Cheltenham Festival.

Funny thing is the event is advance ticketing and you could sell the tickets twice over. In addition, probably 50% of the crowd have travelled from Ireland by Ferry ( or private jet if you are JP) to get there.

Cheltenham itself is a small rural town. It is still recovering from the last visit by no2son.

I understand its 80 quid, just to get into the gate!
If you consider what we could get for 80 quid to go racing, you could have a 5 star meal and a R1,000 pick 6, makes you think?

scotia Wrote:

---

> Harchibald to run at Dundalk on Friday
>
>
> HARCHIBALD is set to complete his preparations for
> the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle with a run at
> Dundalk on Friday night.
>
> The enigmatic ten-year-old has been off the track
> since winning the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on
> Boxing Day, as he requires good ground.
>
> Trainer Noel Meade has used the tactic of
> switching the horse to the all-weather on a number
> of occasions in the past, notably when he won the
> corresponding 1m4f contest 12 months ago.
>
> "I think he probably will run in Dundalk and then
> we will see what happens with the ground regarding
> Cheltenham after that," said Meade.
>
> "He's fairly straight now but I think another run
> would have him very sharp for Cheltenham. It's
> worked well with him before so we will have to
> see."
>
> Meade also gave an update on some of his
> otherCheltenham festival candiadtes.
>
> "Jered will work after racing and we will probably
> work a few others as well and see where we go from
> there," he added.
>
> "Casey Jones could go to Cheltenham for the
> RSAChase and Parsons Pistol might go in the
> four-miler."


harchibald out of dundalk 2morrow

zoro Wrote:

---

> Strange i remembered our tracks and stands being
> that popular on a regular basis,how do they manage
> to keep it up especially when so many are on the
> dole???


Cheltenham Racecourse managing director Edward Gillespie says the Festival will stand up well to the present economic situation despite predictions

Ticket sales are on course to break the 200,000 barrier for the four-day event, which starts on Tuesday 10 March.

"We'd expect to be somewhere between 200-230,000 when it comes to the event," Gillespie told BBC Points West.

"We're being realistic but we're trying to deliver an event that feels more upbeat than the rest of the economy."

There have also been concerns that the economic climate would hit the atmosphere at Prestbury Park with the numbers of Irish visitors expected to drop.


But Gillespie is confident the 2009 event will lose none of its colour and character, with tickets for Thursday's Gold Cup selling fast.

He added: "The Irish are telling us there may be a 15% drop, with people coming over for slightly less time.

"But if the number coming over from Ireland goes down from 7,500 to 7,000, you won't see the difference.

"It'll still feel very Irish and I'm sure they'll still take plenty of money home with them, not only from betting, but also from the prize money.



Gillespie also dismissed claims from Racecourse Association chairman David Thorpe that sponsorship in the sport could fall by 40% in 2009.

"I don't recognise the figure from David Thorpe on a potential drop and I am wary of people putting out those figures," he said.

"I have been very pleased with the way we have been supported by sponsors, both long-term and new ones."

MORLEY STREET, winner of four Aintree Hurdles, died on Thursday at the age of 25.

The feted hurdler also won the 1991 Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in an illustrious career that took him across the Atlantic, where he won two Breeders' Cup Chases, races which his trainer Toby Balding singled out as highlights.

Balding said: "He was without a doubt the most versatile horse that I trained. He was a bleeder throughout his career which makes his achievements all the more amazing. His record speaks for itself, two Breeders' Cup Chases and Champion Hurdle, four Aintree Hurdles and five wins at Aintree in total."

In total, Morley Street raced 45 times, winning 20 times and amassing £589,589 in win and place prize-money.

This one caught the eye yesterday, had a couple of mistakes, but showed good courage to come back, worth a punt at 16/20? to one!

Newbury win qualifies Limerick for Foxhunter


LIMERICK BOY survived two serious jumping errors, and an incident at the fourth fence, to win the hunters' chase at Newbury on Friday and qualify himself for the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.



Will Biddick settled the 10-11 favourite, who holds entries in the William Hill Trophy and Festival Plate, in mid division thus escaping the two horse pile up after the third fence at the rear of the field.



