General Chat

[Saxon Warrior]

50 years waiting for a Supreme winner to win next year's Champion Hurdle seems crazy, and no doubt points to many going chasing and leaving hurdles behind.

I'd say in recent years that's partly/mostly due to the lack of decent flat racing horses in UK/IRE becoming novice hurdlers in the first place, combined with the increase in P2P and Bumper horses passing through from novice hurdlers to novice chasing, without a moments thought for the Champion Hurdle.

The growth of Bumpers Adds dramatically to the chsnces of horses being too old to go novice chasing, unless they spend only one year hurdling (as a novice).

* Growth of P2P market/values
* increased use of Bumpers, and ageing of horses going novice Hurdling
* lack of decent quality 4yo/5yo UK/IRE flat racing converts to hurdles

- the Key reasons, for me, why Novice Hurdlers go Novice Chasing.

In turn this has led to an increase in Mares competing and winning Champion Hurdles.
Partly due to the fact that owners of good NH Hurdling Mares are considering a future breeding career vs the added risk of injury going chasing and deciding to stay over hurdles is more practical for them and their Mares.

Not since Golden Cygnet 44 years ago has a 2M Novice Hurdler looked as good as Constitution Hill.

It will be a tear jerking reminder of how good Golden Cygnet was, if Constitution Hill could win the Champion Hurdle this coming season.

GC was robbed of his chance to try to win the Champion when he took on that seasons Champion Hurdlers (as a Novice) in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, after Cheltenham, and died in a fall.

I'd love the long term health of the Champion Hurdle to return with a Supreme winner, beating a Triumph Hurdle winner in it this season, with State Man chasing them home. (Having all won open Grade 1 2M Hurdles in the season).

This would fully vindicate all 3 decisions to keep the 3 of them for at least a 2nd season hurdling, and maybe a 3rd.

I've longed for the Champion Hurdle to return to the quality of those I watched as a kid in the late 70's, and into the early 80's.

If next season starts the rise of my favourite NH race, then I would be a very happy man.

[Lobos]

There’s been an obsession with getting the good ones over a fence as early as possible for a while now, I’d be sure if Honeysuckle was a gelding she/he/it would never have won more than one champion hurdle.
The exploits of the Istabraqs, See You Then’s, Bula’s Sea Pigeon’s and Persian War’s are unlikely to be repeated…

Agree. Probably more races/opportunities for prize money/longetivity by sending them over fences. Can't blame the owners. Henderson would most likely have sent CH over fences if it was down to him and Epatante was just starting out.

[Istabraq]

Cheltenham have just announced a cap of 68,500 for each day of the festival, attendances for last season reached over 73,000 on Thursday and Friday.
Not entirely sure how such a meagre reduction will help the experience but you can understand why the capacity wasn't pitched lower....

https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/cheltenham-festival-attendances-to-be-capped-at-68500-each-day-from-2023/573633

[robith]

Cheltenham have just announced a cap of 68,500 for each day of the festival, attendances for last season reached over 73,000 on Thursday and Friday.
Not entirely sure how such a meagre reduction will help the experience but you can understand why the capacity wasn't pitched lower....

https://www.racingpost.com/news/late...om-2023/573633

Glastonbury added 7k this year and my friends who went said it felt insanely more busy - so I think 4ish K in the space at Cheltenham may actually feel an impact

[HoldenTheReins]

Cheltenham have just announced a cap of 68,500 for each day of the festival, attendances for last season reached over 73,000 on Thursday and Friday.
Not entirely sure how such a meagre reduction will help the experience but you can understand why the capacity wasn't pitched lower....

https://www.racingpost.com/news/late...om-2023/573633

They'll have to get the loss of money elsewhere. Add ?3 to a Guinness and 50p to use the toilet....

[Atlantic Viking]

Cheltenham have just announced a cap of 68,500 for each day of the festival, attendances for last season reached over 73,000 on Thursday and Friday.
Not entirely sure how such a meagre reduction will help the experience but you can understand why the capacity wasn't pitched lower....

https://www.racingpost.com/news/late...om-2023/573633

It's a surprisingly good move, but as others have pointed out, i'm sure they'll make up the difference somewhere! Pint prices are going to be even more fun you suspect.

Edit: Or as a few have said on twitterland which I should have thought of, it paves the way for the dreaded 5th day.

[The Fellow]

They can cap it at 68500 because they are adding an extra day from the following year , wonder if they will claim that is due to public sentiment ,

[Saxon Warrior]

They can cap it at 68500 because they are adding an extra day from the following year , wonder if they will claim that is due to public sentiment ,

They've put the ticket prices up by a higher percentage than the crowd reductions.

So same income.
More Ticket money

As Tuesday and Wednesday this year weren't above the new cap - but Thursday and Friday were 5,000 too many.

Ticket prices up around 10%.

[Saxon Warrior]

If they though there was bad behaviour, excessive drunkenness, and drug use last March.

Goodness only knows what they'll make of the carnage at the track and in the town centre, if they shifted to or added a raceday on the Saturday.

[somer1]

When we went in 2020 my son was sniffed out by a dog. He had no cannabis on him at all so can only think it was the smell of it on his cloths were he smokes at his home. So let hope if the knobheads turn up with anything in their pockets the dogs get them.
Forgot to add this bit.
After being spoke to by the police they took his ticket off him and told him if he buys one off a tout they will be able to find him on camera and will be kicked out and charged even though he had nothing on him.

[Saxon Warrior]

When we went in 2020 my son was sniffed out by a dog. He had no cannabis on him at all so can only think it was the smell of it on his cloths were he smokes at his home. So let hope if the knobheads turn up with anything in their pockets the dogs get them.
Forgot to add this bit.
After being spoke to by the police they took his ticket off him and told him if he buys one off a tout they will be able to find him on camera and will be kicked out and charged even though he had nothing on him.

Those sniffer dogs were clueless.

They were all over a guy in front of me, and for an uncomfortable moment sniffing around me, as I stood behind the guy.

They took him out the queue and asked him questions about drugs use, etc.

When he said never, and got upset at the question, they then seemed to assume if he had cash in his wallet that it could be that, and he had to empty his wallet out.

If ever there was any proper reason to go cashless at that racecourse, then I think of that moment.

Although, thinking about it, if he didnt have any banknotes, I dont know where the convo would have gone next.

Chucking him out, if your son's position is anything to go by.

[Lobos]

Police really are a joke aren't they. Pointless

[cpfcpatriot]

When we went in 2020 my son was sniffed out by a dog. He had no cannabis on him at all so can only think it was the smell of it on his cloths were he smokes at his home. So let hope if the knobheads turn up with anything in their pockets the dogs get them.
Forgot to add this bit.
After being spoke to by the police they took his ticket off him and told him if he buys one off a tout they will be able to find him on camera and will be kicked out and charged even though he had nothing on him.

I don’t drink, have never smoked nor do drugs yet because a dog indicated on me at a football match, I was subject to a 10-15 minute search. Which I’m sure became more extended because I asked after 2 minutes are they sure that the dog doesn’t indicate on people who’ve just had a sausage and chips.

Sniffer dogs are brilliant but they shouldn’t be used to 100% assume guilt which is what Stewards/Officers seem to want to do.

[HoldenTheReins]

If it's true that Barry The Butcher is going to Henry then we can rule out him going to the bumper already.

[Stormez]

If it's true that Barry The Butcher is going to Henry then we can rule out him going to the bumper already.

Josh Stacey said this morning on Let’s Talk Racing it’s 95% he goes to Henry, no idea how good his sources are so do with that what you will.