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This is all subjective, and part of it is the pocket talking, but
Best ride – Ruby Walsh on Big Buck’s. He lost the whip, but he still won well, pure hands’n’heels
Best race – Gold Cup, a thrill a minute, a new champion crowned, and the old masters showing they can still run a blinder
Best ‘personal’ moment – Hurricane Fly winning the Champion Hurdle. Who said he couldn’t get up the hill?
BlueSky @pghenn.bsky.social
So don't run, just like the others always do
Had several great moments from a punting perspective but I was delighted to see Askthemaster with young Philip Enright in the saddle run a stormer to finish second in the Grand Annual. Given the awful tragedy that the Tyners endured last month, it was great to see the horse run with such credit in Jack Tyner’s memory.
Blimey, so many to choose from when I think for a bit, so I’ll pick out a scene that will live with me for a very long time.
Kauto, Denman and the young pretender, Long Run, in the air together at the second last. It was poetry.
Lots of standout moments on the track and in the ring but the thought that will stick with me the longest is watching the Parade of Heroes on Tuesday. To see those great horses, most of which have been previously backed, all in the ring at the same time was fantastic.
Those horses loved returning to Cheltenham and it seemed to me that everyone of them knew where they were and were glad to be back. To see them fizzing and buzzing enjoying themselves and basking in the atmosphere was a pleasure, hopefully that memory will stay with me a long time.The entire crowd in my bookmakers laughing as one when Baby Run tipped up.
We’d all backed him, we’d all had terrible weeks on the betting front & that just put the tin hat on it.
The racing itself, Kauto Star & Denman brushing off talk of retirement. And considering I don’t really like the hurdles as much as chases, the finish to the County Hurdle yesterday was terrific.
It was all wonderful to watch, my only real disappointment being Celestial Halo not running in the World Hurdle. That would’ve been interesting.
Cracking festival. Backed 8 winners and still finished slightly down….
The marque races were all great spectacles but the Gold Cup especially brilliant.
My personal favourites:
My mate and I had £15 to win almost three grand ante post on Cockney Trucker in the County Hurdle. What a great run it gave us; in front at the last…..
Oiseau de Nuit at 50-1 was among the three backed in the last to get me out of jail on the final day. The jockeys face was what Cheltenham is all about. Well done to him.
Every year I fear the Festival won’t live up to expectations. Every year I realise by Friday I had nothing to worry about.
Highlights? Being there for the roar on Tuesday. Being there for First Lieutenant – my biggest winner of the week – on Wednesday. Bumping into loads and loads of old mates, many of whom I won’t see for about 12 months.
Two major helpings of humble pie for me with the victories of Hurricane Fly and Long Run. Both great winners with more to come.
But the single highlight for me was the Gold Cup. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing up as Kauto and Denman came down the hill together and I was shaking like a leaf as they and Long Run came to the second last. And I was only watching on TV.
So many people ask me at the end of the week: "How did you do?" meaning, did you finish up or down financially. I have great difficulty explaining that it doesn’t matter.
I finished this Festival slightly down – but enjoyed it as much as, if not more than, some when I’ve won bundles.
Ah well. I make it 360 days to go…
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Two personal highlights were Buena Vista, who just galloped and jumped his rivals silly, and Bensalem, whose return from death’s door to Festival glory was quite remarkable.
I have to say my only very minor gripe about the festival was just failing to land an £5 e/w treble on Al Ferof, Captain Chris and Oscar Whisky…
Would have got me just over four and half grand when I dared to work oout later on that evening…. If Geraghty hadn’t given the horse every chance with a perfect ride I’d have been slightly more disappointed! The £160 compensation didn’t hang around!In terms of pocket talk the undeniable highlight for me was not deserting Sizing Europe. 16-1 Ante Post and 10-1 on the day made my Festival.
In terms of a spectacle there were so many highlights but two to remember were Buena Vista running them ragged from the front and the moment when Denman came to take Kauto only for Long Run to take them both.
Probably missed some out.
(1) Sizing Europe’s jumping exhibition.
(2) Alberta’s Run’s determination.
(3) Sir Des Champs winning from an impossible position.
