General Chat

[Stormez]

I went through my tracker after the festival and was wondering whatever happened to the 4-y-o Matterhorn who was sent to Paul Nicholls and included in one of the FJ yankees. I emailed the yard and they were kind enough to reply and advise that he had suffered a small setback but he is well and will be back next year.

Was thinking of him myself a few weeks ago as a possible for the Supreme, but you’d have to consider the trainer a negative at the moment with regards the festival.

[Eggs]

….thought there might might be a ‘win today & a/r’ offer on Mercurey ahead of his run this afternoon but he’s a very short priced favourite & they’d probably not go much bigger than the current 8-1 a/r.

[Mighty]

….thought there might might be a ‘win today & a/r’ offer on Mercurey ahead of his run this afternoon but he’s a very short priced favourite & they’d probably not go much bigger than the current 8-1 a/r.

I asked last night with Sky and didn’t get anything. I’ll try again today

[Irish Rugby]

Good to see Henriette Knight laying it into the GB system this morning. Trainers, racecourses, mares allowances. All getting it served up on a plate. I'm only able to pick up snippets on twitter as I haven't got RP online membership.

If there ever was a position going for Honorary Fat Jockey President, there's your first candidate. Wonder what she thought of Bravemansgame?

[Spectre]

Good on her. I thought it was funny that she thinks the UK trainers avoid taking horses on though. She may get a bit of stick back on that one!

[Star Of A Gunner]

Hi guys, I will be a first time Festival goer next March after a complete stroke of luck means three of us will be house sitting in Cheltenham for the week. The family hate the chaos and always go on holiday when the Festival is on. Does anyone know of a thread on here or elsewhere, where it lists things like best pub grub and club and the like. Even down to best enclosures to go to etc. many thanks

[Bonjers]

She's got some cheek. She trained a couple of very good horses in her career and now goes around laying into trainers that blow her achievements out the water. Perhaps someone should ask her about spending millions for Mike Grech on absolute dreck.

[FinalFurlong91]

Surprised she's even still in my tracker but santa rossa declared for her one race of the year on Sunday at limerick

Won as she liked again and at a surprisingly big price

Real shame they cant keep her sound

Hopefully she makes it to a graded mares race at punchestown as she will take all the beating

[Supermaster]

I think this was mentioned on Road to Cheltenham but what do people think of having a long distance veterans chase (10-y-o or older) at the Festival?
I know there would be an issue of which race to replace but given the change in nature of the National Hunt chase (as a kind of second trial for future Gold Cup horses), I thought that could be the one as we already have a 3m novices chase called the Brown Advisory (former RSA)..
So a handicap for older horses over more than 3 miles with or without amateur riders?

I recall Ruby Walsh was against the idea and he made the comment along the lines that "the handicapper allows for the age of a horse" - that was news to me or was he just leg pulling?

[Zachx02]

I think this was mentioned on Road to Cheltenham but what do people think of having a long distance veterans chase (10-y-o or older) at the Festival?
I know there would be an issue of which race to replace but given the change in nature of the National Hunt chase (as a kind of second trial for future Gold Cup horses), I thought that could be the one as we already have a 3m novices chase called the Brown Advisory (former RSA)..
So a handicap for older horses over more than 3 miles with or without amateur riders?

I recall Ruby Walsh was against the idea and he made the comment along the lines that "the handicapper allows for the age of a horse" - that was news to me or was he just leg pulling?

Not for me, just bring back the Novice Handicap Chase

[Jrow]

Nobody wants to see a veterans race at cheltenham. I think the NHC has run its course too, this years race was especially boring. There was nothing wrong with the novice chase on day 1 bring that back in place of the NHC i say

[Quevega]

I think this was mentioned on Road to Cheltenham but what do people think of having a long distance veterans chase (10-y-o or older) at the Festival?
I know there would be an issue of which race to replace but given the change in nature of the National Hunt chase (as a kind of second trial for future Gold Cup horses), I thought that could be the one as we already have a 3m novices chase called the Brown Advisory (former RSA)..
So a handicap for older horses over more than 3 miles with or without amateur riders?

I recall Ruby Walsh was against the idea and he made the comment along the lines that "the handicapper allows for the age of a horse" - that was news to me or was he just leg pulling?

I'd replace the NH chase with a veterans chase for amateur riders.

I'd also replace the 2 mid distance novice races - Ballymore and Turners, and make them both handicaps for novices only 0-145 (probably scrap the pipe at the same time).

Bumper for 5 year olds and under.

And no novices in any other handicaps.

Few other things I'd do as well. But I'd go on forever.

[Stormez]

We already have the Veterans Chase final at Sandown, why does Cheltenham need to swallow that up to further bloat the festival?

Its the same as the argument with the 2.5 mile hurdle, Aintree has the Aintree hurdle for that. Can’t just let Cheltenham cherry pick all the races it doesn’t have at the expense of other courses.

[JackieMoon33]

I'd replace the NH chase with a veterans chase for amateur riders.

I'd also replace the 2 mid distance novice races - Ballymore and Turners, and make them both handicaps for novices only 0-145 (probably scrap the pipe at the same time).

Bumper for 5 year olds and under.

And no novices in any other handicaps.

Few other things I'd do as well. But I'd go on forever.

Its revolutionary but I’d reduce the graded novice hurdles and chases down to two races and run them over 2m2f and 2m6f. All horses that ran in the three versions this year would easily be able to fit into one of those distances and we’d get more competitive, deeper races.

[Spectre]

Hi guys, I will be a first time Festival goer next March after a complete stroke of luck means three of us will be house sitting in Cheltenham for the week. The family hate the chaos and always go on holiday when the Festival is on. Does anyone know of a thread on here or elsewhere, where it lists things like best pub grub and club and the like. Even down to best enclosures to go to etc. many thanks

There isn't a thread as such, but I'd strongly recommend getting Club badges for the week so you can use the parts of the racecourse that suit you best, or so you can mix it up and spend the days in lightly different ways.

In terms of restaurants and nightlife you'll get lots of different suggestions on here, but with restaurants you want to book very early. I wouldn't recommend going anywhere just for pub grub. You'll struggle to find a seat and you'll wait forever for your food.

Where your staying may have a bearing on suggestions too?