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There have been numerous comments about the Cheltenham Festival this year falling a bit flat. With winners like My Way De Solzen, Kauto Star and Denman on ewonders what the problem is.
Perhaps it is due to the number of races of less than star quality. In days now gone the card revolved around true Championships with top class handicaps supporting. Now there are races you’d see any Saturday of the year (almost).
What do you think?
I think the ‘falling a bit flat’ bit voiced by some is in part due to Well Chief and BJK being, in effect, non-runners and possibly the plethora of winning ‘rags’. Other than that the Ryanair doesn’t sit comfortably and I don’t care for the Fred Winter, Jewson Novice or Brit Insurance Novice. Hey presto 21 races left or 7 on each of three days. Yep, in the cold light of day, three days is preferable though just at the moment it can’t go on long enough!
Edit: on second thoughts scrap the cross country thing and reinstate the Jewson in it’s former guise of the Cathcart.
(Edited by Drone at 5:20 pm on Mar. 16, 2007)
I think the whole set up of the festival is bang on.
Has been a bit of a disappointing festival for me though. Favourites falling and only really Denman showing any real star performance until the final day. The final day has been the best, three very impresive winners.
Scrap the cross-country, condense the Ballymore Poxhole and Brit Insurance into one race, and do the same with the Racing Post Plate and the Jewson, and you would have seven races on three days and a tighter, more sustained high for all concerned.
Agree with LD , 3 days not 4.<br>It only went to 4 out of commercial greed and some races are just "padders".<br>I wouldn’t miss the Fred Winter or cross country gimmick for a start.<br>I like the Ryanair for those horses which aren’t quick enough for the Champion but won’t stay the Gold Cup- good field this year (more strength in depth than the Gold Cup) and thrilling finish- my only gripe was the weight concession the second was forced to give the winner- best horse was second!
I would agree with Flash that the Ryanair should be a grade one, but I don’t really think there is much on the Thursday that would be missed other than the World Hurdle (and Ryanair of course)
3 days for me but they won’t change it back.
Im happy with 4 now
Much better for those attending first 3 days too. Im sure its that bit easier to get round (i was there tuesday)
Personally i quite like the cross country race (helps that i had the winner)<br>
I’m not a big fan of the Ryanair because of it we missed out on seeing Our Vic, Taranis, Monets Garden, Racing Demon,etc running in the Gold Cup. Speaking about Our Vic does anyone think he may have got close to Kauto Star today the way he stayed on up the hill yesterday.
Quote: from Danny on 7:40 pm on Mar. 16, 2007[br]I’m not a big fan of the Ryanair because of it we missed out on seeing Our Vic, Taranis, Monets Garden, Racing Demon,etc running in the Gold Cup. Speaking about Our Vic does anyone think he may have got close to Kauto Star today the way he stayed on up the hill yesterday.
The ones you mention are obviously considered non stayers at championship class over the Gold Cup distance.<br>What to make of Our Vic? Typically enigmatic, looking beaten before rallying and arguably unlucky having been impeded.
Much much much preferred the 3 days. 3 days of pretty much wall to wall quality rather than this diluted version we have now.
More horses now have multiple entries making AP punting even more treacherous.
Over 3 days they might have more chance of not knackering the turf too (admittedly, it seemed to stand up to it better than I thought it would).
Bah Humbug…
I would prefer a 3 day meeting, get rid of most of the new races apart from the 21f champion chase. I would prefer it to run Friday to Sunday.
I agree with the 3 day brigade. Wouldn’t Wichita Lineman have graced the Ballymore? Would you rather have seen Monets Garden, Old Vic and Taranis in the Gold Cup or, indeed, the Champion Chase?
However, now that the leap to 4 days has been made it’s long odds against a re-think I’m afraid.
I’ve been a fan of the concept since it was first discussed in the press and nothing that has happened this week has put me off.
Admittedly I watch it on TV with the exception of the odd day at the festival but I think we’ve hardly diluted the racing at all.
We’ve gone from 20 races to 24 so lets look at the new races.
The Cross Country was always going to be included. Popular with many – particularly Enda! – they have laid out the course and they are going to get value for money. Ideally I’d like to see a few more foreigners like the French and Czechs running in this race.
I was never a fan of just running one race for juveniles. The Triumph is too tough for many horses just under top class and I don’t see how they Fred Winter is any worse than running handicap hurdles or chasers for the older horses. This year we had 24 runners (with plenty ballotted out) with 10 rated over 125.
The Jewson Novices Handicap Chase is, in my opinion, the weakest of the new races but is always very competitive and with 19 runners rated over 131 it was surely a good betting heat.
The Ryanair is new but is really just a revamped and more valuable version of the Cathcart. It seems to do the job for the top class horses who aren’t going to stay the extreme trip of the Gold Cup.
The Brit Hurdle is a really good innovation for the staying novice hurdles. 3 furlongs more than the Ballymore Properties I thought the match between Wichita Lineman and Black Harry (glad he is Ok after his tumble) was really exciting.
It means that people get around more easily and so what if Cheltenham make some more money. If they have another 50,000 crowd this is good for their finances and those of racing plc.
Courses need the big attendances to provide the prizemoney and facilities we enjoy at the quieter times of the year.
Don’t forget the Festival has always evolved. Last century there were 4yo only chases and a selling hurdle!
I’m told moves are afoot to make it five days. I’m looking forward to the 4m selling hurdle.
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