So how was it for you? (cheltenham)

Aldaniti

Aldaniti

At the Start
Joined
Dec 21, 2005
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Location
Wickford
Apart from the Big bucks v Annie Power thing that never really happened I sort of felt that there wasn't anything really special this year :confused:

Perhaps it was a case of being spoilt with all the Denman & Kauto stuff from the past & a lot of the big names just didn't make this year
 
the good : sire de grugy winning for the moore's & owners. fantastic stuff. balthazar king great financial win for me and great to see the old horse do it. faugheen & vautour sublime novice winners. world hurdle might have not been the showdown we all hoped for but still a fantastic race with two worldies fighting it out for me.

the bad : champion hurdle just a horrible race after all the buildup with what happened to OC & TNO. gold cup a rancid renewal with a dodgy winner. arkle winner probably a complete rogue more likely to end up in the grand annual in future years than any graded affairs. all the injuries.
 
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Bad festival for me worst one for many a year doubt I got 50% of my outlay back, I did not enjoy Thurday or Friday - also a crazy festival with lots of ups and plenty of downs, hopefully all the injured jocks will mend and get back to winning ways but some lovely highlights, Davy's day today, Jamie Moore & Sire, Faugheen & Vautour etc.

On a personal note Champagne Fever getting chinned was a tough one, lost some good doubles I had with Faugheen & Vautour on that race, and who would have thought that not one of Felix Yonger, Wonderful Charm, Briars Hill, Kings Palace, Bobs Worth or Silviniaco would even place...That's the festival for you!

There's always Aintree :ninja:
 
Very profitable and especially pleased with SDG's win.

But lacked a wow factor. Agree with most of sentiments above
 
I came out in profit in my tiny betting, including a 33/1 winner.

I struggled to get excited As well this year, though going on Wednesday for the first time in ten years helped to get excited that day, but the Gold Cup was disappointing, and I don't think my heart rate bothered at all, different from the shaking butterflies when Kauto ran.

Fatalities are always sickners, and were again this year.

Sire De Grugy was a highlight for me, for all that I went to Cheltenham this year for Sprintre Sacre!

I hope that Aintree and Punchestown has a bit more life to them.

Nx
 
The Champion Hurdle was a massive let down. The lack of a stand out performance isn't too surprising considering we were missing Sprinter Sacre, Cue Card, Flemenstar & Simonsig.

From a betting point of view it was a tidy profit. Not a penny from the handicaps yet again! They are the very definition of a minefield.
 
Jakers said:
Bad festival for me worst one for many a year doubt I got 50% of my outlay back, I did not enjoy Thurday or Friday - also a crazy festival with lots of ups and plenty of downs, hopefully all the injured jocks will mend and get back to winning ways but some lovely highlights, Davy's day today, Jamie Moore & Sire, Faugheen & Vautour etc.



On a personal note Champagne Fever getting chinned was a tough one, lost some good doubles I had with Faugheen & Vautour on that race, and who would have thought that not one of Felix Yonger, Wonderful Charm, Briars Hill, Kings Palace, Bobs Worth or Silviniaco would even place...That's the festival for you!



There's always Aintree :ninja:
Click to expand...


Terrible last day for me and the first losing festival since 2002. AP bets did the damage with SDG and a place with MTOY the only ones giving a return despite many going off at much shorter prices than I'd backed.

Astonished none of Bobs, Silviniaco. Kings made the frame and annoyed they ran Wonderful Charm in the wrong race

Horrible injuries to several jocks hope they all make a full recovery.

Sickening about OC and the other horses that died





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Cant see how the Gold Cup was a rancid renewal. If the race was stopped 2 out, you would say that it was being run exactly to script. That neither of the front two in the market got the fractions right (I think) doesnt mean it was a bad renewal. Thought it was a thrilling finish, wihtout having a financial involvement in it.

So the RSA is the best Gold Cup trial now?
 
It was a terrible renewal. Look at how many were still involved at the top of the hill. The Giant Bolster's run suggests it was even poorer than the one Synchronise won.

Bob's Worth needed a sterner test
 
Ignoring the King George winner that jumped the last in the lead, and last years winner who jumped it a length down in second. Had they cleared away from the field as expected (with The Giant Bolster on their heels as in the last two years) every one would be happy. The race was shaping up exactly as expected. Fehily gave SC a great ride continually stopping Bobs Worth from getting momentum from the turn. As for Russell. Winning handicappers like Houblon and Triolo beaten miles. Knockara Beau beaten as far as he always is. Not 180 horses but not nearly as bad as being described.
 
I was there on Tuesday and Wednesday. The opening day was too crowded to fully enjoy. The second day was lovely. The weather was nice.

I met some very nice forumites (past and present). I also met an capall.

Financially it was a minor disaster. Austerity now reigns Chez Bull.

There seemed to be more close finishes than usual. Some very exciting racing.

But not that many classy performances. The two novice hurdle winners for Ricci. The World Hurdle winner. SDG a good winner of a gash race. CH very disappointing. Gold Cup exciting, but low quality.

Sadly it'll be remembered most for OC's demise and the incredible number of jockey injuries.
 
Financially great - doubled what I had in my account, but that was chiefly thanks to western warhorse and tatanen.

The rest of it was better than I expected - which just proves to me that you don't need good horses to have watchable racing. Sprinter sacre was a huge miss for me, but apart from him I wasn't missing too many.

Loved the story for sire de grugy (or grungy as my spell check insists on putting it!)

Injuries and fatalities are always sad - but the reactions from the public are just ridiculous.

Having been lucky to go and stay up there last year (thanks to someone else's misfortune) that's absolutely the way to do it - am totally going to be there next year!!!



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Didn't have enough on Jezki after backing him a year ago.

Level until today which all hinged on the position I had on Briar Hill.
 
I went weds and was superb day as usual. But the new stands ASAP please.

True about the close finishes.
 
Feckin terrible festival punting and jockey injuries , horse fatalities. N, RS that would have won, fallers. Good time in Dublin tho. TNO must be backed for next years Champion Hurdle would have won by 2L..
 
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Financially very good indeed but I'm ruing what might have been had one or two other results gone my way. I reckon I was one decent change of luck off a new car.
 
The good :
The crack, company, comradeship, early mornings,late nights, good humour, hip flask always half full, the horses looking fabulous, the speed, the noise, the cheers, the appreciation of great performances by man and beast.
Shark Hanlon arriving at the morning gallop area driving a "borrowed" ground workers quad a la Danny Mullins.
To all the TH forumites I had the pleasure of meeting all week, Bless you all
The corridor outside The Istabraq Bar after racing for peace and quiet and comfort.

The bad.
The injuries, human and animal in that order.
The bulls::t publicity stunts by bookies, tv programmes and others.
The music that greets big race winners in ( I was expecting to see hoards of vikings over Cleeve Hill any minute on a tidal wave of Old Spice after shave)

I have composed a prayer/toast to sum up 2014

To The Lord and The Lambe
To Davy and Jim
That you may be Spring Heeled
Now and forever
Amen.

I intend drinking out on that for some time to come !
 
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A punter walked into one of the on course bookies here yesterday and won £191,000 from a £1 yankee on the Gigginstown horses.
 
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