Cheltenham Festival 2014 Advice

Edwardguire

Edwardguire wrote: »

I booked the ibis budget in birmingham, the 1 on great colmore street, about 2weeks ago for the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday night and it was only 62.50 for a double room for three nights! And it's only 10-15min walk from new street station or 5£ in a taxi.. Book directly from there website as its 20€ cheaper than Accomadation sites!!

62.50 sterling that is!

Gavin "shels"

The more and more I see how cheap this is the more tempting it is, probably only be for Gold Cup day mind you.

ft9

I'd encourage you to go Gav, I've been a few times and have no desire to go back, I would much rather the Open in November. But am glad I've been there all the same, every racing fan should do it once. Gold Cup day is hectic.

Edwardguire

Gavin shels wrote: »

The more and more I see how cheap this is the more tempting it is, probably only be for Gold Cup day mind you.

I myself wouldn't go on gold cup day, it's far 2 packed! When the first race on the first day starts the roar from the crowd would give ya goose bumps lol.. I got club for the Tuesday an tatts for the Wednesday! Tickets arrived within 5days of buying them! If your going yad want to make up your mind as flights will keep going up, I booked mine at 104€ the same flight is 134€ now.. Plus tickets for the racecourse go up in price from 14th December

Gavin "shels"

Edwardguire wrote: »

I myself wouldn't go on gold cup day, it's far 2 packed! When the first race on the first day starts the roar from the crowd would give ya goose bumps lol.. I got club for the Tuesday an tatts for the Wednesday! Tickets arrived within 5days of buying them! If your going yad want to make up your mind as flights will keep going up, I booked mine at 104€ the same flight is 134€ now.. Plus tickets for the racecourse go up in price from 14th December

Gold Cup day is the Friday, which suits with work. I won't be booking till January, already have a trip to England to be sorted for the start of next year. Large portion of my days off in 2014 will be spent travelling around Ireland again ( ) with Shels!

hucklebuck

Gavin "shels" wrote: »

Large portion of my days off in 2014 will be spent travelling around Ireland again ( ) with Shels!

Ah **** man, I was depressed today and this hasnt helped. I really feel for you!!

If you go to a Rovers game see if you cant give SRFC a slap, he will be the one in the trilby looking like the bastard child of Superintendent Jim Murphy and Willie Mullins :pac:

Divil666

Mam brought me tickets for my birthday was so happy as it would have been the first time every going until it saw the price of the hotels in Cheltenham now I'll have to sell them now!!

CueCard7

I went over to Cheltenham with 5,000 decided to lump 4,000 on the fly so I could play with the bookies money.

Did nt go to plan, found a bookie to lay me 1000 double on big bucks and que ega .

Sat it out then till big bucks race, made a good few quid on the Friday

byronbay2

CueCard7 wrote: »

I went over to Cheltenham with 5,000 decided to lump 4,000 on the fly so I could play with the bookies money.

Did nt go to plan, found a bookie to lay me 1000 double on big bucks and que ega .

Sat it out then till big bucks race, made a good few quid on the Friday

Hello - welcome to the forum. You probably want to avoid a guy called SRFC!

handsfree

Get a pork roll in the van behind the club enclosure. I was on 2 a day for a week. Yum Yum

tonic wine

handsfree wrote: »

Get a pork roll in the van behind the club enclosure. I was on 2 a day for a week. Yum Yum

The hog roast is beautiful.

ste2010

Divil666 wrote: »

Mam brought me tickets for my birthday was so happy as it would have been the first time every going until it saw the price of the hotels in Cheltenham now I'll have to sell them now!!

Cheltenhamracingaccommodation home stay. 60gbp
Per night

El Ninotorres

Hey all, was wondering for some advise on the below. I'm planning a day trip over for the gold cup and looking at flights at the minute. What I want to know is would it be possible for me to make the 18.50 flight back to Dublin from Bristol? Obviously it would mean leaving before or just after fox hunters? Is anyone else doing this or have they done it before? Any info would be appreciated. It says train takes 1hr 15 from Cheltenham, is this feasible?

I know there is later flight back from Birmingham but price is outrageous.

Cheers

tonic wine

El Ninotorres wrote: »

Hey all, was wondering for some advise on the below. I'm planning a day trip over for the gold cup and looking at flights at the minute. What I want to know is would it be possible for me to make the 18.50 flight back to Dublin from Bristol? Obviously it would mean leaving before or just after fox hunters? Is anyone else doing this or have they done it before? Any info would be appreciated. It says train takes 1hr 15 from Cheltenham, is this feasible?

I know there is later flight back from Birmingham but price is outrageous.

Cheers

Not worth it. I had to leave early last year after the champion chase to catch my flight as cars were there until 8:30pm on the Tuesday evening trying to get out. It was just mental. Will be different for you as your not driving, but your still going to walk to the bus, wait for it to depart, get to the train station and try catch a flight. To much rushing IMO, enjoy the full day, go on the lash/stay over night, soak up the atmosphere and catch flight home the next day.