Oblivious to that scare the 11-year-old made a mistake of his own a few fences later and walked through the third last but remained on his feet and responded to a scalding from Biddick to draw away from Distant Thunder after the last.

Aside from his Foxhunter Chase target the Favourites Racing-owned winner has been entered in the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan.

Click here to buy the new Racing Post book - Cheltenham 2009, the ultimate guide to winning at the Festival

Denman's part-owner Harry Findlay has admitted significant doubts about his horse's chances of lifting the Cheltenham Gold Cup again.

The well-known professional gambler, who was speaking at a Festival preview at Exeter racecourse, believes the stunning defeat of stablemates Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges last March may have taken its toll.

"On the day at Cheltenham, when Denman turned for home he was gone. When Denman jumped the last he was completely gone. I think he was a gone horse well before the last," he said.

"Because of what happened, I said within 24 hours of the race Neptune Collonges was the value each-way this year. Top sporting events, be they equine, canine or human, leave big scars.

"I don't think we'll see the real Denman again. I hope we do and he is in the greatest hands you could possibly have, but if I was betting on it, I don't think he's a certainty to run."

Reflecting on Denman's long-awaited reappearance, when he was well beaten by Madison Du Berlais, he added: "The race at Kempton was the last piece of the jigsaw.

"But once a horse has won a Gold Cup and had a heart problem - Paul (Nicholls) said two months before the start of the season he couldn't move. He took two and a half months to get over it. We all know what we saw (at Kempton)."

Nicholls, who was also on the expert panel, added: "For the first time this morning (Thursday), Denman really sparkled. I was going to take him for a racecourse gallop, but I don't think there's a need to now.

"Kauto Star is a brilliant workhorse, Denman isn't. Paul (Barber, Denman's other part-owner) is keen to run and the way it is at the moment, there's no reason not to."

Rain forecast but going unchanged for festival


DESPITE another dry day on Saturday, Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse reported the official going unchanged at good to soft, good in places and said he would wait until after Tuesday to make a decision about watering.

Between 12mm and 20mm of rain is expected between Tuesday and Wednesday but the forecast is predominately dry until then and Claisse's decision will depend on what end of that scale lands on the course in those 24 hours.

"The forecast remains mostly dry until Tuesday," he said. "As such, until Tuesday has been and gone it would be premature doing something regarding watering as there is a strong possibility of between 12mm and 20mm of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. Unless that picture changes we won't be making any decisions until then."

According to the Met Office that is unlikely as, once Tuesday's rain has fallen, a minor cold snap is forecast bringing with it mild frosts and only light, wintry showers for the remainder of the week.

A spokesman said: "After Tuesday's expected heavy rain the weather will take a turn on the cold side. Overnight temperatures could getdown to minus one or two producing some light frosts. We may also see a little sleet or snow, but on the whole it won't be terribly wet."

Going at time of first race

Blue Square: 4-11 good to soft, 3-1 good, 6-1 soft, 50-1 heavy, 200-1 good to firm, 1000-1 firm

Secret's out as Sicilian new Bumper favourite

SICILIAN SECRET shot to the head of the market for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper on Sunday after seriously impressing work-watchers at Leopardstown.

Ridden by trainer Willie Mullins' sonPatrick, Sicilian Secret came back five lengths in front of stablemates Quel Esprit (Ruby Walsh), Meath All Star (Paul Townend) and Not For Converting (David Casey), after an exercise over about a mile and a half that developed into a sprint over the last two furlongs.


Sicilian Secret was slashed to 4-1 (from 13-2) by William Hill. Boylesports and Blue Square also quote that price, with former joint favourite Dunguib relegated to general 7-1 second favourite.

In a separate spin, Mullins worked another four Cheltenham Bumper possibles, with Gagewell Flyer (Ruby Walsh) and Cranky Corner (David Casey) finishing upsides, ahead of Cadspeed (Patrick Mullins) and Glenlo Abbey (Paul Townend).

