Thanks and good luck to everyone, but....

[Istabraq]

I'm heading off early tomorrow and unlikely to get in here much over the week but I wanted to thank everyone for their valued input over the year, there are far too many excellent contributions to single individuals out but the varied range of opinion is what makes this place what it is.
But please remember FJ exists beyond next Friday.
There are plenty of big festivals taking place over coming weeks and when the 2026 Cheltenham markets start appearing there'll be plenty to digest especially when 2025 performances are in the book, so please let's keep discussion going, nuggets can be found at any time.
Best of luck to everyone, here's hoping a yankee lands...

 

[Lobos]

Yep, good luck Ista and to everyone else. I'm heading out tomorrow as well. Let's hope all the first day Bankers don't win as that would be very, very boring. I'm sure the bookies will get the snipers out .

 

[Tickety Boo]

I would Echo Istabraq and Lobos best wishes to each and every individual who contributes to the success of the FJ forum. It's been a wonderful ride and I hope a couple of us gets the elusive life changer. This forum and all the members have been a blessing. Thanks everyone and best of Luck!!!!!!!!

 

[Kevloaf]

Thanks Istabraq - well put!


Good luck to all those that deserve it ... avoid bad luck for those that don't


Hope all the hard work (and plagerism) pays off :glee:​


I will likely be on here much more than previous festivals so looking forward to some craic and hidden gems ..... be different this year than being there but very much looking forward to it


Inevitable highs and a lows that come with getting strangers debating topics on the internet this season so far, but overall a wonderful build up to this years festival, much more enjoyable than some have been with no ridiculous storms or pandemics or trainers getting horses removed to deal with!


A thank you from me to the lurkers who will eventually become legends ... but strongly to the people on here who have contributed so far.... keep it coming!

As Cheltenham Novice Chase reminded me in my diary earlier, some of the best 'content' we do is looking back at whats happened and discussing it


..... come on, let's have everyones NAP!!!!

 

[somer1]

Wishing all Fat Jockeys all the best for the 4 days of the fest. Leaving for the airport soon as doing Cheltenham in the sun again.
Kev, the only NAP i do now is in the chair :highly_amused:
Fingers crossed someone from FJ lands a life changer. Ledends all of you, i raise my glass to you all :very_drunk:

 

[Craigy14]

Best of luck all and well put Ista, also travelling down today so a long day ahead.

Kevloaf NAP for me is Sa Majeste been sweet on him for the Kim Muir for some time, think he’s got more in hand getting into this under 145. Decent form this season to add to that. Derek being on Jonnywho is keeping his price decent.

 

[Yosser]

NAP? Dunno about the whole festival but for tomorrow i have started to become incredibly strong on William Munny winning the supreme. I think he will love a bit of good ground and the pace should be decent, that could also play into Kopek and Mundi's hands too but i think Connell has got WM wound up perfectly in time.

 

[jrjr]

Good luck all, been an enjoyable journey again this year. My personal bets were hit quite hard by Gino’s illness / novice hurdle results at DRF and have the usual last minute jitters about whether I’ve backed the right horses.

However, have some good positions, just need the cards to fall right. More confident with my handicap runners this year - thanks to FJ’s for sharing their wisdom.

 

[darlojim]

..... come on, let's have everyones NAP!!!!

Wonder who I'll choose :lemo:​​​​​​


Kopeck do Mee

This will not be beatennnnnn:barbershop_quartet_member:

 

[Yosser]

I'm heading off early tomorrow and unlikely to get in here much over the week but I wanted to thank everyone for their valued input over the year, there are far too many excellent contributions to single individuals out but the varied range of opinion is what makes this place what it is.
But please remember FJ exists beyond next Friday.
There are plenty of big festivals taking place over coming weeks and when the 2026 Cheltenham markets start appearing there'll be plenty to digest especially when 2025 performances are in the book, so please let's keep discussion going, nuggets can be found at any time.
Best of luck to everyone, here's hoping a yankee lands...

Hope you have a phenomenal festival Ista. After our chat, i hope everything has started levelling out for you and you have a fantastic and enjoyable week. You're a top bloke pal, go and rinse those on course bookies. :welcoming:nthego:

 

[Aldie1988]

Have a great time Ista!!