El Ninotorres

tonic wine wrote: »

Not worth it. I had to leave early last year after the champion chase to catch my flight as cars were there until 8:30pm on the Tuesday evening trying to get out. It was just mental. Will be different for you as your not driving, but your still going to walk to the bus, wait for it to depart, get to the train station and try catch a flight. To much rushing IMO, enjoy the full day, go on the lash/stay over night, soak up the atmosphere and catch flight home the next day.

Cheers mate.. Yeah seemed like a rush. Might just stay over now and come back on the sat, at end of the day want to enjoy it..

premierstone

El Ninotorres wrote: »

Cheers mate.. Yeah seemed like a rush. Might just stay over now and come back on the sat, at end of the day want to enjoy it..

Not sure if it suits re work for you etc but Gold Cup Day would be the last day i would go if doing just one day tbh, its mental there no comfort can't get a drink a bet or food or basically anything without queing for an age and been crushed. Tuesday is far and away the best day - and the racecard is more balanced aswell IMO - Supreme Novice, Arkle, Champion Hurdle, Quevega race - what more could you want!

byronbay2

premierstone wrote: »

Not sure if it suits re work for you etc but Gold Cup Day would be the last day i would go if doing just one day tbh, its mental there no comfort can't get a drink a bet or food or basically anything without queing for an age and been crushed. Tuesday is far and away the best day - and the racecard is more balanced aswell IMO - Supreme Novice, Arkle, Champion Hurdle, Quevega race - what more could you want!

Yeah, agree with that. Tuesday is definitely the best day to go. Great buzz, great anticipation and great racing! As premierstone says, Gold Cup day is chock-a-block with non-racing people on a jolly (no harm in that, obviously), with lower quality races (GC excepted) and a certain element of battle-fatigue among the punting fraternity, after 3 days of hand to hand combat with the old enemy.

El Ninotorres

byronbay2 wrote: »

Yeah, agree with that. Tuesday is definitely the best day to go. Great buzz, great anticipation and great racing! As premierstone says, Gold Cup day is chock-a-block with non-racing people on a jolly (no harm in that, obviously), with lower quality races (GC excepted) and a certain element of battle-fatigue among the punting fraternity, after 3 days of hand to hand combat with the old enemy.

Unfortunately with work it's only Thursday or Friday I can go.. Is it worth going the Thursday instead?

finbarrk

Think I struck it lucky with agoda.com. They say they have an apartment for me on Evesham Rd. for around $700 for 3 nights. Mon to Thurs. Its gone to almost that per night since I booked it 2 days ago.

byronbay2

El Ninotorres wrote: »

Unfortunately with work it's only Thursday or Friday I can go.. Is it worth going the Thursday instead?

Hobson's choice really! I personally would prefer the Thursday, for the reasons already given. The racing on Thursday is the worst of the 4 days (imo) but I just would not be interested in going on the Friday. I know it's no good to you but Tuesday and Wednesday are the days to go racing at the Cheltenham Festival.

longshotvalue

I think the whole thing about the Gold Cup day not being great and all that is a bit overplayed. It'd probably the 3rd or 2nd best day of the year for me. Tuesday of Cheltenham the best of the lot for sure.

I'ts not that hard to get around once you have club tickets, and food isn't a problem, there are loads of outlets.. Some cop-on is required etc but its still a great day, and for me is preferable to the thursday.

I don't really drink at the festival, but that is a bit of an issue as the queues for beer can be long, but everything else is manageable. There is never any trouble getting bet on..

finbarrk

The Guinness is good there.

CueCard7

You need a good solid double to pay for your time there.

QuevegA Big Bucks BOOM

finbarrk

Ruby to win the first 2 races. BOOM!

BumperD

For those heading, just a heads up, discounted tickets (10% or something) deadline is today or tomorrow. I still think the price charged for club is crazy so any saving worth grabbing.

redzerdrog

Just booked my flights there now, can't wait!!

Tuesday's racing is going to be unreal!!!

Edwardguire

BumperD wrote: »

For those heading, just a heads up, discounted tickets (10% or something) deadline is today or tomorrow. I still think the price charged for club is crazy so any saving worth grabbing.

I checked the tickets there gone up 5£ each! 70£ for club now and 40£ for tatts!

Edwardguire

redzerdrog wrote: »

Just booked my flights there now, can't wait!!

Tuesday's racing is going to be unreal!!!

What flights did you book? I'm on the 16.30 one on Monday (ryanair)!

redzerdrog

Edwardguire wrote: »

What flights did you book? I'm on the 16.30 one on Monday (ryanair)!

19:35 (means I can work on the monday) ryanair to bristol was originally going to fly to Birmingham but they have gone up €50+ in last week

Edwardguire

redzerdrog wrote: »

19:35 (means I can work on the monday) ryanair to bristol was originally going to fly to Birmingham but they have gone up €50+ in last week

Ah right.. I'm going Dublin to birmingham, I booked it about a month ago, wanted to make sure I got afternoon flights! got flights for 104€ (return Thursday)