Festival racing golden moment

[Irish Rugby]

For me the highlight is usually those races where they turn for home with all the contenders where they'd like to be and the puzzle we've been trying to solve all year resolved without any excuses. Two that stood out for me were the Stayers where we saw Flooring Porter, Klassical Dream, Champ, Paisley Park and Thyme Hill all with a chance to run their race turning for home and the Triumph with the front six in the market battling it out. Brilliant races with worthy champions.

Agreed. I also like those races where most if not all of the season's protagonists get to the race in the first place. We had that in the Stayers and the Gold Cup, the Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle for the most part (Sharjah being the only obvious one). Adding in Allaho, we've had the cream rising to the top.

It's actually been a good advert still to bet AP, despite all the other reasons out there not to. I had many friends turning up last weekend wanting a bet, only to be told about A Plus Tard, Flooring Porter etc, but they were having none of that, and spent every race trying to get these beat. One of them hit the jackpot with Marie's Rock at 18s, but then gave most of it back on Wednesday.

[nortonscoin200]

In no particular order:

Patrick Mullins face and body was so caked in mud he looked like he'd just completed a shift down a coal mine when he got back to the winners enclosure on Facile Vega. But the look of pure joy Patrick and Willie shared when he dismounted was something I'll remember for a long time. It didn't really have anything to do with racing - it was just a very personal father and son moment. Willie looked so proud of Patrick and Patrick looked so pleased to have given his dad that moment of joy. I probably haven't explained it very well but it certainly struck a chord with me as I stood in the pouring rain a few yards the other side of the paddock rail.

Anyone who had a hefty wager on Tiger Roll will have to forgive me but I thought this race was the finest moment of his entire career. It was truly heroic even though it ended in defeat. To watch him roll back the years at the age of 12 and stride ahead in the closing stages was simply epic. Then to see him keep on battling all the way to the line against a Gold Cup horse was lump in the throat stuff. Thought Davy and Jack handled it really well by returning to the paddock side by side so Tiger could get the send-off he deserved. And what a send-off. It didn't matter that he'd lost, everyone wanted to salute an equine legend - Tiger will live in our hearts for a long time.

Agree with archie that watching Galopin Des Champs walk away after his fall was certainly the moment of greatest relief at the Festival.

Went to Gold Cup Day with my wife and Vauban finally put me in profit. So we splashed out on a couple of those ridiculously priced Champagne flutes in the bar below the parade ring. Standing there in the warm sunshine watching the horses heads bobbing in the paddock before the County - after backing a winner to get ahead of the game with the person who always brings me luck - was just great. I wouldn't have wished to be anywhere else on earth.

I've always loved football but I'm not a big fan of footie chants in the winners enclosure at the Festival. But there were still huge crowds (the biggest I can remember) outside in the sunshine when the horses were at the start for the final race of the meeting. I was completely puzzled when hundreds (if not thousands) of punters in the Best Mate grandstand started chanting and waving their arms. The sound of singing was drifting across the track on the breeze but it was difficult to make out what it was all about. Then loads of punters in front of the main grandstand joined in - followed by punters up in the posh seats. The chant was Please Don't Take Me Home, I wanna stay here and drink all your beer, please don't please don't take me home. It was just fantastic, such appropriate words felt by everyone with the curtain about to come down on the Festival. Absolutely brilliant the way two groups about 100 yards apart joined together to form an impromptu and well lubricated choir with everyone sharing the same sentiment. I've never seen that happen before at the Festival but I hope it becomes the annual swan-song before the final cavalry charge.

I'd struggle to pick one jockey or one horse to highlight as the sweetest moment but the 2022 Festival will surely be remembered for Rachel completely breaking the mould for women jockeys - and for being such a grounded and modest superstar to boot.

[Craigy14]

In no particular order:

Patrick Mullins face and body was so caked in mud he looked like he'd just completed a shift down a coal mine when he got back to the winners enclosure on Facile Vega. But the look of pure joy Patrick and Willie shared when he dismounted was something I'll remember for a long time. It didn't really have anything to do with racing - it was just a very personal father and son moment. Willie looked so proud of Patrick and Patrick looked so pleased to have given his dad that moment of joy. I probably haven't explained it very well but it certainly struck a chord with me as I stood in the pouring rain a few yards the other side of the paddock rail.

Anyone who had a hefty wager on Tiger Roll will have to forgive me but I thought this race was the finest moment of his entire career. It was truly heroic even though it ended in defeat. To watch him roll back the years at the age of 12 and stride ahead in the closing stages was simply epic. Then to see him keep on battling all the way to the line against a Gold Cup horse was lump in the throat stuff. Thought Davy and Jack handled it really well by returning to the paddock side by side so Tiger could get the send-off he deserved. And what a send-off. It didn't matter that he'd lost, everyone wanted to salute an equine legend - Tiger will live in our hearts for a long time.