(4) Final Approach making sure the gamble on Get Me Out Of Here went astray.
(5) The ride of Tom Scudamore on Grands Crus.Didnt really enjoy this year as much as last!! Made a little prfit over the week but not what I was hoping for!! I had so many seconds and thirds it was unreal.
I was totally dejected after Peddlers just failed to get the job done so that set the tone of the meeting for me!! I was delighted with Sizing Europe my biggest winner and a favourite horse of mine.
I didnt enjoy the Gold Cup as race. I really fancied IC to get the job done again, couldnt believe he fizzled out so bad after going well up until his mistake. Never been a fan of Long Run and never will be nor are the Waley Cohans my cup of tea either!! Well done to them though!!
Big Bucks was great also, surely the easiest forecast to get up ever!!
Delighted for Ruby, what a jockey!! A great week for the Irish too!!
Where do i start?
Had the week off work, as usual – watched on TV except for thursday when we attended at Cheltenham.
Al ferof in the Supreme – it always feels so good to get the winner in the 1st.
Hurricane Fly in the CH, after i’d doubted him – watching Quevega compete ‘on the gallops’! Well, that’s what it seemed like – a steering job for Ruby. That completed a double (with HF).
Not many on wednesday for me personally, but Sizing Europe was pretty classy.
Thursday – being there. One gripe – price of drink and food – disgusting rip-off really – it reminded me why we haven’t been for a few years.
The racing was superb on Thursday.
AP winning the 1st – always nice to see him on the ‘scoreboard’ to silence his ‘knockers’ – unbelievable that after all these years there are those who continue to knock him – most of ’em couldn’t sit tight on a rocking horse!
Albertas Run – the value bet of the day IMO with the sun beating down.
Big Bucks – awesome!
Junior in the last – a typical Pipe-plot job.
Friday – major ante-post gamble landed by me on Zarkandar in the 1st – looks classy – worth an early e/w punt for next year’s CH, maybe?
The Gold Cup – although IC’s failure cost me a double (with Big Bucks) and a treble (BB and Quevega) – those last couple of fences with Denman, Kauto and Long Run together was truly memorable.Overall i had 7 winners and 2 big priced e/w pick ups – total winnings of £645 – net gain of £425. doesn’t seem much with all those winners but i’m only a tenner a race guy.
got to be the gold cup, although the oldies didn;t win what a race they ran, the roar from teh crowd was amazing
vf
Nap moment was Kauto, three or four out, shades of how he used to be, everything around him starting to work and he was still on the bridle jumping like a stag. I was filling up…but alas, those legs have a year or two too many in the joints. Still, it made you feel glad to be alive for a few brief moments. Let’s hope PN makes the right decision and takes him on the Heroes Tour for the next ten years, the new Dessie.
NB, Kumbeshwar in the Fred Winter. For two miles, three and three quarter furlongs, Alan King’s dual Southwell winner, carrying a crushing topweight led them all a merry dance, up hill and down dale. One by one they came at him. One by one they failed. Over twenty horses tried to get the strapping, wholehearted, Kumbeshwar off the lead and his incredibly gallant effort nearly succeeded, failing only in the very last strides, in the shadow of the jamstick, to an unexposed fourth run punt horse. I know which one I will remember as the winner from this race.
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Nap moment was Kauto, three or four out, shades of how he used to be, everything around him starting to work and he was still on the bridle jumping like a stag. I was filling up…but alas, those legs have a year or two too many in the joints. Still, it made you feel glad to be alive for a few brief moments. Let’s hope PN makes the right decision and takes him on the Heroes Tour for the next ten years, the new Dessie.
Coincidentally, I’ve just posted a near duplicate of these fine sentiments on the "noseband" thread, Max. [Great?] minds thinking alike! Anyway, it’s my Cheltenham Moment too. Next Best was Grand Crus with his head down, going bald-headed at Big Bucks, if only for a stride or four. Stirring stuff indeed.
Would have got me just over four and half grand when I dared to work oout later on that evening…. If Geraghty hadn’t given the horse every chance with a perfect ride I’d have been slightly more disappointed! The £160 compensation didn’t hang around!
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