UK Horse Racing Tips

I don’t like being negative so I’m in two minds to write this article. I’m a lover of horse racing and frequently visit Great Yarmouth Racecourse. I know what you are saying: ‘Well, I see your problem already! You’ve been following the wrong code of racing from the start. How can the Flat compare with the National Hunt?’ I’ve been to a couple of National hunt meetings: Huntingdon & Fakenham. To be honest, I enjoyed the experience. Sadly, I’ve seen a couple of horses fatally injured. Nothing worse that hearing the sigh of the crowd, followed by the cheering on the winner and five minutes later a jockey walking back with a saddle but no horse. That’s not my reason for not wanting to go to the Cheltenham Festival.

Living in Cambridgeshire, a Fen Boy, it would take three or four hours to get to Prestbury Park, Gloucestershire. I guess I could get the train from March changing at Birmingham New Street and some 2 hours and 6 minutes later I’m at Cheltenham Spa. Standard return costs £105.10 or First Class at £275.20.

I could have got a day out with the Ship Inn public house in my home town which would have been a much cheaper alternative. Paul, the landlord, is a lovely man and generous. My brother and I have been with the groovy gang to Fakenham (the first time called off when we arrived after torrential rain and waterlogging), the second time I couldn’t attend but my brother, Tony, and cousin, Danny, had a great day out and returned in profit.

Cheltenham tickets range from £37 – £86 (Club Enclosure) so a pretty expensive affair if you want to go all four days.

£7.50 for a pint of Guinness. Yes, it’s probably a quid extra compared to Great Yarmouth. In fact, the entry to Ladies’ Day on the coastal track is a pretty similar price (£31).

I know what you’re saying: ‘It’s horses for courses.’

To be fair you are getting closer to my reason why the impossible is happening before your eyes that I would rather go to Great Yarmouth than The Cheltenham Festival. ‘The sea air must have addled his mind! A candyfloss laden with drugs. Perhaps the Puppet Man had a word in my shell.’

In reality, I can’t give the reason of travel times as an excuse. It takes an hour less to get to Cheltenham.

The problem I have with Cheltenham is that it’s one hell of a busy place. In fact, 65,000 people attend each day. I’m not sure how busy and cramped that seems but watching on TV I kind of think about a goldfish in a bowl. A small round bowl, without the gravel or castle. As the weather turns, I’m thinking where will I go to get out of the rain. Do I need a wax jacket, flat cap and Dunlop Wellington boots? Should I take a packed lunch? And will I ever get to the bar for my pint? And after a few pints, how long do I have to wait for the toilets?

I remember years ago I went on a bus from our local The Lord Nelson pub to Royal Ascot. I think that was Ladies Day. Honestly, that was one of the worst days I ever had at the races. It rained all day. Drenched to the skin. Huddled under cover for a short time like sardines in a can. If I could have clicked my fingers, I’d have been transported home. Instead we had some old coach take us home. An endless journey, starring out of a rainy window. Communities looking at us thinking we had been rescued from a sinking ship.

I’ve never been so happy to return home.

The thought of travelling to the Cheltenham Festival to be stuck in a giant crowd isn’t a good feeling. A sea of umbrella’s (I’d be one of the poor souls who didn’t bring theirs), squelching feet. Honestly, one loser would push me over the edge. I’d be crying into my Guinness which would be topped up with rain.

I’m sure if dressed for any weather, a luxury hotel down the road and some VIP experience I’d be singing to the rafters about my day(s) at Prestbury Park.

Give me a lovely summer’s day at Great Yarmouth, ideally mid-week when there’s hardly a crowd.

Sometimes you have to be against the crowd.

On this occasion I am.

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