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It is somewhat ironic that the one time I might have enjoyed being at the Cheltenham Festival I can’t be there.
I detest crowds and a “Behind Closed Doors except for Ian Davies” policy would have been just the ticket and might even have persuaded me to attend.
As previously stated, I enjoyed watching yesterday’s coverage in mute button-inspired golden silence yesterday.
And I look forward to NOT having the very sound of any of the ITV Racing team’s voices inflicted upon me again today!
Impressive winners of three Grade 1s yesterday – the visual beats the audio in racing every time and the horses beat the people in racing every time.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I have always found the Champion Hurdle one of the hardest challenges Cheltenham has to offer and as a betting poroposition much prefer the Stayers. Not so yesterday and my three slotted in perfectly into history. I am a small staker these days, small and safe.
Mr Davies Sir, I would never use the word curmudgeon about a man of your relative youth, but I do believe the mountains of Nepal are beckoning you for your first 60 day silence retreat. You’ll find many muters silently mumbling away in their minds in absolute bliss under the forest canopy with the latest earplugs easily drowning out the cawing of the distracting birds of paradise….
Although solitary silence has been practised by most religions throughout history, the modern silent retreat – especially in America and here in the UK – has its roots in the Vipassana Movement (aka the Insight Meditation Movement) which originated in the 1950s in Burma and spread through American Buddhist teachers. Vipassana is also the basis of modern mindfulness and forest bathing, both elements of a silent retreat.
If you are new to silent retreats, you may at first notice the ceaseless chatter of your ‘monkey mind’, the Buddhist expression to describe our restless thoughts. Once you have moved through all the noise in your head, and the feelings you may have been trying hard to bury, you will (hopefully) reach a state of peace and enlightenment. Then you can truly relax and enjoy your muted surroundings. ITV with the sound off is the cheaper option for reaching that bliss.
These Novice events have been appalling. Small fields, short prices sauntering in. Doesn’t do much for me at all.
BUY THE SUN
Well…there’s last “padding” in the fields and maybe the good horses are just getting a cleaner run rather than having to weave through social runners.
Not enough good horses to go round and it was going to happen sometime
Cheltenham is set to be a combination of 1/6 winners in fields of 3 and “laid out” 80/1 shots ?
That was excellent. The meeting needed that. You don’t get excitement like that in 6-7 runner fields. Makes all the difference, IMO. Nice to hear Ruby Walsh eating humble pie after droning on about sending an Arkle winner to the Mares Chase all winter and spring.
BUY THE SUN
I am anything but appalled by horses of the quality of Appreciate It, Shishkin, Bob Olinger and Monkfish.
I enjoyed seeing all four win.
I enjoyed the Champion Chase, too, but the 7lb mares’ allowance is a gift as Honeysuckle demonstrated yesterday and Put The Kettle on confirmed today.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Having watched Dan Skelton being interviewed yesterday, I was please to hear him say that he thought Cheltenham was pretty crap without crowds. He basically said that a winner at Festival coming in to huge cheers is validation of one’s entire work as a trainer.
It was nice to hear someone veer away from the “Aren’t we lucky just to have the meeting”, “it’s still all tremendous” narrative.
I have to say, I’m finding a difficult watch. The horses are wonderful, but – a bit like watching a Premiership football match at the moment – it all just feels like a soulless exercise in technical excellence.
Mike
You’re not the only one Ian.
Whilst I used to love the big festivals for the racing, the crowds really spoiled the days.
I was the one who wanted to see the runners in the parade ring (the majority of my betting was based on parade ring inspections) before finding my vantage point to watch the race.
At Cheltenham it was nigh on impossible to do both (on Gold Cup Day it actually was impossible because it was so densely packed)
Royal Ascot Saturday – Lads Day – eventually turned out to be just as bad.
The deafening silence is a bit strange, but we’ve had plenty of time to get used to strange over this last year; so Chelters resounding to a level of decibels one would expect at a Southwell midweek meet in January doesn’t really bother me
Pounding hooves, the crackle of pummelled birch, the sonorous blow and wheeze from horses’ airways, jockeys oohing and aahing, and a non-hysterical race caller satisfies: and jolly nice sounds they are too
Hexham four-miler tomorrow; oh to be up there with only a stiff noreasterly for company
I have to say that was a superb days racing today.
But Tiger Roll would have got some reception if there had been a crowd there.
Hexham four-miler tomorrow; oh to be up there with only a stiff noreasterly for company
Absolutely – a day at a, so called, gaff track was always my favourite racing day out.
Basic facilities, proper racing fans and each track with it’s own features and quirks.
With Hexham it was the very basic facilities, stunning views and, as you suggest the hurricane (and it invariably rained) plus a chip butty from the wagon.
Hexham remains one of the most beautifully unspoilt NH circuits in the UK, virtually unchanged since my first visit in 1977.
Special features: natural wings on the fences, yellow guard rails on fences and hurdles.
I always find it an immensely comforting sight – even on TV.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"
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