Mullins, who has won the Champion Bumper six times, said: "I was pleased enough with the two sets of bumper horses, but I'd have to say Sicilian Secret appeared to work the best.

"There are a few others at home we didn't bring that are still in the mix. How many will run and who will ride them are decisions for next weekend, but Katie Walsh will be on Morning Supreme."

Fiveforthree, winner of last year's Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle but unraced this term, led home a quintet of Mullins-trained hurdlers, finishing in front of Persian City and Williamhill.com Supreme Novices' Hurdle candidate Kempes.

Mullins said: "Ruby rode Kempes and was happy with him. He was also happy with Cooldine, who goes for the RSA Chase, after he schooled over fences with five other chasers of ours, including Golden Silver, who goes for the Arkle. Paul [Townend]) is happy with him.

Denman session left us very positive - Nicholls


DENMAN left his connections in upbeat mood following a schooling session at Ditcheat on Monday morning.

Denman, watched by his joint-owners Paul Barber and Harry Findlay, jumped ten fences on grass in company with Dear Villez and Eurotrek and left trainer Paul Nicholls much happier than he had been after his previous school last Friday.



Nicholls said: "That was the first time Denman has schooled on grass here since his novice days. We stopped doing that after he used to tank off and behave a bit stupid.

"We normally jump him in the outdoor school, but he didn't please us in there on Friday morning; for some reason he doesn't seem to like it any more.

"But he jumped ten fences this morning and went really well - he was full of enthusiasm. It left us very positive.

"That followed on from a good piece of work he did with What A Friend on Saturday morning, so it's onwards and upwards with him."

Denman's part-owner Harry Findlay is now also feeling much more optimistic about the nine-year-old's Cheltenham Gold Cup defence.

Denman, who suffered heart problems at the start of the season, made a less than a spectacular comeback when a distant second at Kempton last month and Findlay had expressed doubts last week that Denman would even line up at Cheltenham on Friday week, but his latest schooling session left him feeling much happier about his prospects.

"He worked well on Saturday morning on the all-weather gallop, but this morning was much more important as the plan was always to school him over the outdoor fences," said Findlay.

"I think lethargy as much as anything has been the problem with Denman, certainly with those first couple of fences at Kempton, so today was very important.

"Sam [Thomas] rode him and he worked with Dear Villez and Eurotrek, going over a couple of fences four or five times.

"He looked really enthusiastic, jumped very well and the last couple of times he seemed to have plenty of zip between the obstacles.

"The best thing about it for everyone was the enthusiasm he showed. He is a real character but he looked very happy this morning and barring any accident, he will be a runner in the Gold Cup.

"I am still concerned he might not be the same horse he was, to be honest. Last week he schooled in the indoor school and he really was very poor there.

"Just with all the vibes and knowing what it takes to get a top athlete to a top sporting event, last Thursday I made him decent odds-against to even run.

"But to be honest, I think he surprised Paul Nicholls this morning as well and Sam was more than happy with the work," Findlay told At The Races.

"We all spoke afterwards and we were happy to go with the green light.

"I'm not sure there is any value in his price even now, but someone said on Thursday, it's alwaysgood when a champion gets the chance to retain his crown and that now looks like being the case."

Morning All,

GreatOdds have priced up the Cheltenham Festival. Have a look through the full list of markets. Its extensive!

Cheers,

Attached files

NEPTUNE COLLONGES may have displaced Denman as second favourite for the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup but his owner John Hales has warned that last year's winner could still be a big danger next week.

Hales believes he has a "very good chance" of a first Gold Cup success on Friday week with his progressive chaser, who is 9-2 with Blue Square and Boylesports after his victory in last month's Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Stable companion Denman has drifted in the betting since his reappearance defeat at Kempton but Hales said: "I have the greatest respect for him. I thought last year's race was an exceptional Gold Cup and I thought Denman's performance was brilliant.

"The indication in the press is that Denman might not be able to perform to that level this year, but you don't know with him and you have got to remember when he had that race a few weeks ago he might have been well behind the horse that won, but he was still miles in front of the rest of them. He hasn't got to improve too much to be a real threat again.