General Chat

[ToniC]

These rumours seem like exactly that to me. I’m on Twitter but don’t really use it, but it would amaze me if there was any substance behind what you’re essentially talking about is the premier league being cancelled & not a single newspaper had done a piece on it. Wouldn’t surprise me if this one was the work of some trolls.
Obviously it’s possible & no doubt would make a lot of sad people very happy who think that we’re not fighting covid hard enough unless every last bit of enjoyment and distraction has been sucked from our lives.

[Geegees]

Personally I think this is a lot of people just trying to cause panic and concern with no real substance.

The current lockdown lasts for another 5 weeks until today - that’s 5 weeks! A lot can change within that short space of time. The lockdown has been successful in gradually reducing transmissions and cases and reverting back to the regional system post this lockdown was confirmed by Boris during the initial interview.

We also have 9 weeks to festival week again this is a long time and this situation is changing daily/ weekly so I would be very surprised if there is anything concrete in the works at the moment... yes I’m sure they are planning but that could also change in an instant ... just take a look how this last lockdown started. Christmas was still going ahead on the Wednesday then by Saturday London / Essex were in lockdown.

I guess people are playing on the idea that we are extended for another month on the 15th of feb taking us the day before the festival

[Muswell]

This time last week schools were safe!

[ComplyOrDie]

Do a few feel overexposed given the comments above regarding cash & run? I appreciate that it’s prob tongue in cheek but with a bit of uncertainty I’m guessing a couple of folk might be?

It was definitely tongue in cheek, though you may have a point.

I was just looking at cash out and realising I can do so for profit (for those bets available with cash out) without a horse running another race. If every bookmaker was to offer 'justice refunds' then I'd be happy to just let them go, but justice refunds are a gesture of goodwill and not a right, so I'm not expecting this.

I'm more inclined to cash out some bets where horses are likely to have an interrupted prep because of sports being stopped, the likes of Bob Olinger, where does he go, from here? The DRF over 2m6f I'd say would be less than ideal, and that's if it is even on. However, I can hold fire until we hear further and have confirmation from governments.

[jack1092]

I’ve seen it over twitter. Where it was mentioned to me was a former Supreme racing whatsapp group- supposedly it was the talk amongst the jockeys at Exeter. No substance behind this, just hoping it’s sh1t!

[Nortons who]

More pertinently maybe (and this could be stirring up the elite sport debate) there are quite a few recriminations about the lack of social distancing from the local supporters which turned out prior to the Marine versus Spurs FA Cup game today. Steve Bruce has also been vocal that in the current situation it is morally wrong for Elite football to carry on. How much impact these instances will have on their own is debatable but one of them could be the straw. Also the non compliance with the rules by some Elite sports people is not seen to be setting a good example.

As I mentioned above, these individual instances might cumulatively tip the scales. The latest to make the news is the Celtic trip to Dubai, where Nicola Sturgeon is clearly taking a dim view as reported in the Scottish media:

'There could also be wider consequences as Nicola Sturgeon had questioned the purpose of Celtic's trip and whether they were following social-distancing rules after seeing photos from their Dubai base.

The First Minister subsequently warned that professional sport's privileges could be lost if protocols were not followed by all participants'.

[EnvoyAllen]

Been on a zoom call with a few mates tonight (belated birthday beers woo) and that came up....

It's crossed my mind, but I'm nearly 800 points invested now... so between now and March I'll definitely have moments where I just would settle for it all back to break even


I'm still not worried that it won't go ahead, or will go ahead without Irish horses.
That may be because if I thought that was creditable I'd have to have a very long and hard think about whether ante-post was viable.
At the stakes I'm at, 800 points is significant enough to have to question things

As is probably natural, when things get risky, it's normal to start getting scared and defensive? If anyone was offered their money back, in total, for zero loss, I can see why people would take it.

I'm going to have to back myself to already be doing better than that even if the worst happened...but it's not guarenteed.

Yes, like yourself Kev (and many thousands of others who both use forums like these and who don’t), I’m very heavily invested in this year’s festival, the most I’ve ever been from a year out. Hell, I could even suggest I’m even invested fairly heavily on next year’s festival too, on many, many selections. The old adage about ‘the early bird gets the worm’ for me is none truer than ante post betting very early on for the Cheltenham festival - after years of studying career trajectories of horses, and opening prices compared to ‘sp’ prices. With of course, a tiny sprinkle of good fortune along the way.

