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Cantoris said:
A fifth day would need sponsors and with Anglo pulling the plug on the Supreme and Ballymore surely thinking of doing the same, finding a fifth day of sponsors is not going to be easy given the current economic environment.
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I'd have thought Jewson would be more vulnerable? and Sun Alliance have hardly been enjoying the best of times either.

The Supreme's had plenty of sponsors ranging from French car manufacturers to caterers. The current economic climate is temporary and Gillespie is probably looking at 2012 anyway as he's clearly preparing the ground for a fifth day by stealth. My guess is that he's aiming to piggy bag the Olympics and the wave of sporting euphoria that should be gripping the nation and turning it into some kind of celebration.

As you say, finding sponsors won't be easy, but similarly, it will be far from impossible either. Any sponsorship knock back is likely to be felt on minor tracks I'd have thought. In essence sponsors come and sponsors go, tis how its always been. Does the "Winningways 2 mile novice hurdle" not have a certain ring to it:D
 
I dislike the 1.30 start. Not ideal for those travelling down on the day from london (or anywhere) or for those rushing back home after taking a half day off work (2 was tight enough)
 
Warbler said:
Does the "Winningways 2 mile novice hurdle" not have a certain ring to it:D
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It does but I can't afford to sponsor a claimer at the mo let alone a Festival race!!! But by 2012, I may be taking on John Magnier in the ownership stakes!! So will keep it on the radar and thanks for the idea, keep them coming!!
 
What was so wrong with the three day festival?

I liked the three grade1 beginning to each festival. Its like the quality racing had nowhere to hide. I don't believe anyone suggested that it should have been changed.

If I had my way it would be a one day meeting a la breeders cup, or a two day meeting a la arc. With the handicaps on the first day and the grade 1s on the second.

Always admired Lavinia Taylor who wouldnt run Gingembre at the festival because of the commercialism involved. Eccentric but should be applauded in my view.

Cheltenham is gradually disappearing up its own arse.
 
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