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I read that "Cheltenham – Them and Us’ a year or more ago. It was very disappointing. It never addresses the point of the title. There are lots of storeis about the Irish at Cheltenham but it utterly failed to convey any of the atmosphere, the crack and it had nothing to say about the ‘them and us’ factor. <br>It has been revised and updated this year so maybe the new edition is better.
2 weeks to go …
I’m Irish. I’m going to Cheltenham again this year.<br>I don’t find the question insulting at all. It is a topic I have often discussed.
Almost all Irish punters know that backing Irish horses exclusively is the road to ruin but there will be races in which a lot of us will allow nationality to decide the issue.
Sometimes it is clear that our horses are not up to the mark but if we feel we have one good enough there is a massive and sometimes overwhelming temptation to back it.
There is a huge them and us thing about Cheltenham. An Irish winner is ten times the crack and to really get the value of it you have to back it. I’m not talking monetary value.
Of course, these Irish horses are ones we are familiar with, may have won money on in the past and are the talking horses amongst the Irish at Cheltenham.
There is a truth in the assertion that Irish Punters at Cheltenham are blinkered. Of course there are those whose only interest is the betting and the money but for most of us there is much more to Cheltenham than that.
Istabraq has apparently been well backed today. He is in to 7/4 with Hills, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power. There is still 2/1 available.
I reckon 2/1 is a great price. There is no way he will be anything like those odds if he lines up on the day. The price now is based on the fear that they may not run him.
I know his one run this season wasn’t very impressive but he was hardly 100% fit for it. I know he fell twice last year. I know he is now 10 – old for a Champion hurdler. But if he is fit (and we can trust Aidan O’Brien on that one) and he has retained anything like the ability he has shown in past Champion hurdles then against the opposition he is likely to face 2/1 is a mad price.
I am looking forward to roaring him home again on March 12th.
