IT’S CHRISTMAS AND DISNEYLAND ROLLED INTO ONE...LOVE IT!
Owner Willie Mullins, racegoers and Richard Johnson with 2018 Gold Cup FOR the easily offended, please look away now – I’m about to drop the C-bomb.
Yes, Cheltenham is almost upon us, and soon you’ll have heard that word so many times that it no longer makes sense.
And, actually, next week, it does change its meaning.
Come Tuesday, ‘Cheltenham’ won’t simply describe a small town in the south west, or a horseracing festival, it will become a byword for a state of mind, an experience, a buzz. As an Irishman, the Cheltenham pilgrimage is like our Mecca, but busier. We descend on Bristol and Birmingham airports in our droves, pockets full of fivers, head full of tips.
If you’ve never been, it’s like Christmas for adults. Disneyland for those who have grown out of cartoon characters – depending on your favourite trainer. From the moment you arrive, you can feel the buzz.
The constant soundtrack of excited chatter as whispers go round about this dark horse or that. The smell and taste of the black stuff, which appears to be drunk almost universally, apart from the odd bottle of fizz for the poshos and winners.
Everyone dressed up to the nines, including more elaborate headwear than a bald man’s wardrobe.
On Tuesday, I like to get to the Festival as early as possible and just soak it all up. That morning will be a constant build up of excitement until the first race sets off at 1.30pm – accompanied by the world famous Cheltenham roar.
God, it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
It’s not just a few horses having a race. It’s the best horses around, from the best trainers and best stables. It’s the pinnacle of jumps racing – our World Cup and Olympics rolled into one. It’s Ireland vs England, Mullins vs Elliott, Ruby vs history.
You can see why Day One is such a big day in the calendar.
But, much like a Gold Cup winner, it’s important to pace yourself – the Festival is four days long, after all. Else you’ll end up missing the famous race.
For me, that means dissolvable Vitamin C tablets morning and night, and sticking to a plan of which horses I do and don’t want to back.
This year, I’ll need to be especially disciplined, as the Festival rolls straight into another huge sporting event in the south west of the UK – with Ireland visiting Wales in the Six Nations.
Win that one, and we’re probably back in contention for the Championship – which really would be the perfect end to Cheltenham week. If you aren’t sick of armchair pundits making bold calls yet, actual jockey Ruby Walsh has been talking up the chances of Laurina (7/2) in the fiercely competitive Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.