Cheltenham Festival on Terrestrial TV

johnbaz72

I may have misheard Simon Holt last Saturday, but I thought he said that EVERY race from this years Festival would be shown on Channel 4. Does anyone know if this is the case?
If not, is there an alternative to Racing UK for viewing the "lesser" races?

cson

Really doubt that'll be the case. C4 normally omit the first and last races each day. Racing UK is your best bet for thorough coverage.

I do know that Paddy Power will stream you the race is you've at least €5 on it with them (Through the website obviously).

I'd imagine there is a free internet stream somewhere too but I'm not too clued in about that stuff.

pro_gnostic_8

As cson says above.

You could also Lay a horse for a fiver on Betfair -- and then Back it back for a no-loss position ( or even a gain if the market price drifts), and thus get a video streaming of any race.
Make certain each side of the Back and Lay is matched, tho'. :cool:

k101

channel 4 always show the 1st race each day, its normally the last 2 or 3 they don t show

careca

k101 wrote: »

channel 4 always show the 1st race each day, its normally the last 2 or 3 they don t show

Spot on.

Bluetonic

Important one here, race times are different this year - first race each day is at 13.30. Usually 14.00, aside from the Thursday and Friday last year due to the extra races.

careca

Bluetonic wrote: »

Important one here, race times are different this year - first race each day is at 13.30. Usually 14.00, aside from the Thursday and Friday last year due to the extra races.

didn't know that. Any idea behind the change?

Bluetonic

careca wrote: »

didn't know that. Any idea behind the change?

Cheltenham's managing director Edward Gillespie, explained: "One of the lessons we learned from the unusual circumstances of The Festival in 2008 [where racing on Wednesday was cancelled due to bad weather and the races rescheduled for Thursday and Friday], was that a significant number of our customers enjoyed the earlier start that we had on Thursday and Friday.

"With the gates opening at 10.30am, it can seem a long time until the first race, so we are going to commence racing at 1.30pm.

"This has the added advantage of allowing a majority of racegoers to begin their journey home while it is still light, even on those days when we have seven races."

I believe Channel 4 will show five races each day instead of the usual four with the big race each day being at 15.20

johnbaz72

Thanks for the info guys.

dotsflan

this should answer your question:

Order of Running - THE FESTIVAL 2009

First Day – Tuesday 10th March (Old Course)

* 1.30 The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race 2m abt ½f
* 2.05 The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase abt 2m
* 2.40 The William Hill Trophy Handicap Steeple Chase 3m abt ½ f
* 3.20 The Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 2m abt ½f
* 4.00 The Cross Country Steeple Chase 3m abt 7f
4.40 The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle Race 2m abt 4f

Second Day – Wednesday 11th March (Old Course)

* 1.30 The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup Abt 4m
* 2.05 The Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle Race 2m abt 5f
* 2.40 The Royal & SunAlliance Steeple Chase 3m abt ½ f
* 3.20 The Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase Abt 2m
* 4.00 The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) 2m abt 5f
4.40 The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race 2m abt ½f
5.15 The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) 2m abt ½f

Third Day – Thursday 12th March (New Course)

* 1.30 The Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase 2m abt 5f
* 2.05 The Pertemps Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) Abt 3m
* 2.40 The Ryanair Steeple Chase 2m abt 5f
* 3.20 The Ladbrokes World Hurdle Race abt 3m
* 4.00 The Festival Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase) 2m abt 5f
4.40 The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase 3m abt 1½ f

Fourth Day – Friday 13th March (New Course)

* 1.30 The JCB Triumph Hurdle Race 2m abt 1 f
* 2.05 The Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle Race 2m abt 1f
* 2.40 The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race abt 3m
* 3.20 The totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase 3m abt 2 ½ f
* 4.00 The Christie’s Foxhunter Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 3m abt 2 ½ f
4.40 The Conditionals’ Hurdle (A Handicap)(0-140) 2m abt 4½ f
5.15 The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 2m abt ½ f

* Channel 4 Televised Races

Bluetonic

dotsflan wrote: »

this should answer your question

Or reading the post at 3pm

mdwexford

Its sacriledge to change the running order of the festival, as if the disgusting 4 day change wasnt enough now the times change, the order changes, more new even worse races, get a fcuking grip whoevers in charge.

I still cant wait for it though :D

stretchaq

mdwexford wrote: »

Its sacriledge to change the running order of the festival, as if the disgusting 4 day change wasnt enough now the times change, the order changes, more new even worse races, get a fcuking grip whoevers in charge.

Oh come out of thr fog:D

Frazzled

stretchaq wrote: »

Oh come out of thr fog:D

The Conditional jockeys hurdle race is a joke!

I am looking forward to next year when they have the first running of the British Bred grey mares lady riders novices handicap hurdle.

Should be a thrilling spectacle!!

ArmaniJeanss

mdwexford wrote: »

Its sacriledge to change the running order of the festival, as if the disgusting 4 day change wasnt enough now the times change, the order changes, more new even worse races, get a fcuking grip whoevers in charge.

OK, so there was a particular year (Year X) when you watched it for the first time, and everything was the same for a few years, and then they changed it, and that makes you sad?

However you'll find that before year X there was always changes happening anyway. Races were created/dropped, distances/conditions altered etc.
Bloody hell, sure they used to run 2 divisions of the championship novice races back in the 60s if it was oversubscribed.

Its a moveable feast, always changing.
Sure if they never changed it then the Gold Cup would still be a 3 mile flatrace, and the 4M National Hunt Chase would be the premier event.

mdwexford

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

OK, so there was a particular year (Year X) when you watched it for the first time, and everything was the same for a few years, and then they changed it, and that makes you sad?

However you'll find that before year X there was always changes happening anyway. Races were created/dropped, distances/conditions altered etc.
Bloody hell, sure they used to run 2 divisions of the championship novice races back in the 60s if it was oversubscribed.

Its a moveable feast, always changing.
Sure if they never changed it then the Gold Cup would still be a 3 mile flatrace, and the 4M National Hunt Chase would be the premier event.

Yes, i dont like change.

The changes over the past 3-4 years have been a bit extreme imo and have diluted the quality of the festival by far.