Agree with archie that watching Galopin Des Champs walk away after his fall was certainly the moment of greatest relief at the Festival.

Went to Gold Cup Day with my wife and Vauban finally put me in profit. So we splashed out on a couple of those ridiculously priced Champagne flutes in the bar below the parade ring. Standing there in the warm sunshine watching the horses heads bobbing in the paddock before the County - after backing a winner to get ahead of the game with the person who always brings me luck - was just great. I wouldn't have wished to be anywhere else on earth.

I've always loved football but I'm not a big fan of footie chants in the winners enclosure at the Festival. But there were still huge crowds (the biggest I can remember) outside in the sunshine when the horses were at the start for the final race of the meeting. I was completely puzzled when hundreds (if not thousands) of punters in the Best Mate grandstand started chanting and waving their arms. The sound of singing was drifting across the track on the breeze but it was difficult to make out what it was all about. Then loads of punters in front of the main grandstand joined in - followed by punters up in the posh seats. The chant was Please Don't Take Me Home, I wanna stay here and drink all your beer, please don't please don't take me home. It was just fantastic, such appropriate words felt by everyone with the curtain about to come down on the Festival. Absolutely brilliant the way two groups about 100 yards apart joined together to form an impromptu and well lubricated choir with everyone sharing the same sentiment. I've never seen that happen before at the Festival but I hope it becomes the annual swan-song before the final cavalry charge.

I'd struggle to pick one jockey or one horse to highlight as the sweetest moment but the 2022 Festival will surely be remembered for Rachel completely breaking the mould for women jockeys - and for being such a grounded and modest superstar to boot.

Good post but that chant/song makes me want to gag

[Big Bucks]

There was plenty of golden moments and I have finally narrowed it down to 2!

Personally for me the Gold Cup just nicks it for me, I think alot of people down played the race, the runners etc but I disagree, I thought it was a very good renewal and one I was looking forward too. And it didn't disappoint! Seeing all the big hitters turning in, and finding it fascinating watching them thinking who is going to blink 1st, this is going to be a great finish, and bias kicked in, but when APT bolted clear I found it very special and will be one of my favourite Gold Cups in years! Was extra special for the sport with Rachael winning, think she deserved it, was so unfortunate to not win it last year.

In 2nd place All revolves around the Stayers. Again the finish was special with all the main contenders in with a chance, but the ride from Danny Mullins, take a bow Sir, ride of the week. Back to back Stayers, not an easy feat, matched my name sake who I believe was one of a kind in that division, but FP is reaching if not already that standard! The after part aswell, I too not a huge fan of football chants at the races, unless they are witty and relevant to the horse or connections. Like horse name making a song to go with it or something. But the celebrations from the Syndicate, owners etc looked special, especially with the back story off buying of it. The guys where lapping it up and fair fucking play to them! Also enjoyed the singing "There's only one Danny Mullins" thought that was special, relatable and deserving for the Jockey who is/was underrated!

[MadeinJapan]

Particular highlights for me:
- Danny Boy's ride of the Festival on Flooring Porter, nailing an 80/1 treble
- APT surging clear up the hill to decimate the Gold Cup field
- Some outstanding novices: Constitution Hill, GDC, Vauban
- Bumping into Kevloaf & jono on the course

[ComplyOrDie]

Well, where to start.

I have a few, so I'm going to start where the festival started.

Constitution Hill. Why is this a golden moment? Well personally I backed him with cash and verbally on here, to be the machine he certainly looks to be. It would have been nice to see how close Dysart would have been to him, so we could have some sort of gauge to the 'best' of the Irish that were in the race, but this looks to be the start of something special, with Constitution Hill, though. I was expecting a level of performance but that was ridiculous. Imagine being Nicky and pretending not to know which one of Jonbon or Constitution Hill were better

Honeysuckle. Retaining a Champion Hurdle is no mean feat. She goes right up there (if she wasn't already) with the best mares we have ever seen, for me. She's just ridiculously good, and more importantly, reliable.

Tiger Roll. Maybe it wasn't a 'golden moment' for some, because he tasted defeat, but jeez, what a horse we've been lucky enough to witness, in our lifetime. The days of talking about Red Rum etc... way before my time, I always felt were 'overplayed' because until you witness greatness yourself it is hard to see or gauge what the fuss was all about. Tiger has achieved this and some for me. Two Grand Nationals, 5 time Cheltenham Festival winner, just incredible, and I wish him the greatest retirement of all. Thank you Tiger.

