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Hi,
Want to go to Cheltenham Festival and Grand National Day meeting this year!!
Could somebody help me decide which would be the best option for both meetings, enclosure wise? I would prefer to go on the Wednesday of Cheltenham as i have that day free, but could possibly swap to the Monday meeting.
My budget would be around £0-50 for tickets, which of course would be for the best available tickets in my price range.
I do drive, but i would most likely be having a drink, so im assuming the train would be the best option to both of the courses from Leicester?
Sorry this is quite early, but would like to book in advance whilst i can.
Thanks,
del_boyHi,
Want to go to Cheltenham Festival and Grand National Day meeting this year!!
Could somebody help me decide which would be the best option for both meetings, enclosure wise? I would prefer to go on the Wednesday of Cheltenham as i have that day free, but could possibly swap to the Monday meeting.
My budget would be around £0-50 for tickets, which of course would be for the best available tickets in my price range.
I do drive, but i would most likely be having a drink, so im assuming the train would be the best option to both of the courses from Leicester?
Sorry this is quite early, but would like to book in advance whilst i can.
Thanks,
del_boyWell the £50 limit would restrict you to Tatts for the first three days, or the Best Mate enclosure for any of the four days of Cheltenham. Booking for Gold Cup day is more or less essential.
For Grand National day you would be limited to Tatts (£48) or the Steeplechase Enclosure (£21) again advanc ebooking is essential.
The Best Mate and Steeplechase enclosures do not have parade ring access and the Steeplechase enclosure will offer little viewing of the Mildmay Course.
Cheltenham Station is 2 miles from the course, there is a shuttle bus but many find it quicker to walk.
For Aintree, Aintree station is immediately opposite the course but is, of course, very busy especially as cars are not encouraged at the National meeting.
You can find more info in my course reviews
http://www.ors-racing.co.uk/PDF/Cheltenham%20Final.pdf
http://www.ors-racing.co.uk/PDF/Aintree%20Finalx.pdf
Don’t know about Aintree but have been going to Cheltenham for a long time. The best enclosure is The Club enclosure but this will, as Paul has said, exceed your budget. Don’t really like tatts at Cheltenham. Depends if you want to go to parade ring and winners enclosure. If so it will have to be tatts. If you are not worried about that and just want to see the races the Best Mate enclosure isn’t bad at all. I have only been in it once and that was for the trials day meeting but you had quite a decent view and it is considerably cheaper. It will be packed though. As for train, going from Leicester you will have to change at Birmingham. I normally drive and I only went to a festival meeting once by train, two years ago. At Birmingham New Street on festival days they have a queueing system for Cheltenham trains. There is an absolutely huge queue (I’m talking about thousands)that snakes all the way out of the station. They just fill up each train as it comes in and the queue moves along. There is a good atmosphere on the train as most are going to the races and they do put extra trains on. You can generally buy tickets for the shuttle bus with your ticket or on the train, but they are expensive, around £8 from memory. When I went by train it was a fine day and I opted to walk. It wasn’t a bad walk and takes about 1/2 hour. There is a massive scrum for the bus and taxis.
Go to Cheltenham on Tuesday.
IMO Gold Cup Day (Chelt) and GN Day (Aintree) are horrific on course. Nearly as bad as JSC day at York.
Go to Cheltenham on Tuesday.
IMO Gold Cup Day (Chelt) and GN Day (Aintree) are horrific on course. Nearly as bad as JSC day at York.
Tuesday and Wednesday for me. The best racing, the best atmosphere.
Can’t wait. Every year that first sight of the course as we arrive through Southam. Sun bouncing off the cars, festival radio on, a Guinness, a toddy and a study of the placepot.
Two months away…
Can only talk about cheltenham. I’d say tatts is not worth it the stands are very small and viewing is poor. Club viewing is OK but it is usually too busy to move around to look in the parade ring, put a bet on and find a good viewing spot for each race. We have usually stayed in one place for all the races. So, if you’re not able to get to the parade ring why bother with club and in the last few years we have used best mate which is far cheaper and only marginally poorer viewing. Beware there is very little cover in best mate so if the forecast is wet bring the waterproofs and brolly.
Hi,
Thanks for replies on this. It seems tattersalls is very much disliked by a lot of people. So not sure what to do really.
Just want somewhere which has easy access to get a drink and something to eat, along with a reasonable viewing of both races, and possibly the parade ring.
Im not so bothered about bets, as i will have them put on at a bookmakers all at once, either on course or in town.
I am slightly put off on the idea of travelling by train now, so may look into something like national express.
Thanks,
del_boyTatts at cheltenham is a pain but more bearable on days other than GC (when i wouldnt recommend it at all)
I always go one day. Train is far better bet than car IMO too
Aintree ive been to once of the thurs and it left me a bit cold. More comfortable but nothing like the same atmosphere. Its a course and meeting that simply looks better on Tv whereas Cheltenham for all its faults (and the stands are bad) does have that awe inspiring sense of real occasion
Cheltenham on the Tuesday is simply the finest days racing anywhere in the world in my opinion.
I’ve been to all enclosures but as my mates are once a year racegoers who have a passing interest in the racing and a compelling interest in the bar, we usually just end up in Best Mate and I have to say it’s more than fine. Especially if you’ve got your bets on already so don’t mind the extra half a point or so shaving from the rails bookies.
We get into town early morning (staying over on the Monday night this year) and as such, while the trains are busy, they are breathable – unlike the peak time ones. They’re great fun though and if you do get there early, a pub crawl is a nice way to start the week
Traffic is horrendous so rather you than me if you decide to drive.
Aintree on Gand National day is good fun but doesn’t even compare – and forget about seeing much of the race. Sad to say but it is a far, far better spectacle on the television.
Lee
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