Top Tips for The Cheltenham Festival 2024 – From the horses mouth!
The Cotswolds have the most trainers in one area of the United Kingdom outside Newmarket, and with Cheltenham as the home of jump racing, it is the best place to look for your top tips.
Jonjo O’Neill, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Ben Pauling and Fergal O’Brien to name but a handful, all live a stone’s throw from each other near Stow-on-the -Wold.
As Festival fever begins to build in the run up to meeting, locals together with punters from the Emerald Isle, begin to gather. Binoculars seem to fill the hills with those looking for a glimpse of their favourite bankers of Festival week in work, before the meeting opens on Tuesday 12th March, and the crowd roars.
On the first day, The Champion Hurdle is now slightly more open with Constitution Hill no longer running. State Man seems to have had an ideal preparation for the meeting and should put in a strong performance.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase could provide Nicky Henderson with a solid win if Jonbon maintains a rhythm and jumps comfortably.
Local Cotswold trainer, Ben Pauling, has a number of horses with a chance at the meeting and Handstands is looking an attractive each way bet in the Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle.
The Gold Cup has a hot favourite this year, in last seasons’ winner from the Mullins yard, Galopin Des Champs, when he beat Bravemansgame by seven lengths.
The Glenfarclas Cross Country race always attracts a huge following with its unique course over varied obstacles and a test of stamina at 3 miles 6 furlongs. The Irish love it and have been hugely successful over the years. This year’s list of runners looks no exception as they field some eleven runners between them. Enda Bolger has a good record in this race and runs two outsiders in Stealthy Tom, and Easyland for JP McManus. Gordon Elliott has the brave Delta Work, Conflated and Galvin sitting high up in the betting. Dan Skelton and Martin Keighley are boldly flying the flag for the English with Latenightpass Back on the Lash respectively. Both have respectable each way chances.
The JCB Triumph Hurdle is the opening race of the final day of The Festival, and whilst many will go with the safer option of Sir Gino, another Henderson horse, Burdett Road, trained by James Owen, may well challenge some of the many Mullins runners for a place, if not the top spot.
Have a great week, and remember the bank always wins!
The Impact of the Autumn Budget on the British agricultural industry and farming community – Farmers Protest to Parliament on Tuesday 19th November
Rachel Reeves appears to have trodden with ten league boots across the rural community of the entire country with her announcements in last week’s budget.
The Impact of the Autumn Budget on the British agricultural industry and farming community – Farmers Protest to Parliament on Tuesday 19th NovemberAnticipated stability following the certainty of the Autumn Budget
In the event, after much anticipation and speculation The Chancellor has announced little which will directly affect the Cotswolds residential property market.
Anticipated stability following the certainty of the Autumn BudgetA cracking Christmas in the Cotswolds- Christmas Markets, Fairs and Carol Services 2024
The Cotswolds hums with activity in the run up to Christmas with Christmas Markets and Fairs popping up across in many of the villages and market squares. From locally made crafts and decorations to wonderful local produce, there is a truly brilliant selection of gifts and foods for all tastes and palates. The centres of the villages are subsumed by the wafting smells of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and gingerbread spices.
A cracking Christmas in the Cotswolds- Christmas Markets, Fairs and Carol Services 2024SMOOTH MOVE – Simple steps taken in advance to prepare the way for a smooth move
Currently, in the UK, on average one in three house sales fall through. This is often due to surprises during a conveyance, and buyer fatigue at the length the process can take. There are simple steps Sellers and Buyers can take in advance to help ensure the process is as smooth as possible. The key approach is to reduce as many ‘sales irritants’ as you can and to be well prepared in advance. Unexpected matters will inevitably arise, but with plenty of preparation these will be easier to resolve.
SMOOTH MOVE – Simple steps taken in advance to prepare the way for a smooth move