Allaho/Flooring Porter. I've coupled these two, just for being able to retain their titles. Absolutely brilliant from both of them, and fantastic rides yet again. The owners of FP were fantastic, and it's so nice they were able to experience it all a second time around with an actual crowd present.

A Plus Tard/Rachael Blackmore. Incredible performance from A Plus Tard, like seriously incredible. To finish a Gold Cup like that, was impressive, to say the least, no matter what the 'time boys' are saying. As for Rachael, well, what more can she do? Literally? A Grand National, two time Champion Hurdle and now a Gold Cup winner, seriously, seriously good at what she does, and all this 'women can't compete' nonsense, she's showing it to be a load of tosh, if you're good enough then you're good enough, it's simple. She's probably the best NH jockey around, for me, on her day.

[Old Vic]

Jockey: I think for those not looking at racing on a daily basis the success of Rachael Blackmore on a A Plus Tard is the golden moment. It is the only one that was front page news. I just see her as a great jockey now but there is a case for zooming out and recognising the historic (female) element of it.

Horse: Constitution Hill for me - missed the prices but his performance was mind blowing. Set a track record and now the highest rated novice hurdler in Timeform history. I hope he stays well.

Pocket: The Grand Annual winner.

[Istabraq]

Jockey: I think for those not looking at racing on a daily basis the success of Rachael Blackmore on a A Plus Tard is the golden moment. It is the only one that was front page news. I just see her as a great jockey now but there is a case for zooming out and recognising the historic (female) element of it.

Horse: Constitution Hill for me - missed the prices but his performance was mind blowing. Set a track record and now the highest rated novice hurdler in Timeform history. I hope he stays well.

Pocket: The Grand Annual winner.

Are we not well past the female thing with Rachel now OV, I appreciate the media love to stick labels on everyone but for me she is just the best jockey around.
The ride she gave APT was sublime, incredible patience and judgement on the biggest stage of them all…

[Old Vic]

Are we not well past the female thing with Rachel now OV, I appreciate the media love to stick labels on everyone but for me she is just the best jockey around.
The ride she gave APT was sublime, incredible patience and judgement on the biggest stage of them all…

For sure. I think most racing fans see it that way which is what she seems to want for herself.

[Istabraq]

For sure. I think most racing fans see it that way which is what she seems to want for herself.

What makes her so likeable is her level of humility, she is always so humble in interviews and the first to thank others and bypassing her own brilliance.
She has been an absolute breath of fresh air for NH racing...

[Stormez]

For me it was approaching two out in the Champion Hurdle as a gap opened up between Zanahiyr & Appreciate It to reveal Honeysuckle just behind, and you knew that was the moment she was going to come storming through. Then she duly obliged right on cue!

[Supermaster]

Well another one I can think of is L'Homme Presse proving to be a future Gold Cup contender. Venetia Williams is a long term NH stalwart with a reputation of training mud loving handicappers, not Grade One champions (though Teeton Mill did win the King George). A Venetia Williams Gold Cup winner would be something she deserves imo.

[Middle_Of_March]

Don’t think it’s been mentioned yet but one of the best moments I’ll remember from the festival was the huge cheer that went up when Journey With Me got up after what felt like a lifetime on the deck. Every man and his dog was on Sir Gerhard in the grandstand and the place really built up to fever pitch by the off and as they swung for home. Townsend switching Sir Gerard sent the place into a frenzy. Everything seemed to go the way of the favourite and the atmosphere was huge. And then that fall happened - and it looked bad. And the screens went up. And almost in unison the delight turned to worry. And everyone stopped celebrating and all eyes went to the last hurdle where that big green screen was up. And it was still up. And still. Every second felt like a minute for everyone transfixed on that huge green screen in the centre of the straight.


And then IT happened. An almighty cheer went up for JWM rising up like a warrior and those screens coming down was proper ‘something in the eye’ stuff. Call me a big old softy but it felt like at that exact moment Cheltenham was back. Proper racing people who care for the horses they’re watching. There’s something unique about the Cheltenham crowd (particularly the Tuesday-Thursday people) you don’t get anywhere else in racing in my experience. That wave of relief when the gallant JWM gained his strength was both heartwarming and emotional wrapped into one humongous cheer. For every person who’d got louder and louder seeing SG travel on the snaff down the hill in behind JWM, there was 3 smiling as Journey With Me and his emotional groom strode back towards the paddock.

Not sure my love for both the sport and the festival will even beat that moment for me.