Extending this, everyone has a fantastic festival, and everyone going to cheltenham, safe travels and enjoy it all.

Thanks to all for their amazing insights, stats and digging all year round. Fat Jockey builds the excitement for what it is the best week of the year hands down. Sorted my home life out now, so should have time for contributing more in discussions and offering opinions after this festival, cheers to all of you horse racing badgers :very_drunk:

My NAP is Be Aware in the Coral Cup

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

Good luck all. I haven't been very active on here this year, but hoping to get back into it for next season. I'm travelling to Liverpool to watch it in the pubs but hoping to be back at Cheltenham for this next year. It's never the same watching on the TV.

Win or lose, make sure you enjoy every minute of it.:very_drunk:

 

[darlojim]

Hopefully everyone smashes the week and can reap the rewards. I think we all put enough time into this yearly and sometimes feels like a 2nd job with the commitment, but I thoroughly enjoy it and its good to interact with proper racing fans.

Good luck everyone!

 

[Odin]

Good luck gents, thanks for the conversation as always.

Feels like a few of us are in the same boat where things won't be the same after this year so hopefully we smash it this year as a team and then we can regroup and reconsider plans moving forwards

More importantly than luck though, just enjoy it as best you can.
I (and I assume many others here) expect to win money across the week because of the work we put in, but at the end of the day, it's a hobby. If we lost everything we'd bet it would be shit, but it wouldn't change our lives as the money's already spent so time to enjoy the ride now.

And if anyone wants to put up some double figure tips through the week, I'll be loitering around waiting to hoover them up :angel::angel::encouragement::encouragement:

 

[Aldie1988]

Good luck all. I haven't been very active on here this year, but hoping to get back into it for next season. I'm travelling to Liverpool to watch it in the pubs but hoping to be back at Cheltenham for this next year. It's never the same watching on the TV.

Win or lose, make sure you enjoy every minute of it.:very_drunk:

That was the plan for me and the lads FM to go to Liverpool for Thursday and Friday, but as normal when you are from the north east expect disappointment and trains not running, it would have meant a 4 hour bus back on Saturday.....can't deal with that when I'm rough, so we are doing Edinburgh instead. Enjoy cold beers and hopefully some big wins :applouse:

 

[robith]

I would also add, to enjoy the festival but to also be mindful of how we conduct ourselves. Not everyone will be having a great week, not everyone has as healthy a relationship with gambler as you may do.

In 2017 I was having a wretched festival, and it kinda felt so isolating as here and twitter were just full of people winning, made me feel like a clown. A couple of posters read between the lines and reached out to check I was alright and that was actually all I needed to realise it actually wasn't that bad.

To quote my favourite band; All we've got to do is be brave and be kind

 

[Yosser]

I would also add, to enjoy the festival but to also be mindful of how we conduct ourselves. Not everyone will be having a great week, not everyone has as healthy a relationship with gambler as you may do.

In 2017 I was having a wretched festival, and it kinda felt so isolating as here and twitter were just full of people winning, made me feel like a clown. A couple of posters read between the lines and reached out to check I was alright and that was actually all I needed to realise it actually wasn't that bad.

To quote my favourite band; All we've got to do is be brave and be kind

Very easy to lose control and start chasing your tail if you have a couple of bad first days. So yes you are right Rob. So my personal advice to any lurkers reading this is remember that Cheltenham is a marathon, not a sprint. I have had many a bad start and good finish or vice versa. Bet within your means, don't go mad and don't put yourself in financial strife. It is supposed to be fun so enjoy it :cheerful:

 

[Magpie]

Hopefully everyone has a winner or two, and all jockeys and horses comeback injury free.

Love the sport, still the best week of the year.

Nap - Dinoblue.

 

[RufusFlynn]

Like a few others - won’t be there in person this year but wish all on here a successful week.

Haven’t posted much myself but appreciate all the discussion and input from others across the season.

Hopefully we see some monstrous performances on the track - a fuller wallet at the end of the week is just a bonus!

 

[robith]

Oh and my NAP is Bambino Fever in the bumper