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I am planning on going, all being well.
It will probably be my last match until the spring. I don’t like going there in the cold and dark. I prefer to stay inside and watch the good National Hunt racing during the winter.
We could do with a win. Hammered 3-0 by Darlington, knocked out of the FA Cup and only just above the relegation zone.
“I suspect up to and including the Houses of Parliament”.
No question about it. In fact I reckon it is 1.01 on Betfair that drug use in that cesspit is far higher than average.
“A boozed-up and charlied-up crowd”.
It is probably more to do with the latter.
I have considered going to the festival for a day but the cost of transport, the ticket and other expenses means it is not worth it (especially as the view of the racing at Cheltenham is not that good). And being stuck on a train with a noisy crowd is too much to face, especially on the way back after they have sunk a few £7.80 pints.
I went to Hexham on the Cheltenham Thursday this year. It took about the same amount of time, the train fares were cheaper, admission was far cheaper and the coked up crowd were absent. An altogether far more enjoyable day out.
I suppose I am lucky having Aintree just down the road and can go there on the Thursday for a fraction of the cost of a day at Cheltenham.
On the “Sporting Life” article, I agree with the comments about the Mares Hurdle. It should either have a ratings limit or be moved to the April meeting.
I enjoyed the opening day this year from a punting perspective. But there is no getting away from the day being an underwhelming spectacle, largely because of Lossiemouth’s procession 40 minutes after the race she should have run in. Racegoers were denied a clash, so who can blame them for staying away?
As for Ed Chamberlin, I agree with his comment “‘We have to stop that first contact being ‘let me search your bag and take your picnic away'”. That is a problem on other racecourses as well.
However, I am not sure about “From the Jockey Club’s point of view they have to pack it out again”. Isn’t that a large factor in why some racegoers are staying away because the prospect of being packed in with a boozed up crowd makes zero appeal?
“‘We all know what’s wrong with Cheltenham – it’s just gone too expensive for ordinary punters to go there for a day’s racing,’ Mullins told Racing TV. ‘If they want to get people back it’s cost – it’s nothing to do with the horses that are running.'”
To paraphrase the great Mandy Rice Davies “He would say that, wouldn’t he?” 😉
The four day Cheltenham festival with its diluted established races and additional contests suits someone with dozens of runners and plenty of owners to keep happy. I can see why someone who has trained over 100 winners doesn’t want any changes.
I don’t quite agree with him about price. The cost of a day at Cheltenham is not out of line with other top sporting events, or with concerts etc. Nor is £7.80 for a pint of Guinness,unfortunately.
What is a problem (as identified by some of the contributors to the “Sporting Life” article) is the cost of accommodation, transport etc. But I am not sure what Cheltenham can realistically do about it.
Even though attendance was down this year, the size of the crowd still puts off plenty of people. A lot of racegoers are put off by having to struggle to get around, nowhere to sit etc. At least at football and cricket, spectators have a seat and it is a more comfortable experience.
I think a lot of older racegoers have given up on the festival and prefer to go to smaller meetings. Even though the racing is not as good, it is in a more pleasant atmosphere.
The Gredleys had the winners of a Group 2 and a juvenile hurdle today. I don’t suppose too many owners can say they have done that on the same afternoon.
At least you still have Division One cricket next season. Not so for Lancashire, as relegation is confirmed. 😥
No one can have any complaints. It has been dismal all season.
I am surprised Lake Victoria is still as big as 4/1 with Hills. Presumably they must have a doubt about her stamina but I doubt that will be an issue.
I expect so, HDLG. But one of the main reasons given for reducing the distance has now gone.
I can understand them tinkering with the race conditions again. Since the reduction in distance, the race has not really worked. It is like another Brown Advisory over half a mile further. This years winner should have been in the three mile race but JP already had one lined up.
I wouldn’t have been opposed to them scrapping the race. I wonder how many people had already headed for the exit before this year’s running?
Now professional jockeys are in the National Hunt Chase, why not move it back to 4 miles? It would differentiate it a bit more from the other races.
No I’m not HDLG but it is undeniable that all governments pull the “it was the previous government’s fault” out of the bag. There is only so long they can get away with that one, assuming they get away with it at all.
As for Starmer squeezing people, it was his choice to take away the winter fuel allowance. It is only a small saving in the greater scheme of things. Lots of people in his own party are not pleased about it, largely because he could easily have found that saving somewhere else.
And no matter how they try to spin the situation, it is a very poor look for a Labour Prime Minister to be taking away what is an important benefit for some people while he is accepting free clothes and football tickets and his wife is receiving expensive dresses and free tickets for Taylor Swift concerts (twice). It looks crass and arrogant and the excuse that all politicians do it doesn’t make it right.
“Shipstones, Home Ales and Hardys & Hansons of blessed memory”.
The Shipstones Brewery has been revived. I had a pint of one of their offerings in the Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem in Nottingham a few years ago.
Hardys & Hansons was another brewery bought and closed by the hated Greene King. The Bury St Edmunds brewer has started brewing Kimberley Bitter again, which is available in one of my local pubs. It is OK and only about £3.40 a pint but I do not know if it tastes anything like the original.
Someone must have had £20 on. 😉
You don’t seriously believe that “black hole” argument, do you? All governments try to pull that trick. The Coalition government tried it on, claiming they had been left a note saying there was no money left.
I don’t believe a word any of these liars have to say, no matter what colour rosette they are wearing.
Michael Gove has been appointed editor of “The Spectator”. Another reason to not read it.
I knew it had just been bought, so I suppose the new owner wanted his own man in place.
At least Gove does have journalistic experience, unlike George Osborne when he was made editor of the “Evening Standard”.
There are quite a few pubs in Liverpool that still sell beer in handled glasses. My local even asks you what sort of glass you want.
I am not particularly fussy but I have heard bar staff do not like handled glasses because they are more difficult to collect and wash.
“Drink consumed in pubs should be taxed at a lower rate.”
It should be. Plenty of people in the licenced trade have been campaigning about it for years but it has never got anywhere. The Treasury just sees pubs as places to be taxed.
“Surely be best to have the glass a bit bigger with a mark on the glass to measure the pint?”
The occasional pub does serve beer in lined glasses.”The Plough” near Doncaster station is the last one I found (beer drinkers considering heading to Doncaster races take note).
Unfortunately it suits the trade to serve short measures so they can squeeze one or two more pints out of each barrel.
I would prefer a lined glasses but they are not popular with some drinkers. They are larger and not everyone finds them easy to hold.
“Even the Mail admitted in its article that the Government says that it is ‘categorically untrue’ that it is being considered.”
First rule of politics: never believe something until it has been officially denied. 😉
