Festival Meet

I still can't believe I'm not going this year; thankfully the disbelief is so great that I shall float through Tuesday in a sense of surreal disbelief and then it will be Wednesday when I wouldn't be there anyway.
 
I'll be in The Plough before and after racing as usual Roddy along with the usual crowd. We'll also head to the Mandarin on the way in around the time Grassy suggests.

For those that normally head to the Guinness Village for racing, on the site map it looks as though half of the viewing steps have been replaced by a marquee. I could be wrong and Maybe Roger or Darren can confirm or deny after one of their pre-Festival watering recce's?

Also I'd be interested to know where they've positioned the second big screen in that part of the course.

I can't wait for the racing now, and I'm really looking forward to meeting old friends and new. The craic really is something else.
 
Don't think any big screens were in place yesterday, the new one overlooking the parade ring is the biggest in Europe and two sided so can view from the plaza behind now as well.

Managed to include this year's winner in that little post :whistle:
 
Roddy, we will definitely be in The Plough after racing on Tuesday, and probably Wednesday for a bit too. We'll just have a quick detour to the Centaur after the last on Tuesday, before heading up to the pub.
 
Maruco said:
For those that normally head to the Guinness Village for racing, on the site map it looks as though half of the viewing steps have been replaced by a marquee. I could be wrong and Maybe Roger or Darren can confirm or deny after one of their pre-Festival watering recce's?
Click to expand...

Hurricane Fly this morning, as you can see there is a temporary stand where some of the steps usually are


Hurricane%20Fly_zpsi1196vyd.jpg
 
How could anyone have guessed that scut of a thing would be one of the greatest hurdlers we have seen?
 
Diamond Geezer said:
Hurricane Fly this morning, as you can see there is a temporary stand where some of the steps usually are
Click to expand...

Thanks Roger. It looks as though viewing from the Guinness Village will be tricky this year. The tented village is ever expanding and it was already under pressure. I can see very many people coming out to watch The Supreme and being disappointed that they can't get a spot.

It looks like The Fly's work rider is laughing at you when you suggested The New One was going to win!
 
Temporary stand won't be there next year, it's just for the box holders who would normally have been in the building they knocked down. next year they will be in the new stand, you know The New One :whistle:
 
Regrettably a personal thing needs me to be in Ireland all this week and I won't be getting on the plane. Hopefully run into some of you at Punchestown - enjoy.
 
Hope you all have a great first day and a successful week! Unfortunately I'm snowed in at work so unable to attend but will be there next year! Wanted to get to uttoxeter the weekend but working too as of to Wembley the weekend after with Walsall!!!!
 
Tried to find the Plough on Tuesday, but gave up after wandering round in the dark for a while and ended up in the Royal Oak for the evening. Thank god we didn't try the cross country route as would have been carnage!

Spent a top 3 days seated next to Edgt and was great to meet up with Gray as well. Hopefully will bump in to a few others next year...
 
I tried to find The Plough too but as don't own a sat nav I naturally ended up in some village no knowing where the hell I was, Ended up asking some lad at a fruit & veg store directions as I couldn't understand much of what he was telling me I just went back to the course.
First ever visit and what a place, Heavenly! Definetly going back next year.
 
Tuesday morning at the racecourse was one of the greatest moments of my racing life so far.
WPM string of 50 came down for an easy canter followed by a pick of grass.
There those of us present could mix,mingle and mix with our heroes, human and equine in a garden party style relaxed atmosphere.
Trainer, jockeys and staff spoke of their charges, posed for photos, let Joe Public stroke and get up close to their charges.
That such a thing could happen just hours before the greatest most anticipated racing Festival was unbelievable.
Perhaps after the injury to Champagne Fever WPM decided that a relaxed morning for his charges was the best preparation of all.
At one stage while operating his i phone as camera he joked he would better off taking the photos and leaving the training to Ed Byrne!
All I can say is "You should have been there, seeing is believing "
Hopefully I can manage to post some of the few photos I took.
 
This ranks as one of the most enjoyable Festival's of all for me. The quality of racing ranks up there with some of the best Festivals I remember.

What really makes the Festival special though is spending it in the great company of good knowledgeable racing people, many of who frequent here.

It was good to meet up with all the old faces, it was nice to catch up with a few people I hadn't seen while during my 5 years in Australia, and it is was great to meet up with a few new faces too.

If you didn't make it this year, you've got to be plain mad if you're not already planning to be there next year!
 
I only saw two people I recognised in the toilets, you and Paul Scholes. At least you can still play!:lol:
 
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