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Cheltenham Trials Day.

Istabraq said:
Anyone going for the first time make a point of going to the Hall of Fame, some great memorabilia there.
And don't forget there won't be restrictions on going to the upper floors of the grandstand, you may not have a box or restraurant booking but the toilets are cleaner and less busy !
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I'll be sure to have a look thanks Ista
 
Festival Trials Day on the horizon at the Home of Jump Racing and Final Choice could run

Sunday, January 15, 2017 - Festival Trials Day takes place at Cheltenham on Saturday, January 28, and offers racegoers the final opportunity to experience racing at the Home of Jump Racing before The Festival (Tuesday, March 14 to Friday, March 17 inclusive).

A terrific eight-race programme on Festival Trials Day is headlined by the £100,000 G2 BetBright Trial Chase (2.15pm). Staged over three miles and a furlong, the BetBright Trial Chase is a leading trial for the G1 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup at The Festival.

Luminaries such as One Man, Master Oats, See More Business and Many Clouds all feature on the roll of honour. Outstanding King George VI Chase hero, the unbeaten novice chaser Thistlecrack (Colin Tizzard), is being aimed at the BetBright Trial Chase as he completes his preparation for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

BetBright is running a competition to win free tickets for Festival Trials Day. To enter, visit BetBright's Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/pg/BetBright/posts/ ), like and share the posting for the free ticket competition. The competition closes on Friday, January 20.

Top-quality staying hurdle action is provided by the £60,000 G2 galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle (4.00pm) over three miles. Thistlecrack won this race 12 months ago prior to his devastating victory in the G1 Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle at The Festival, while two other top staying hurdlers, Inglis Drever and Big Bucks, were also successful in the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle ahead of victories in the Stayers' Hurdle.

There is Pattern action on offer for novices with the opening £30,000 G2 JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (12.30pm, 2m 179y) and the £30,000 G2 Neptune Investment Management Classic Novices' Hurdle (3.25pm, 2m 4f 56y), while the feature handicaps of the day are the £60,000 G3 Trophy Handicap Chase (1.40pm, 2m 4f 166y) and the £25,000 Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase (1.05pm, 2m 4f 166y).

The Jockey Club Ownership Cheltenham & South West Syndicate was launched on October 1, 2016 and has 250 members and three horses in training. For a one-off payment of £2,590, the syndicate runs for two years and the package also includes full annual member access to Cheltenham, Exeter, Warwick and Wincanton Racecourses.

Final Choice (Warren Greatrex) could line up for the syndicate in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial on Festival Trials Day.

Bred by Her Majesty The Queen and a winner on the Flat at Bath when trained by Roger Charlton, Final Choice made a promising hurdling debut when runner-up in a juvenile hurdle at Warwick on December 8 and stepped up on that effort when the eight-length winner of a similar contest at Newbury on December 31.

Upper Lambourn-based Greatrex said: "There is a possibility Final Choice could go to Cheltenham for the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial on Festival Trials Day. He is also in at Newbury this week and will also get an entry for Ascot on January 21. We will keep an eye on the weather and come to a decision.

"He did it very well at Newbury last time out. You can't really gauge him at home as he is very lazy. He raced a bit lazily at Newbury but is a very strong stayer, handles soft ground and jumps very well.

"I wouldn't really have a handle on where we are yet - I think he could be a lot better than we have seen because I think he will get better and better.

"He may require some form of headgear at some point just to sharpen him up as I think he may be a horse that is always going to run quite lazily. In better races, he might just need to be a bit sharper."

An added bonus to the race programme on Festival Trials Day in 2017 is the £25,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (2.50pm, 3m 6f 37y), which was rescheduled following its abandonment at The Open in November due to the lack of rain.

Festival Trials Day concludes with the £25,000 Steel Plate & Sections Handicap Hurdle (4.35pm, 2m 179y).
 
It appears that Taquin du Seuil will be in the Cotswolde on Trials day
 
Clarence House tomorrow looks like its gonna be cancelled. Normally rearranged to Trials Day, we already have an 8 race card though - surely it wont go over 8 races?
 
I hadn't realised the meeting was in that much doubt ryan, but temperature not expected to get above freezing until late morning.
They won't play with the Cheltenham schedule for Trials Day so I suspect the race will be lost.
A wild one might be for them to transfer the entire card to Cheltenham who put the card on Friday though I don't know what restrictions and logistical challenges might exist for this to happen.

Several years ago they squeezed the 'hurricane' Wednesday card into Thu and Fri creating two of the best days racing ever to be staged, but 11 race cards are easier in March than Jan given daylight...
 
Yeah the clerk of the course said that unless the forecast s very wrong they won't be racing. I was reading on the RP that normally if cancelled they would just have the grade 1 on Trials day but due to the cross country being put on Trials Day its unlikely. The Clerk also said discussions are underway to rearrange it soon
 
How much are pints down at Cheltenham guys? So I know for next week.
 
You don't get much (if any) change out of £5 for a pint at the course, in fact, a pint of the black stuff cost over £5 at the festival if memory serves me correct.
 
Cheers guys what I was expecting won't be having many as be more bothered about the racing. Will be having more on the Friday night before stopping in a travel lodge not to far away.
 
I always take a hip flask in with me. Enjoy your day Liam!
 
Hope you all have some winners next weekend as well think I be doing loads ante post bets on the Friday night being a bit quieter then normal for me this year.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
You don't get much (if any) change out of £5 for a pint at the course, in fact, a pint of the black stuff cost over £5 at the festival if memory serves me correct.
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I was at Wetherby a couple of weeks ago and prices on course there were on a par with Cheltenhma, Sandown, Ascot and other major tracks, surprised me that....
 
Think I take Faugheen_Machine idea take a hip flask with me :encouragement:
 
Discussions underway for a 9 race card with the Clarence House on at Trials day. However, Gary Moore isn't happy and said he wouldnt be happy with that and probably wouldnt have a runner in it
 
Would be a good prep for UDS if they do move it? ... can see him shortening for both races even if he wins at 1/2 without Ar Mad for both races at the festival... One to get on before he runs?
 
Yeah might be worth backing him Kev. Been confirmed, bumper 9 race card next saturday starting at noon
 
What a card it's going to be next weekend. I'm going to have to be in the pub early to watch it..... Shame! :very_drunk:
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
What a card it's going to be next weekend. I'm going to have to be in the pub early to watch it..... Shame! :very_drunk:
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I have a 2.5 hour drive and need to sneak brekky in at some point, an early start...
 
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