Gwid 2023

Some really crude and unscientific research if I may.

1. For our GB based cohort - is DRF becoming a viable alternative to Cheltenham for you if you could only attend one of these 'fesitival' meetings a year?
2. If 'yes' then why?
 
Definitely, and I’ll hopefully make DRF again next year, after missing it for the last three.

The actual racing at both meetings is hard to fault (general lack of UK runners in Leopardstown the only slight downside for me), but the compression of all the action into two days is perfect. And it’s a real racegoers meeting too.

Four days at Cheltenham is on a different scale of expense, and one I find it personally hard to justify these days. Until very recently, we had two arrangements for accommodation - one long-standing in Prestbury village, and one where we rented a friend’s flat for the week at the top of Albert Road (10mins walk to track) - both of which are now sold.

This basically means that my accommodation costs would triple for the week based on what I was paying before, and even the ever-understanding Mrs Grass would likely raise an eyebrow at that……and that’s before I’ve paid £7.50 for a pint (£14 for a large glass of wine in Members in March), any food or a bet.

Dublin is easy to get to, hotels aren’t cheap (think it’s usually a rugby weekend too, so they are jacked-up) but not remotely as bad as Cheltenham for Festival week, Leopardstown is a good viewing track, the people are knowledgable about horses/form, and on almost every measure, it’s just a more pleasurable experience being there.

Cheltenham is now geared around day-trippers and hospitality, and even Members is full of people with seemingly little interest in the actual racing, beyond being seen to be seen there. And the new Members stand is far too small for the amount of Memberships they’ve sold.
 
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Answer, yes.

I have somewhat shamefully never even got over to see Ireland, despite some Irish ancestory. Taking in this meeting would be an absolute pleasure. Maybe one day eh.

I have made it to Cheltenham once in 2016 on Gold Cup day. While it was nice to meet forum member Maruco who was a gent, once the racing started I couldn't see much at all and found myself watching everything on the big screen on tele.

A part of me thought to myself if this was case why not just watch from a pub etc.

That said, I should give it another try, maybe get in the more expensive enclosure to get a better view.

I still think going on the one day to Cheltenham and travelling in from London on a coach from Victoria is more likely than me trying to find somewhere to stay all festival week.

But yeah Re- Qwid the idea of getting to Dublin for this meeting is one I like a lot.
 
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The DRF may have great horses but much like the Cheltenham festival (though that to a lesser degree), it’s hardly competitive.

There’s a good article in the RP today about how WPM is ruining the Cheltenham Festival, not maliciously but by his sheer dominance with reference to the fact 30 years ago there were 17 different winning trainers of the 20 races, with no trainer having more than 2 winners.

The DRF is basically a benefit where Willie saddled 8/11 winners of the non handicap winners last year - likely to be more this year - and over 50% of the total races.

I love both meetings but increasingly from a betting angle I prefer any regular Saturday in the UK.
 
wilsonl said:
The DRF may have great horses but much like the Cheltenham festival (though that to a lesser degree), it’s hardly competitive.

There’s a good article in the RP today about how WPM is ruining the Cheltenham Festival, not maliciously but by his sheer dominance with reference to the fact 30 years ago there were 17 different winning trainers of the 20 races, with no trainer having more than 2 winners
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The DRF to me is just a Cheltenham trials meeting

I think it's basically a re-run of the Christmas meeting there which is the best meeting in Ireland all season

They will never get the best English trained horses going there just 5 weeks before Cheltenham unlike the Xmas meeting where Denman, Best Mate, Bobs Worth and Synchronized all went there and won
 
wilsonl said:
The DRF may have great horses but much like the Cheltenham festival (though that to a lesser degree), it’s hardly competitive.

There’s a good article in the RP today about how WPM is ruining the Cheltenham Festival, not maliciously but by his sheer dominance with reference to the fact 30 years ago there were 17 different winning trainers of the 20 races, with no trainer having more than 2 winners.

The DRF is basically a benefit where Willie saddled 8/11 winners of the non handicap winners last year - likely to be more this year - and over 50% of the total races.

I love both meetings but increasingly from a betting angle I prefer any regular Saturday in the UK.
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To be fair to Willie, he certainly hasn’t shied away from running his horses against each other.

Despite him having 6 of the 8 runners in the Spring Juvenile and 5 of the 8 in the Irish Arkle, they’re competitive.

The Irish Gold Cup isn’t though, although it should offer some insight into how good Galopin is as the opponents are experienced if slightly short on quality.
 
wilsonl said:
To be fair to Willie, he certainly hasn’t shied away from running his horses against each other.
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He probably has somewhere between 25/30 G1 quality new horses coming into his yard every year so has to run them v each other
 
Truncheon said:
He probably has somewhere between 25/30 G1 quality new horses coming into his yard every year so has to run them v each other
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Of course but he’s running his 4 best novice 2m chasers all in the same race. He could easily have avoided that
 
Quote Originally Posted by wilsonl View Post
To be fair to Willie, he certainly hasn’t shied away from running his horses against each other.



If he could find Grade 1 races for them all he wouldn't run 2 in the same race.

I don't know how many graded races are run in the Emerald Isles in a season but clearly there's not enough
 
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