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I thought I would let the dust settle on the Grand National and its controversial aftermath before starting this thread. Yesterday was difficult in some ways for racing but perhaps we can leave that to one side on this subject?
Aintree is my local track and a great favourite, so perhaps I am biased. But I genuinely do think there is a case for saying Aintree is better than Cheltenham now.
OK, it does not have the Champion Hurdle or Gold Cup. But it does have lots of strong Grade 1s, some good competitive handicaps and three races over the National course, culminating in the big race itself.
There are no mares races diluting the graded action and no mickey mouse cross country race. The two bumpers are arguably unnecessary but at least they are the last race on the card.
An easy track to reach on public transport and the Thursday in particular offers outstanding value for money if you are content to just have a basic Tatts ticket.
It is 3 days of almost non stop top action, instead of 4 days at Cheltenham with some top action and a lot of padding. Or 5 days at Punchestown with almost as many filler races as good races.
I enjoy Aintree more than Cheltenham now. Together with Leopardstown in February it has become the best of the jumps festivals.
“The two bumpers are arguably unnecessary but at least they are the last race on the card.”
As is the Cheltenham equivalent.
“It is 3 days of almost non stop top action, instead of 4 days at Cheltenham with some top action and a lot of padding.”
Definitely agree with this.
Aintree is nearer to what Cheltenham used to be in the halcyon days, before the extra races were added.
“As is the Cheltenham equivalent.”
It is – but what I meant is the only indifferent races at Aintree are the last on the card and at least you can leave before them. Whereas at Cheltenham there are several filler races which are not the last on the card.
I think the Tuesday and the Friday cards at Cheltenham are not good after the feature races are over. The Mares Hurdle, Juvenile Handicap and National Hunt chase do not make an inspiring end to the Tuesday. Cheltenham got lucky this year with Honeysuckle providing a highlight after the Champion Hurdle but that was a one off.
Likewise the Hunter Chase, Mares Chase and Martin Pipe is a weak conclusion to the Friday. If I was there I honestly think I would leave after the Gold Cup.
Championship compared to Premier League in terms of the top horses going for the top races.
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No , Cheltenham is the pinnacle , I love Aintree but it ain’t Cheltenham
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“it does have lots of strong Grade 1s”
The Maghull novices chase was Jonbon vs 3 moderate handicappers, the Bowl was meh, the Poundland 2 mile novices hurdle was very meh. Half the runners are over the top after Cheltenham and Willie sends a few of his 3rd or 4th strings. There was no race this year that was better than its Cheltenham equivalent. It’s a good meeting, and the spruce fences are still cool despite the unpleasant scenes this year, but like Nathan says it isn’t even in the same league as Cheltenham.
Aintree is good and has some good clashes but doesn’t come near Cheltenham for strength in depth. Also the Cheltenham track layout seems to lend it an x-factor.
Agree with Cheltenham being the pinnacle, but Aintree has the right races for a three day meeting. It would be even better, if Cheltenham would be a week earlier and the GN meeting a week later. But that won’t happen. There is Ayr, Punchestown and Sandown afterwards.
The Grand National is more enticing than the Gold Cup especially to the sharp minds in the knitting clubs up and down the country and the workers in half filled offices, it also gives Andy Capp a better excuse for going down the pub.
” I’ll get your bet on Missus and I’ll be right back ”
I think it is a shame it was retimed to 5.15 to bow to the might of football and the money God. It should be no later than 4.30 preferably 4.20.
Des Lynham was the wrong presenter as he does football although have to say, he did have a good crack at it, but he felt wrong to me.I miss O Hehir’s croak or maybe it was another Irish commentator who had a croaky nervy voice who took over from the main one and seemed to up the atmosphere.
I thought the Irish guy yesterday on ITV who questioned the crowd, was quite good and added energy and expectation in good measure.
It is difficult for me to compare the two meetings now as I have turned into a racing fraud – I used to enjoy both but Aintree more just because of the Grand National and it always used to be cucumber and salmon sandwiches.
I really like the Thursday at Aintree and if I ever went again it would be on the Thursday same as in 1986.
I wouldn’t ever go to the Cheltenham Festival, but I enjoy every day of it at home.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Cheeza in Liverpool …. The mind boggles , imagine he,s casually waking across Stanley park …
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
Though there was no racing that day, when in the area on other business in subsequent years, Chezza actually drove down the Melling Road and across the track on the approach to the first and again after three out.
“Wow!” thought Chezza. “That was surreal and kinda cool.”
And then Chezza turned the car around at the next roundabout and went back and crossed the track again going the other way!
Chezza recommends it.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"It’s been to Aintree’s benefit that they’ve not followed Cheltenham with the fourth day but this has been negated by the rise and rise in status of Punchestown, and to a lesser extent by the increasing number of valuable targets at the Fairyhouse Grand National meeting. However, they really did get a cracking Thursday card this time round.
Jockey Club racecourses have done a commendable job developing the place considering how run down it was in the Bill Davies years,though I did love the more relaxed atmosphere when you’d get 4,000 on the Thursday, and 6,000 on the Friday. As for the Saturday, well I went Rummy’s third, then Ben Nevis 3 years later, then a ten year gap to Mr Frisk, but went to nearly all in the first decade of the noughties. Last time was Aurora’s Encore when I went with a pal whose a lifelong fan but had never been on the Saturday before despite living most of his life only a mile away – he left underwhelmed by it all.
I might add that I find Becher day most enjoyable. Roomy, relaxed, no boneheads, and a proper wintery jumping day with hardly any proper daylight.
From a race going viewpoint,definitely not.
They made a pigs ear of the new winners enclosure by putting it as far away from the main stands as possible and by blocking access with the horse walk so you have to choose between watching the race or seeing the winner in.I paid my first visit to Aintree on Thursday (probably overdid it by driving from London and back on the day) and thoroughly enjoyed it. The quality of the racing (4 Class 1 races) was probably better overall than any day at Cheltenham but the atmosphere was not as good in my opinion.
The main issue Aintree has is the proximity of Punchestown, even closer this year due to Easter. With so many of the best jumpers now trained in Ireland, a lot are understandably trained for Punchestown instead.
But there is still quality at Aintree. Consider the Thursday card this year:
Manifesto Chase: featured the winner of the Turners (and the horse that would have won it).
Bowl: Would have had the King George winner/Gold Cup runner up but for a legal technicality. But was still won by a multiple Grade 1 winner and featured last year’s Gold Cup winner.
Aintree Hurdle: Saw the latest performance by the best Champion Hurdle winner for years.
That is not bad for quality.
The Friday saw the best novice staying chaser (which should have won at Cheltenham) and the winner of the Albert Bartlett. The handicaps were all competitive.
Saturday saw an admittedly weak Grade 1 for the Maghull Chase but the winner is a top class horse. It is not his fault his only defeats have been to a superstar and another potential top notcher.
The Liverpool Hurdle had the first and second from the Stayers Hurdle, with the winner of the Stayers in 21 and 22 in opposition plus several other festival winners.
The novice hurdles throughout the three days suffered a little bit due to the top Irish horses staying at home. But by and large there was still a lot of quality on display.
Three days for a jumps festival is just right. And if there were more top class jumpers trained in Britain, Aintree would be even better.
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