OK initial thoughts
Outside, touts still in evidence and cars driving up the road past the stables and the back of the stands to the parking area which supposedly not allowed this season for safety reasons.
Plenty of space inside, large crowds should be more comfortable at future meetings and plenty of access for viewing the parade ring. The crescent walkway from the back of the new stand to the top tier has five steps so even more room than I imagined beforehand.
Within ten minutes of the gates opening all the tables in the members bar looking out onto the course ( as in photo above) were full and it was evident most of the occupants were intent on sitting there all day even if not buying food and drink from the bar. The room is L shaped and there were a few seats left round the corner. Food quite pricey really £5.50 for cup of soup , £12.50 for one course roast beef and sandwiches, baguettes etc around £7. We went into the Mandarin bar instead which has doors through from members bar via a champagne bar, and that has been revamped a bit, the window in the corner above the Arkle bar has gone and there are a few high tables for standing with a coffee or whatever. Prices for food and drink matched those in the members bar.
Down below in the Vesty bar plenty of food and drink and plenty of room, reminded me a bit of the Sandown hall under their stand. Plenty of toilets on course now.
The big screen at the bottom of the parade ring now has viewing on both sides, so can be easily seen from the plaza area as well. Down below that were a large hospitality room and quite a few shops which are not usually there for an October meeting. The Injured Jockeys Fund now has its own dedicated stall on the back of the old grandstand as do the the Cotswold Riding For The Disabled Stall and the Book Stand where Henrietta Knight was signing books today.
There was a food and drink show going on in the Centaur concert hall although they still had the racing on the big screen.
All in all a pleasant experience, didn't catch up with Roddy and although Pearl Swan didn't feature in his race, he did at least deservedly win best turned out.