If I could have one wish (in a non reality universe), it would be that every time someone tries to type the word ‘Twitter’ on here, your website doesn’t recognise the word and fails to allow it? When the comment was published last night at around 8.15pm about all Irish & UK racing being suspended for 3 weeks imminently, the very first thing I did was hit the Racing Post website - and as I thought would be the case, nothing. Not a mention. For me, the Racing Post is a very reputable company, with very good journalists, and is pretty up to date. I’d be reasonably confident any knowledge of a ‘racing lockdown/government announcement’ would have been published/broken on here, before any rumours circulated on Twitter. It annoyed me, if I’m honest.

As you’ve rightly said, there are going to me moments in the next few weeks where we’re all going to be on tenterhooks with regards outstanding ante post bets for the festival, and we are all in this together. I guess in times like this, with every piece of information available 24/7, forums like this in effect, don’t actually help. It’s the rumours and counter rumours on thousands of forums that just don’t help in situations like this. We’ve got SKY News and The Daily Mail as examples of leading journalistic templates that couldn’t report a good positive piece of news, even if Jesus himself was seen and witnessed walking on water. And they are an example of huge influences that shape people’s thoughts, ideas and beliefs.

Professor Chris Whitty has already announced in the last 24 hours that the situation within the NHS/positive cases/deaths is going to be a lot worse in the coming weeks - his words are there in print, and yet when figures are released every day for the next month, the media will be publishing the coming apocalypse, even though Chris Whitty has told us well in advance what’s coming.

So let’s not get too worried/paranoid about every piece of bad news that gets published over the next month. We know it’s coming, let’s not overreact. It won’t be ‘breaking news’ - we’ve already been informed well in advance.

The big question is - and I’d love to know people’s thoughts - if the festival go’s ahead without Irish runners, it’s clear now the very large majority of bookmakers will pay justice refunds - ITV cleared that up with quoted bookies on Saturday morning. But what happens if they decide to cancel the 2021 festival because Irish runners can’t travel over?

That changes the ‘Justice refunds’ completely with regards to all of our ante post bets. Am I right in thinking?

[Geordieboy83]

One of the lads we go to festival with is struggling big time with the festival on, festival off talk on social media etc. I have told like some of previous comments on here, just ignore them and stay off Twitter.

Rumours seem to be just that. I am just thinking positive at this stage, as we have a bit time yet, and I’m hopeful racing will be ok come March.

[Rhinestone_Cowboy]

The big question is - and I’d love to know people’s thoughts -

That changes the ‘Justice refunds’ completely with regards to all of our ante post bets. Am I right in thinking?

All bets voided and stakes returned

[Istabraq]

what happens if they decide to cancel the 2021 festival because Irish runners can’t travel over?

If I was to price that scenario I’d probably have that at around 400/1.
There’s no denying the Irish are a huge part of the festival but why would authorities cancel the entire week that goes such a long way to balancing the books, I just don’t get it.

Does Eurovision get cancelled because the Swedes pull out with sore throats ?

I think there are a few getting carried away with the doomsday thinking...

[jack1092]

If I could have one wish (in a non reality universe), it would be that every time someone tries to type the word ‘Twitter’ on here, your website doesn’t recognise the word and fails to allow it? When the comment was published last night at around 8.15pm about all Irish & UK racing being suspended for 3 weeks imminently, the very first thing I did was hit the Racing Post website - and as I thought would be the case, nothing. Not a mention. For me, the Racing Post is a very reputable company, with very good journalists, and is pretty up to date. I’d be reasonably confident any knowledge of a ‘racing lockdown/government announcement’ would have been published/broken on here, before any rumours circulated on Twitter. It annoyed me, if I’m honest.

Picked this part out, as i find my view is quite the opposite.

The Racing Post are often a fair bit behind on stories. Twitter might well have wrong rumours, but i'd be fairly certain, all the correct ones are on their somewhere before the RP have them. It's how you choose to use twitter, if you read all the accounts with no picture + 5 followers, then of course your going to see useless stuff.

Also, the rumour on here first put up by me, was not from Twitter......

[Scooby91]

If I was to price that scenario I’d probably have that at around 400/1.
There’s no denying the Irish are a huge part of the festival but why would authorities cancel the entire week that goes such a long way to balancing the books, I just don’t get it.

Does Eurovision get cancelled because the Swedes pull out with sore throats ?

I think there are a few getting carried away with the doomsday thinking...

IF that was the case. Would they not first attempt to move it back a few weeks, likewise aintree and punchestown

[Quevega]

https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/racing-continues-bha-and-government-sources-move-to-quash-shutdown-rumours/467664

quashed for now.

[Quevega]

And for those discussing Cheltenham cancelling or not.
It will depend on their insurance terms.
Ascot lost fuck all.
I believe Cheltenham have it fully covered so could essentially do what they please.

[Istabraq]

IF that was the case. Would they not first attempt to move it back a few weeks, likewise aintree and punchestown

No idea but it doesn’t get cancelled because Irish can’t travel...